Smoking remains a significant public health concern in the UK, despite substantial investment in advertising campaigns that either encourage smokers to stop or dissuade people, particularly young adults, from starting. According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, in 2023 almost 12% of adults aged 18 and over in the UK were smokers, representing about 6 million people. While the risks of smoking are well-known, it is important to regularly talk about its health impact, especially on blood pressure, as this can lead to secondary health issues such as chronic heart disease or stroke.
One of the key questions people often ask is whether they should quit smoking if they are actively managing their blood pressure? The short answer is, yes.
In the UK, cardiovascular (CVD) disease affect approximately 10% of the population, resulting in around 170,000 deaths annually, or one every 3 minutes. Of these CVD-related fatalities, roughly 1 in 8 can be attributed to smoking. Stopping smoking can be a very quick way of positively impacting your blood pressure and overall health, as well as rapidly reduce your risk of CVD and related complications.
Monitoring your improving blood pressure after quitting can also serve as a powerful motivator to stay smoke-free. Aktiia’s continuous monitoring allows you to clearly see how your decision is benefiting your cardiovascular health, reinforcing the importance of not returning to smoking.
The following article will outline the direct impact of smoking on blood pressure, and how quitting could help protect against CVDs, such as coronary heart disease and stroke.
Smoking raises blood pressure within minutes
Smoking affects blood pressure immediately, primarily due to the rapid absorption of nicotine and other chemicals present in cigarette smoke into the body. Nicotine, in particular, causes release of epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine, which both play a part in the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response: these hormones increase the heart rate and constrict blood vessels, which, in combination, elevate blood pressure.
Research has shown that even smoking a single cigarette can cause an immediate increase in blood pressure, which persists for about 20 minutes after the cigarette is finished. This rapid and temporary increase in blood pressure can be referred to as an acute hypertensive effect.
In addition, smoking can cause the incidence of extra or skipped heartbeats to increase, increasing risk of cardiac arrhythmias. As well as this, smoking has been shown to increase arterial stiffness (arteriosclerosis), which itself can cause elevated systolic blood pressure, as well as vessel damage, arterial wall thickening and increased deposition of calcium and collagen within vessels, all of which can lead to heart disease, heart attack or stroke.
While the acute impacts of smoking are clearly evidenced, and the impact of smoking on cardiovascular health is observed even at low exposures, quitting can make a big difference. The NHS states that:
- Within 20 minutes of your final cigarette your pulse rate will be returning to normal;
- After 8 hours, your oxygen levels are recovering and carbon monoxide levels in blood will have significantly reduced;
- After 48 hours your lungs will be clearing mucus;
- After 72 hours your breathing will feel easier and energy levels will be increasing;
- After 2 to 12 week, circulation will have improved;
- After 3 to 9 months, lung function will have increased by up to 10%;
- After 1 year the risk of heart attack will have halved;
- After 10 years the risk of death from lung cancer will have halved.
Importantly, the risks of CVD decrease substantially within the first two years of smoking cessation. In addition, it has been shown that cessation of smoking can reduce the risk of CVD more than other therapies, such as lowering of cholesterol within the diet.
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What about vaping and e-cigarettes?
While much of the focus of this article has been upon the smoking of cigarettes, the impact of vaping upon blood pressure and cardiovascular health is also important, although it should be noted that the evidence-base is smaller.
Recent research has suggested that those people that used e-cigarettes and vapes also experienced increases in blood pressure, heart rate and blood vessel constriction immediately after vaping or e-smoking. In addition, another report showed that people who either used e-cigarettes or smoked performed worse at exercises designed to predict heart disease risk when compared with those who did not use those products. This suggests that vaping or e-cigarettes are not without risk, and can be harmful to health.
That said, there is also evidence that e-cigarettes can help smokers quit and, when compared with smoking cigarettes, vapes are generally safer than smoking ‘traditional’ tobacco-based products. However, while e-cigarettes may be less harmful than tobacco it doesn’t mean they are completely safe. In addition, the long-term effects of vaping on the body are unknown therefore the current advice from the British Heart Foundation is that non-smokers do not start vaping.
The take-home? E-cigarettes can be a useful stepping-stone for quitting completely, but bear in mind that they can also negatively impact upon your health.
Monitor your blood pressure, while smoking and beyond
If you’re concerned about your blood pressure, or just curious to see how your blood pressure can be affected by external factors, you may wish to consider wearing a continuous blood pressure monitoring system. Use of continuous monitoring can help you understand how your blood pressure behaves throughout the day, rather than relying upon a one-off reading when you see your physician. In addition, understanding what causes your blood pressure to rise can help you avoid spikes and adapt your behaviours to ensure steady blood pressure values.
If you are a smoker, the use of blood pressure monitoring as external encouragement may help you quit, as many smokers are at risk of relapse which is most likely during the initial days of quitting, but does decrease to around 5% after more than two years. Having an external tool, where the benefits to blood pressure of not smoking can be readily observed, may provide a valuable motivator.
How to quit smoking
Quitting an addiction is a highly personal endeavour, and no two smoking cessation journeys are the same. However, it is a significant step toward improving your health. In the UK, numerous resources are available to support you on this journey:
- NHS Stop Smoking Services. The NHS offers free, local, stop smoking services staffed by expert advisers who provide personalised support and access to treatments like nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
- Smokefree National Helpline. For immediate assistance, call the free Smokefree National Helpline at 0300 123 1044 to speak with trained advisers.
- QUIT Charity. QUIT is a UK charity dedicated to helping smokers stop and preventing young people from starting. They offer helplines and community programs in multiple languages.
- Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). ASH provides resources and guidance on quitting smoking, including information on professional help and mental preparation.
- Better Health – Quit Smoking. This NHS campaign offers resources promoting the benefits of quitting and provides support tools.
Utilising these resources may increase your chances of quitting smoking successfully.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not contain medical advice, and is not a replacement for medical advice. The information in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to a qualified medical professional before making any changes to your health regimen.
Sources:
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People who vape had worrisome changes in cardiovascular function, even as young adults. American Heart Association. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/people-who-vape-had-worrisome-changes-in-cardiovascular-function-even-as-young-adults (accessed November 2024)
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