Does quitting smoking lower blood pressure?

Q: Does quitting smoking lower blood pressure?

A: Smoking does not cause high blood pressure so quitting doesn’t affect your blood pressure. The nicotine in tobacco products causes blood vessels to constrict and will temporarily increase your blood pressure. The metabolism of nicotine is relatively short but varies from individual to individual based on age, gender, race, and food intake. Taking your blood pressure about two hours after smoking will probably show your normal levels. However, smoking increases your risk for heart disease, a leading cause of death. The risk of having a heart attack is reduced after one year of not smoking.