B1 - Fitness and health

Question 1

What type of blood vessel carries blood under presser?

Answer 1

Arteries.

Question 2

Which blood vessels take blood to the heart?

Answer 2

Veins.

Question 3

Why is it important for blood to reach all parts of the body?

Answer 3

This is because the blood carries food and oxygen to the cells all around the body.

Question 4

What is fitness?

Answer 4

Fitness is the ability to do physical activity.

Question 5

What is health?

Answer 5

Health is being free from disease.

Question 6

Can you be healthy but not fit or fit but not healthy?

Answer 6

Yes, as you can be free from disease but unable to do physical activity. Alternatively, you can be capable of doing lots of physical activity but be ill.

Question 7

What is blood pressure measured in?

Answer 7

mmHg (millimeters of mercury).

Question 8

What is systolic pressure?

Answer 8

Systolic pressure is the maximum pressure the heart produces (when the heart contracts).

Question 9

What is diastolic pressure?

Answer 9

Diastolic pressure is the pressure between heartbeats (when the heart relaxes).

Question 10

What are the main ways of measuring fitness?

Answer 10

• strength
• agility
• flexibility
• stamina
• cardiovascular efficiency
• speed

Question 11

What is a stroke?

Answer 11

When small blood vessels burst in the brain.

Question 12

What can low blood pressure lead to?

Answer 12

Low blood pressure can lead to:

• poor circulation
• kidney failure
• dizziness
• fainting

Question 13

How can low blood pressure cause poor blood circulation?

Answer 13

The blood will not be at a high enough pressure to carry the required amount of food and oxygen to muscles and other body cells.

Question 14

What are the factors that increase the chance of heart disease?

Answer 14

• having high blood pressure
• smoking
• eating lots of saturated fat
• having lots of salt

Question 15

What can block an artery by sticking to its walls?

Answer 15

Saturated animal fats like cholesterol.

Question 16

What happens when salt levels are too high?

Answer 16

The body retains water and so a higher volume of blood is pumped by the heart, which increases blood pressure.

Question 17

How does carbon monoxide reduce the amount of oxygen carried by the blood?

Answer 17

It binds to the haemoglobin and prevents it from carrying as much oxygen.

Question 18

What does nicotine do to the heart?

Answer 18

Nicotine is a stimulant and speeds up the heart which increases blood pressure.

Question 19

What does the coronary artery do?

Answer 19

The coronary artery supplies the heart muscles with oxygen and food.

Question 20

Why is it dangerous if there is a blockage in a coronary artery?

Answer 20

If the artery is blocked the heart muscles are not supplied with energy and can result in a heart attack.

Question 21

What is a thrombosis?

Answer 21

A thrombosis is the clotting of blood in a blood vessel causing a blockage.

Question 22

What happens if there is a thrombosis in the coronary artery?

Answer 22

It causes a heart attack.