Nicotine, found in tobacco, increases risk of which conditions?

• A. Asthma and allergies
• B. Gastrointestinal ulcers
• C. Hypertension and stroke
• D. Anemia and bleeding disorders

Answer: (C)

Nicotine's effect on the cardiovascular system is the key idea. It stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, releasing adrenaline and noradrenaline, which makes the heart beat faster and the blood vessels constrict. This increases blood pressure acutely and, with long-term tobacco use, contributes to persistent hypertension and damage to blood vessels. Over time, the combination of high pressure and vascular injury raises the risk of stroke, and nicotine also promotes clotting and atherosclerosis, further elevating that stroke risk.

Other options aren’t as directly linked. Asthma and allergies are primarily about airway inflammation and immune responses, and while smoking can worsen respiratory symptoms, nicotine exposure isn’t a primary cause of developing asthma or allergies. Gastrointestinal ulcers can be affected by smoking, but the strongest, most direct link from nicotine is to cardiovascular risks like hypertension and stroke. Anemia and bleeding disorders aren’t typical direct outcomes of nicotine exposure.