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How Cigarette Smoke Contributes to Increasing Pulse Rate

Cigarette smoke produces chemicals -- including stimulants -- that raise pulse rate and blood pressure. Increased stress on bodily functions, including the lungs, heart and blood vessels, results in an elevated pulse rate.

  1. The Effects of Nicotine

    • Nicotine is a stimulant that increases your metabolic rate when it is ingested, according to Smoking-Cessation.org. Smoking cigarettes releases nicotine into the body, causing an elevation in your pulse rate as well as an increase in blood pressure.

    Restriction of Blood Vessels

    • Blood vessels become narrowed when cigarettes are smoked, according to the Centers for Disease Control. After smoking a cigarette, your blood pressure elevates as a result of an increased pulse rate by approximately 10 to 15 percent, increasing the stress on your blood vessels and your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.

    Respiratory Distress

    • After you smoke a cigarette, your lungs are forced to work harder to provide oxygen to your body because the chemicals in smoke inhibit the cleaning function of the lungs. Your pulse rate increases at approximately 10 to 25 additional beats per minute, according to Smoking-Cessation.org. This adds up to 36,000 extra heart beats per day, with the additional work placed on your body.

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