Nicotine in cigarette is a strong vasoconstrictor, hence it increases peripheral resistance, by narrowing of blood vessels, which is turn gives rise to hypertension.
2007-11-24 09:45:48
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answer #1
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answered by Dr.Qutub 7
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My dad's vascular surgeon explained it to us this way: The chemicals in tobacco cause the platelets in the blood to become sticky and stick together in bunches inside the arteries, blocking the arteries.. The blood cannot flow as easily past these bunches of platelets, which makes the blood flow at a higher pressure to push past the platelets. And that is what is known as hypertension.
Dad had 90% blockage in both of his carotid arteries (the ones in the neck). The surgeon removed the blockages and kept one of them and showed us. What was blocking his arteries looked like a chunk of white Silly Putty (or if you don't know what Silly Putty is....it looked like 5 sticks of chewing gum all chewed up).
2007-11-21 11:06:27
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answer #2
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answered by artistagent116 7
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Smoking also interrupts with the body's ability to metabolize "bad" cholestorol in the blood. This results in an increase of plaque clogging up your arteries (increases the viscosity of the blood).
Smoking also causes athlerosclorosis.
2007-11-21 11:04:53
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answer #3
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answered by Juicy Fruit 5
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Nicotine causes the blood vessels to constrict, causing the heart to have to exert more pressure to push the blood through the arteries.
2007-11-21 10:58:48
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answer #4
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answered by missingora 7
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according to my Cardiologist, it constricts the blood vessels, causing the Heart to have to work harder to pump the blood through them
2007-11-21 10:58:38
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answer #5
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answered by deejayspop 6
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