For many smokers, the damage caused by cigarettes can feel distant, something that may only happen years down the line. But health experts say the body starts reacting within minutes of lighting up.
As South Africa marks World No Tobacco Day on May 31, doctors and health specialists are warning that smoking is not only a long-term health risk, but an immediate strain on the heart and blood vessels every single time a cigarette is smoked.
According to Pharma Dynamics, each cigarette triggers a rapid cardiovascular stress response almost instantly, increasing heart rate, blood pressure and the heart’s demand for oxygen.
It is expained that when nicotine enters the bloodstream, it stimulates the release of adrenaline, causing blood vessels to narrow and forcing the heart to work harder. At the same time, carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen efficiently.
Experts say this creates a dangerous cycle repeated throughout the day for regular smokers.
“Each cigarette triggers a short, intense cardiovascular stress response. Heart rate increases, blood pressure rises and oxygen delivery is compromised. For someone smoking regularly, this is happening multiple times a day, sometimes every hour,” said Ingrid Singels, Associate Director Scientific Products at Pharma Dynamics.
Singels said many people still underestimate the immediate impact smoking has on the body.
“We often think of heart disease as something that develops slowly over years, but these immediate spikes place repeated strain on blood vessels and the heart itself,” Singels explained.
Health experts also warned that smoking affects blood sugar regulation and can increase the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes through insulin resistance.
For people already living with diabetes, smoking can worsen blood vessel damage and raise the likelihood of complications.
Globally, tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of death, claiming more than seven million lives every year, including non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.
In South Africa, tobacco-related diseases claim more than 25,000 lives annually, while smoking-related illness continues placing pressure on the healthcare system and the economy.
Singels said the focus should shift from only treating disease to preventing it.
“The reality is that once someone is on lifelong medication for hypertension or heart disease, we are already managing the consequences,” she said.
“Our goal is to reduce that pipeline in the first place through awareness and lifestyle change.”
She added that quitting smoking can quickly improve heart health, with heart rate and blood pressure beginning to stabilise shortly after stopping.
“People often underestimate what a single cigarette does in real time,” Singels said.
“It’s not just a future risk; it’s a present biological event affecting the heart every time you light up.”