Heart health: Hookahs more harmful than cigarettes, can trigger hypertension and heart problems The Economic Times Smoking driven systemic inflammation elevates mortality risk in hypertensive patients: A cross sectional study using insights from NHANES 19992018 Hospital Acquired and Ventilator Associated Pneumonia Oncohema Key Smoking triggers an immediate, temporary spike in blood pressure and damages artery walls. While the direct, long term link to chronic hypertension is complex and debated, smoking heavily accelerates plaque buildup, narrows blood