Body Systems Flashcards
Why is it important to keep your heart strong?
Because your heart delivers oxygen and nutrients to every cell in your body to keep things running.
What type of exercise is most important for heart health?
Aerobic exercise is typically the best for heart health - it lowers blood pressure, increases circulation and energy levels.
What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the amount of pressure on your circulatory system (blood vessels/arteries/heart). It is the force exerted on the blood vessels as the heart pumps and relaxes.
What is metabolic syndrome?
A cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Metabolic syndrome includes high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels. The syndrome increases a person’s risk for heart attack and stroke.
Risk of having metabolic syndrome?
People with metabolic syndrome are 3 times
more likely to have a stroke or heart attack
and 5 times more likely to develop diabetes.
What is hyperlipidemia?
A condition in which there are high levels of fat particles (lipids) in the blood.
Examples of lipids include cholesterol and triglycerides. These substances can deposit in blood vessel walls and restrict blood flow. This creates a risk of heart attack and stroke.
Hyperlipidemia doesn’t cause any symptoms. The condition is diagnosed by routine blood tests, recommended every five years for adults.
Treatments include medication, a healthy diet, and exercise.
What is systolic blood pressure?
Systolic (top number): The amount of pressure when the heart is pumping (contracting).
What is diastolic blood pressure?
Diastolic: The amount of force (pressure) when the heart relaxes
Blood pressure equation
BP = CO X PR (cardiac output x peripheral resistance)
What to do if an individual has elevated BP:
Recommend seeing a physician for further evaluation, discuss risk factors and educate on how to reduce/prevent HBP and CVD.
BP Guidelines
New guidelines classify BP as below: Normal <120/<80 Elevated 120-129/<80 Stage 1 hypertension 130-139/80-89 Stage 2 hypertension 140/90 Hypertensive crisis = higher than 180 and/or higher than 120
The significance of high blood pressure?
Heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease, heart failure, kidney failure, aneurysm, cognitive impairments, retinal/visual damage, nerve damage
What are the signs/symptoms of a heart attack?
Cognitive problems, chest pains, back pains, fluid retention/swelling, shortness of breath, headaches
Effects of exercise on blood pressure?
Exercise- helpsbuild collateralssupporting maincoronary arteries- your heart is a muscle so exercise strengthens yourheartsforce of contractilityandmakes it able to easily overcomePR (lowering hearts effort – your resting heart rate or heart rate variability) - reduces stress(hormonal component)
Effects of weight on blood pressure?
Weight -direct correlation between fat mass (especially in abdominal region) andthickening ofarteriesand increases pressure and demand for kidneys, which regulate your blood pressure.
Why is excess belly fat harmful?
Unlike other fat in our bodies, it secretes a steady stream of chemicals that kindle inflammation throughout the body, which if left unchecked over time can damage the lining of the arterial walls, including the coronary arteries and blood vessels in the kidneys.
What are the guidelines for waist measurement?
<35 inches for women and <40 inches for men. Greater than this is an indication of metabolic syndrome.
Total Cholesterol Numbers
We want to see cholesterol <200. 200-239 = borderline. Above 240 = high.
HDL Guidelines
Ideally >40 for men, >50 for women. Optimal is >60
LDL Guidelines
Over 129 is high. Optimal is <100.
Triglycerides Guidelines
<150
Glucose Guidelines
<100 - anything greater than or equal to 100 is Abnormal Glucose Metabolism (100-125 is borderline, 126 and above is high)
What are abnormal LDL numbers?
160-189
What are abnormal HDL numbers?
<40
What are abnormal Triglyceride numbers?
200-499
Cholesterol Definition
Cholesterol is a white, waxy substance called lipoprotein (fat and protein molecule) that is found in animal products. Cholesterol is used to build cell walls and produce body hormones.
Glucose Definition
Glucose is sugar that is in your blood. It comes from the food we eat and is stored as glycogen or fat if not burned off caused by a calorie excess. The body uses it for energy and is essential for cellular metabolism.
