Blood pressure Flashcards
Define blood pressure. How can blood pressure be calculated?
- Blood pressure is the force exerted by the blood against the walls of the blood vessels; it is vital for maintaining blood flow around the body.
- Blood flow x resistance
What two main factors effect blood pressure?
- Cardiac output – the volume of blood flowing into the system from the left ventricle.
- Resistance to the blood flow – could be viscosity of the blood, blood vessel length or radius.
What are typical readings for blood pressure?
120 mm Hg
__________
80 mm Hg
Top reading is the systolic reading – the pressure from left ventricle pumping blood into the system
Bottom reading is diastolic – the pressure when the heart relaxes and fills with blood.
What changes happen to blood pressure during steady aerobic exercise?
- Systolic pressure increases due to increased cardiac output and demand of oxygen from working muscles.
- Diastolic pressure normally remains at a steady state.
What changes happen to blood pressure during high intensity exercise?
- Systolic pressure increases due to increased cardiac output and demand of oxygen from working muscles.
- Diastolic pressure also increases but only slightly due to resistance within blood vessels.
What does hypertension mean?
High blood pressure (hypertension) means that your blood pressure is continually higher than the recommended level.
What are the readings for hypertension?
You are said to have high blood pressure if readings on separate occasions consistently show your blood pressure to be 140/90mmHg or higher
Who is most at risk from hypertension?
You are at increased risk if you:
- are overweight
- have a relative with high blood pressure
- smoke
- eat too much salt
- don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables
- don’t do enough exercise
- drink too much coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks)
- drink too much alcohol
- are aged over 65
