Smoking remains a significant public health concern in Australia, despite decades of investment in national campaigns that encourage smokers to quit and deter young people from starting. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in ten adults (10.6%) were current daily smokers in 2022. While the risks of smoking are well-known, it’s 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 most common questions people ask is whether they should quit smoking if they are actively managing their blood pressure. The short answer is yes.
In Australia, Cardiovascular disease affects millions and causes tens of thousands of deaths each year; smoking is a major, preventable contributor.
Monitoring your improving blood pressure after quitting can also be a strong motivator to remain smoke-free. The Hilo Band’s continuous monitoring allows you to clearly see how your decision is benefitting 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 the release of epinephrine (adrenaline) and noradrenaline (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, lasting around 20 minutes after the cigarette is finished. This rapid and temporary increase in blood pressure is known 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 good news? These effects begin to reverse soon after quitting. According to Healthdirect Australia, the health benefits of quitting start within minutes and continue for years:
- Within 20 minutes of your final cigarette your pulse rate will be returning to normal;
- After 12 hours, your oxygen levels are recovering and carbon monoxide levels in blood will have significantly reduced;
- After 5 days, your body is mostly free of nicotine;
- After 1 week, you’ll see improvement in your sense of smell and taste
- After 2 to 12 weeks, circulation will have improved;
- After 1 to 9 months, lung function will have increased;
- 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, CVD risk falls substantially within the first two years of quitting smoking. 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.
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 studies suggest people using 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 Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care is that non-smokers do not start vaping.
The takeaway? E-cigarettes may be a useful short-term tool 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 GP. 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 Australia, numerous resources are available to support you on this journey:
In Australia, several free and confidential support options are available:
- Quitline: Call 13 78 48 (13 QUIT) to access free counselling and support from trained advisers.
- My QuitBuddy app:An Australian Government supported app that offers motivation, tracking tools and personalised tips.
- Quit Australia (Quit.org.au): Free online and community-based programs with expert advice, quit-plans and multilingual resources for people wanting to stop smoking.
- GP support: Your GP can offer tailored advice and prescribe nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or other medications to support your quit journey.
- Pharmacy programs: Many community pharmacies offer stop-smoking advice and can help you choose suitable nicotine replacement options.
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 your GP before making any changes to your health regimen.
Sources
Smoking and vaping. Australian Bureau of Statistics. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/smoking-and-vaping/latest-release (Accessed October 2025)
Alcohol, tobacco & other drugs in Australia. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/alcohol/alcohol-tobacco-other-drugs-australia/contents/drug-types/tobacco (Accessed October 2025)
Heart, stroke and vascular disease: Australian facts. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/heart-stroke-vascular-diseases/hsvd-facts/contents/about (Accessed October 2025)
Tobacco use linked to more than 1 in 8 deaths, but burden easing. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. https://www.aihw.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/2019/october/tobacco-use-linked-to-more-than-1-in-8-deaths-but (Accessed October 2025)
Quitting smoking and vaping. Healthdirect Australia. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/quit-smoking-vaping (Accessed October 2025)
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)
About vaping and e-cigarettes. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. https://www.health.gov.au/topics/smoking-vaping-and-tobacco/about-vaping (Accessed October 2025)
My QuitBuddy app. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/my-quitbuddy-app (Accessed October 2025)
Quitline. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. https://www.health.gov.au/contacts/quitline (Accessed October 2025)
Quit Centre. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. https://www.health.gov.au/contacts/quit-centre (Accessed October 2025)
Smoking and your heart. National Heart Foundation of Australia. https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/your-heart/smoking-and-your-heart (Accessed October 2025)
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension). Healthdirect Australia. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/high-blood-pressure-hypertension (Accessed October 2025)
