B1- Fitness and health Flashcards
What does the circulatory system do?
Carries oxygen and glucose in the blood to the bodies cells
So that energy can be released through aerobic respiration
What happens when the heart relaxes and contracts
Relaxes: it fills with blood
Contracts: squeezes the blood out into the arteries
Why is it important that the heart contracts
So that blood can supply cells with glucose and oxygen for respiration
What is the surge of blood around the body caused by the heart contracting called?
Heart beat
Pulse
What is blood pressure
A measure of the force of blood per unit area as it flows through the arteries, measured in mm Hg. Millimetres of mercury
What are the two measurements of blood pressure and what do they represent
Systolic: the first number, it is the pressure in your arteries when your heart contracts, this is when blood pressure is highest
Diastolic: the second number, the pressure in your heart when it relaxes
What is normal blood pressure and what can vary it
120/80 and can be varied by age and lifestyle(diet and exercise)
What are causes of high blood pressure and what can you do to reduce it
Excess weight
High stress levels
Excess alcohol
Poor diet(too much salt, saturated fat and sugar)
What causes a build up of cholesterol and what risks does it come with
Caused by excess saturated fat. plaque bulges into lumen such restricts or blocks blood flow through the arteries, this increases the risk of a heart attack
What’s issues to the heart do smoking cause?
Carbon monoxide reduces the capacity the blood has to carry oxygen, the heart rate and pressure then increases to compensate. Nicotine also increases the heart rate
What does carbon monoxide take the place of causing the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood
Haemoglobin
Why is high blood pressure dangerous long term
It weakens the blood vessels which can eventually burst, this could lead to brain damage if it bursts in the brain or a stroke
If it bursts in the kidney it can lead to kidney damage
What does low blood pressure cause and what does it lead to
Low blood pressure means the blood can’t circulate properly so the body is deprived of glucose and oxygen. This can lead to dizziness, fainting, cold hands and feet.pressure can also drop in the kidneys leading to kidney failure
What factors increase the risk of heart disease?
High blood pressure.
Smoking- carbon monoxide combined with red blood cells preventing them from carrying as much oxygen.
Too much salt
High fat diets
What do high fat and high cholesterol diets do?
Block arteries causing heart attacks, heart attacks are also more likely with narrowed coronary arteries and thrombosis