Role of the liver with cholesterol
Our liver makes the majority of all the cholesterol we need (75%) and we need to consume very little through our diets. Cholesterol levels will change with growth spurts, illness, injury, pregnancy or breast feeding as well as after surgeries. Because cholesterol numbers may change slightly from day-to-day multiple readings may be needed to find a “true” cholesterol reading, but only the LDL cholesterol and triglyceride numbers will show great variability if measured in non-fasting states.
LDL Cholesterol - what is it?
Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) is often called the “bad” cholesterol because it collects in the walls of your blood vessels, causing the blockages of atherosclerosis, and raising your chances of health problems like a heart attack or stroke, from a sudden blood clot in an artery narrowed by atherosclerosis.
Triglycerides - what are they?
Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipid)foundin your blood. When you eat, your body converts any calories it doesn’t need to use right away intotriglycerides. Thetriglyceridesare stored in your fat cells. High triglycerides can cause you to have heart problems.
Risks associated with excess cholesterol?
Heart attack, heart disease, stroke
What is abnormal glucose metabolism?
Abnormal Glucose Metabolism (>100), also indicative of pre-diabetes, is when a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be type 2 diabetes.
Risks associated with excess glucose?
Diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, stroke, blindness, peripheral neuropathy (which can lead to amputations and disability)
Controllable risk factors for high glucose and cholesterol?
Diet, overweight/activity level, smoking, stress management, diabetes management/prevention
How to explain HDL Cholesterol:
We can think of HDL as the street sweepers or garbage trucks that clean our freeways (aka arteries); they carry trapped cholesterol back to the liver for recycling or removal.
HDL above 60mg/dl and above is considered protection against heart disease.
How to explain LDL Cholesterol:
It is like the ‘taxicab’ for cholesterol from liver to cells; it is not really ‘bad,’ it just likes to ‘litter’/take up a lot of space; we do not want our freeways overcrowded with taxis (plugged up with trash). We need to decrease the amount of LDL (i.e., less than 130) so traffic can flow better — increase activity.
Where is insulin produced?
The pancreas
How does glucose enter the cells?
Via insulin receptors, through a process called facilitated diffusion
How to decrease your fasting glucose levels?
Decrease simple carbohydrate consumption, exercise (exercise burns glucose in the body, which helps improve the body’s response to insulin, increasing insulin sensitivity), lose 5-7% of body weight
Why is insulin necessary?
To keep blood glucose levels stable in the body
How does insulin aid glucose in entering the cell?
Through a process called “facilitated diffusion”. The insulin binds to receptors which acts as a “key” to opening the cells and allowing glucose to come in.
What is Orthostatic Hypotension?
A condition in which the BP drops when the person stands up and may cause dizziness or fainting-can be caused by BP medications; certain diseases of the nervous system and long periods of bedrest.
Hypertension increases your risk of CAD and CHF by how much?
CAD (Coronary Artery Disease) by 3x
CHF (Congestive Health Failure) by 6x
What is congestive heart failure?
When your heart is too weak or stiff to pump blood properly (often from CAD - plaque buildup or stiffening of arteries)
What is peripheral artery disease?
A circulatory condition in which narrowed blood vessels reduce blood flow to the limbs.
Peripheral vascular disease is a sign of fatty deposits and calcium building up in the walls of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Risk factors include aging, diabetes, and smoking.
Symptoms may include leg pain, particularly when walking.
Role of sodium and potassium in blood pressure?
You want increased potassium and decreased sodium. Potassium-rich foods include fruits and vegetables, beans, seeds
What can drop BP 11pts?
Adopting a low-fat, plant-based diet w/ lots of fruits and veg
How much can each lifestyle change decrease BP?
~ 4-5pts (for example, increasing exercise, changing diet, managing stress, etc.)
What is the best way to prevent metabolic syndrome?
The best way to prevent metabolic syndrome and its complications is to lose weight (7-10%), which will help reduce the stress on the pancreas where insulin is formed.
