Explain how smoking can increase blood pressure?

There are two main reasons that smoking can increase blood pressure:

  1. Cigarette smoke contains nicotine which, once inhaled, can enter the bloodstream and cause the release of adrenaline which increases the heart rate. Increasing the heart rate will also raise the blood pressure. 

  2. Cigarette smoke also contains carbon monoxide which, once inhaled, can enter the bloodstream and bind to haemoglobin. This forms carboxyhaemoglobin, a molecule that oxygen cannot bind to. This results in a decreased concentration of oxygen in the blood which causes a compensatory rise in heart rate which, in turn, raises the blood pressure. 

OH
Answered by Oliver H. Biology tutor

7577 Views

See similar Biology GCSE tutors

Related Biology GCSE answers

All answers ▸

What is the action of insulin?


What are three factors that can affect the rate of photosynthesis?


Tom and Lesley are married and have a child, Sally, who has Cystic Fibrosis. Lesley has just found out she is pregnant, so what is the probability that the baby will have the condition?


Explain the process of allopatric speciation


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning