Blood pressure heart disorder Notes 1 Pulse Pressure

Blood pressure & heart disorder Notes

(1) Pulse • Pressure wave that travels through arteries – Result of contraction and relaxation of artery – Pulse Rate should = Heart Rate • Could vary if blood vessel filled with fatty deposits or damaged interior walls

(2) Blood Pressure • Pressure blood exerts against vessel walls • Keeps blood circulating • Ventricles Contract: – Blood forced into arteries – Arteries expand as blood travels through – Blood moves high low pressure • Blood continues to move into areas without blood • Eventually moves back to heart (when heart empties out)

(3) Measuring Blood Pressure • Systolic Pressure – Pressure in arteries – Peak of ventricular contraction • Diastolic Pressure – Pressure in ventricles – Relaxed ventricles • Measuring Blood Pressure 1. Cuff is inflated/tightened until cuff pressure is greater than systolic pressure 2. Blood flow in arm ceases 3. No pulse (heard + felt) 4. Pressure in cuff is reduced listen for pulse sounds 5. Systolic Blood Pressure = first soft tapping sounds 6. Diastolic Blood Pressure = no more tapping sounds, constant flow 7. Expressed: “Systolic over Diastolic”

(4) Hypotension • Low blood pressure • Systolic = 100 and over • Causes: – Increase in fitness – Change in body position and circulation of blood pressure (sitting standing) – Poor nutrition (decreased viscosity) – Blood loss

(5) Hypertension • High blood pressure • Systolic = 140 and over • Causes: – Damaged arterial walls – Fatty deposits – Increased viscosity of blood – Increased stress

(6) Coronary Artery Disease • Blood vessels fill with fat + calcium deposits • Constricts inner volume of blood vessels • Severely increases pressure within blood vessels • Can build up + not allow blood flow

(7) Congenital Heart Defect • Common in infants • Causes: – Maternal infection – Drugs • Defects: – Valves do not open/close properly – Septum separating right + left side may not be complete – Missing chambers/arteries

(8) Congestive Heart Failure • Weaking of heart + blood vessels: – Common in older + unhealthy individuals • Pumping efficiency decreased: – Decrease in blood flow – Decrease in muscle contraction • Vessels most likely clogged with fat + calcium: – Leads to straining of heart muscle – Damage to vessels scar tissue in repair

(9) Heart Fibrillation • Rapid uncoordinated shuddering/pulsing of heart muscle – Does not allow for proper pumping of blood – Major cause of heart attack + death in adults • Tachycardia = rapid heart rate • Brachycardia = slowed heart rate