Besides raising blood pressure, what is a direct damaging effect of tobacco smoke on the blood itself?
Answer
It lowers the amount of oxygen the blood can carry
Smoking tobacco is highlighted as extremely detrimental to cardiovascular health due to multiple mechanisms. While it certainly contributes to raising blood pressure and damaging the arterial lining, making vessels prone to plaque adherence, it also directly impairs the blood's fundamental capacity to transport oxygen throughout the body. This reduction in oxygen-carrying capability places additional stress on the entire system, further straining the heart muscle and contributing to overall cardiovascular risk.

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