Cardiovascular drift

Question 1

What is cardiovascular drift?

Answer 1

When the heart rate increases due to stroke volume decreasing.

Question 2

Describe the process of cardiovascular drift

Answer 2

1. Warm environment, more than 10 mins.
2. Sweat
3. Reduced plasma volume
4. Blood viscosity increases
5. Blood pressure decreases
6. Venous return decreases
7. Stroke volume decreases
8. Heart rate increases, to maintain cardiac output.

Question 3

Describe the cardiovascular drift graph

Answer 3

Heart rate increases during first 10mins, then levels into steady incline.
Stroke volume increases in first 10mins, then levels into a steady decline.
Cardiac output remains at steady incline throughout 50 mins.