BIO FPX 1000 Assessment 1 Cardiovascular System Lab

BIO FPX 1000 Assessment 1 Cardiovascular System Lab

Student Name

Capella University

BIO FPX 1000 Human Biology

Prof. Name:

Date

Cardiovascular System Lab

Explain what blood pressure means

Blood pressure is a measure of the effort the heart exerts to circulate blood throughout the body. Normal blood pressure levels range between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg. High blood pressure is identified when readings are 140/90 mmHg or higher, while low blood pressure is defined as 90/60 mmHg or below. Elevated blood pressure significantly increases the risk of various long-term health conditions, including coronary heart disease and kidney disease. Additionally, certain medications may lower blood pressure as a side effect. Other underlying conditions, such as dehydration and heart failure, can also contribute to low blood pressure (Fuchs & Whelton, 2020).

Explain what heart rate measures

Heart rate refers to the number of times the heart beats per minute. The body naturally adjusts the heart rate based on a person’s activities and surrounding environment. This explains why heart rate increases during physical activity, excitement, or fear and decreases during relaxation, calm, or comfort. The typical resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm). An abnormal heart rate occurs when the heart beats too quickly (over 100 bpm) or too slowly (under 60 bpm). Abnormal heart rhythms can lead to inefficient blood pumping, reducing the body’s ability to circulate blood and resulting in decreased oxygen delivery to various organs, potentially causing harm (Forte et al., 2019).

Explain the correlation between heart rate and blood pressure

Heart rate and blood pressure do not always increase simultaneously. While heart rate can rise rapidly, blood pressure does not necessarily follow the same pattern. Healthy blood vessels can expand to accommodate increased blood flow, even if the heart is beating more frequently. For example, during exercise, the heart beats faster to supply more blood to the muscles, and while heart rate may double safely, blood pressure might only slightly increase (Yang et al., 2020). An irregular resting heart rate may indicate an arrhythmia, a condition affecting heart rate. Atrial fibrillation, a common arrhythmia, can cause a high and erratic resting heart rate, increasing the risk of stroke. Heart block, a condition where certain electrical circuits in the heart malfunction, can slow the heart’s pumping efficiency or cause it to skip beats, leading to symptoms like fatigue or fainting (Schwartz et al., 2020). The term “silent killer” is often used to describe high blood pressure due to its lack of symptoms despite its dangerous nature. Over time, untreated high blood pressure can significantly increase the risk of heart attack or stroke (Griendling et al., 2021).

Evaluate cardiovascular results in patients

Conclusion

Blood pressure measures the heart’s effort to pump blood throughout the body, with an ideal range between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg. Heart rate is the number of heartbeats per minute, typically ranging from 60 to 100 bpm in adults. Abnormal blood pressure, whether high or low, can be managed through lifestyle changes, which are essential for maintaining cardiovascular health.

References

Chang, H., Cheng, H., Chen, C., Wang, T., Soenarta, A. A., Turana, Y., Teo, B. W., Tay, J. C., Tsoi, K., Wang, J., & Kario, K. (2020). Dietary intervention for the management of hypertension in Asia. The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 23(3), 538–544. https://doi.org/10.1111/jch.14116

Dikalov, S., Itani, H., Richmond, B., Arslanbaeva, L., Vergeade, A., Rahman, S. M. J., Boutaud, O., Blackwell, T., Massion, P. P., Harrison, D. G., & Dikalova, A. (2019). Tobacco smoking induces cardiovascular mitochondrial oxidative stress, promotes endothelial dysfunction, and enhances hypertension. American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 316(3), H639–H646. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00595.2018

Fantin, F., Giani, A., Zoico, E., Rossi, A. P., Mazzali, G., & Zamboni, M. (2019). Weight Loss and Hypertension in Obese Subjects. Nutrients, 11(7), 1667. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11071667

Forte, G., Favieri, F., & Casagrande, M. (2019). Heart Rate Variability and Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.00710

Fuchs, F. D., & Whelton, P. K. (2020). High Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Disease. Hypertension, 75(2), 285–292.

BIO FPX 1000 Assessment 1 Cardiovascular System Lab

Griendling, K. K., Camargo, L. L., Rios, F. J., Alves-Lopes, R., Montezano, A. C., & Touyz, R. M. (2021). Oxidative Stress and Hypertension. Circulation Research, 128(7), 993–1020. https://doi.org/10.1161/circresaha.121.318063

Puddey, I. B., Mori, T. A., Barden, A. E., & Beilin, L. J. (2019). Alcohol and Hypertension—New Insights and Lingering Controversies. Current Hypertension Reports, 21(10). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-019-0984-1

Schwartz, P. J., Ackerman, M. J., Antzelevitch, C., Bezzina, C. R., Borggrefe, M., Cuneo, B. F., & Wilde, A. A. M. (2020). Inherited cardiac arrhythmias. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-020-0188-7

Valenzuela, P. L., Carrera-Bastos, P., Gálvez, B. G., Ruiz-Hurtado, G., Ordovas, J. M., Ruilope, L. M., & Lucia, A. (2020). Lifestyle interventions for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. Nature Reviews Cardiology, 18(4), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41569-020-00437-9

Yang, L.-T., Pellikka, P. A., Enriquez-Sarano, M., Scott, C. G., Padang, R., Mankad, S. V., Schaff, H. V., & Michelena, H. I. (2020). Diastolic Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Are Independently Associated With Mortality in Chronic Aortic Regurgitation. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 75(1), 29–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2019.10.047