Why should you avoid smoking for at least 30 minutes before BP measurement?

Why should you avoid smoking for at least 30 minutes before BP measurement?

• A. It lowers BP
• B. It has no effect
• C. Nicotine acutely raises BP
• D. It only affects heart rate

Answer: (C)

Nicotine from smoking acutely raises blood pressure by triggering the sympathetic nervous system, which leads to vasoconstriction and a faster heart rate. This temporary rise means a BP reading taken soon after smoking reflects the nicotine-induced spike rather than the person’s true resting BP. Waiting at least 30 minutes allows these effects to diminish and the measurement to more accurately represent baseline BP. That’s why the correct answer is that nicotine acutely raises BP. The other ideas don’t fit because smoking does affect BP (it doesn’t lower it or have no effect), and the impact isn’t limited to heart rate alone—the vascular resistance also increases, pushing the BP higher.

Nicotine from smoking acutely raises blood pressure by triggering the sympathetic nervous system, which leads to vasoconstriction and a faster heart rate. This temporary rise means a BP reading taken soon after smoking reflects the nicotine-induced spike rather than the person’s true resting BP. Waiting at least 30 minutes allows these effects to diminish and the measurement to more accurately represent baseline BP. That’s why the correct answer is that nicotine acutely raises BP. The other ideas don’t fit because smoking does affect BP (it doesn’t lower it or have no effect), and the impact isn’t limited to heart rate alone—the vascular resistance also increases, pushing the BP higher.