Blood Pressure Flashcards
What is blood pressure?
A measure of the hydrostatic force of the blood against the walls of a blood vessel.
Hypertension -
high blood pressure
increased risk of atherosclerosis
Hypotension -
low blood pressure
may cause dizziness and fainting
How is blood pressure measured?
- In the brachial artery in the arm
- in mmHg
- Systolic pressure is the top number
- Diastolic pressure is the bottom number
What is systolic pressure?
Maximum blood pressure when the heart contracts
What is the healthy range for systolic pressure?
100 - 140mmHg
What is diastolic pressure?
The blood pressure when the heart is relaxed
What is the healthy range for diastolic pressure?
60-90mmHg
What is peripheral resistance?
friction between the blood and the walls of bloops vessels.
How do elastic fibres maintain blood pressure?
expand and recoil
How does adrenaline increase blood pressure?
causes muscle in artery walls to contract
