Some of the effects of smoking on the heart and blood vessels can be detected almost immediately after a person starts to smoke a cigarette. Within one minute after smoking begins, the smoker's heart rate begins to increase; it may increase by as much as 30 percent during the first 10 minutes of smoking. (1) These increases are temporary, but since most smokers smoke cigarettes several times a day, they occur often and may play a role in long-term problems.
Sources 1. DeCesaris R, Ranieri G, Filitti V, Bonfantino MV, Andriani A. Cardiovascular effects of cigarette smoking. Cardiology 1992;81:233-237.