Question

A client who is newly diagnosed with high blood pressure has a 20-pack-year tobacco history. The nurse recommends smoking cessation for this client because nicotine:

a. raises heart rate, constricts arterioles, and reduces the heart's ability to eject blood.
b. decreases heart rate, constricts arterioles, and reduces the heart's ability to eject blood.
c. increases heart rate, constricts arterioles, and increases the heart's ability to eject blood.
d. decreases circulating blood volume.

Answer 1

Nicotine raises heart rate, constricts arterioles, and reduces the heart's ability to eject blood, exacerbating high blood pressure and increasing cardiovascular risk.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to the question is that nicotine: a. raises heart rate, constricts arterioles, and reduces the heart's ability to eject blood. Nicotine's effect on the cardiovascular system includes stimulating the release of adrenaline, which raises the heart rate and increases the workload on the heart. It also leads to the constriction of arterioles, which raises blood pressure. Prolonged vasoconstriction and increased workload on the heart can ultimately reduce the heart's ability to efficiently eject blood, further exacerbating conditions like high blood pressure.