We all know about the negative effect of cigarettes on your body. Yes, there have been many research results that prove that smoking can harm your body. Cigarettes are known to contain chemical compounds that can be 'toxic' to the body, such as carbon monoxide, tar, and benzene. These compounds can affect vital organs such as heart, lung, and brain if consumed.

In addition, nicotine is also one of the dangerous chemicals that you can find in every type of cigarette, both conventional and electric. Nicotine is known to have a strong stimulant effect on the body. Nicotine intake can cause the heart to beat faster, increase blood pressure, and difficulty breathing. If consumed continuously, these compounds can increase the risk of respiratory system irritation and cancer.

Also, the results of a study conducted by the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center found that nicotine intake can increase blood pressure, both throughout the body's circulation and in the lungs. As a result, it can trigger pulmonary hypertension, which can trigger the risk of heart failure. In their study, the researchers analysed the effect of nicotine on the risk of cardiovascular and lung diseases using mice as model. The results of this study have been published in the journal Hypertension recently.

Researchers found that nicotine can directly affect both systolic and diastolic blood pressure at the first week of exposure. Although it is temporary, the condition can trigger various risks of disease, especially pulmonary hypertension. This condition can cause changes in the size, shape and function of blood vessels in the lungs and the right side of the heart, which can lead to overall body damage.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Pixabay

Source (s):

• Oakes, J.M., Xu, J., Morris, T.M., et al (2020). Effects of Chronic Nicotine Inhalation on Systemic and Pulmonary Blood Pressure and Right Ventricular Remodeling in Mice. Hypertension, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.119.14608.
• Science Daily - Nicotine exposure alone leads to pulmonary hypertension, study suggests (2020). https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200501125832.htm, 5 May 2020.