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  • Essay / The Negative Influence of Smoking on Blood Pressure and the Importance of Measuring Blood Pressure

    Case DescriptionLaura notices that Lamont's blood pressure is high. His systolic and diastolic pressures are above the normal range of 120/80. A blood pressure range of 156/94 would indicate symptoms of stage 1 hypertension. So Laura would advise Mr. Lamont to adopt a healthy lifestyle to improve his blood pressure level (Meenakshisundaram, Sethilkumaran, Grootveld, & Thirumalaikolundusubramanian , 2013). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayMr. Lamont's oral temperatures are within the normal range at 99.8°. A slight rise in his body temperature, within 1°F of normal oral temperature, could have been caused by daytime temperatures. The normal oral temperature for adults is 98.6°F, which is equivalent to 37°C. Mr. Lamont's temperature therefore does not indicate any signs of infection. The apical pulse is above the average adult male range of 60 to 100 beats per minute. A high pulse rate in Mr. Lamont could indicate tachycardia, a condition associated with dyspnea, which is shortness of breath as seen in Mr. Lamont. The respiratory rate is very high in this case. The normal respiratory rate for adults ranges from 12 to 18 breaths per minute. Although not conclusive evidence of illness, the extremely high respiratory rate indicates serious health problems for Mr. Lamont. Mr. Lamont's pulse oximetry is within the normal range of 95-100%, indicating healthy blood oxygen levels and no hypoxemia concerns. How does smoking influence blood pressure? Cigarette smoke contains nicotine, which is the main precursor of cigarette-related heart problems. The chemicals in tobacco damage the lining of the arteries, causing them to become damaged. Fatty substances then accumulate leading to atheroma, which is a degeneration of the artery walls, leading to a risk of heart attack due to thrombosis and restricted blood flow. Smoking causes an immediate rise in body blood pressure of up to 6 mmHg. Nicotine is an adrenergic agonist that mediates the release of local and systemic catecholamines. Adrenaline, one of the central catecholamines, makes the heart beat faster. Additionally, carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood, signaling hypoxia. Therefore, the heart must pump harder to compensate for the deficiency. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Smoking could have been the cause of respiratory hypertension. The nicotine in smoking causes damage to the inner lining of the arteries, causing blockages that force the heart to pump faster (Dinas, Koutedkis, & Flouris, 2013). Cigarette smoke causes increased levels of carbon monoxide in the system, leading to an increased breathing rate to compensate for the oxygen deficit in the tissues and blood..