Blood Pressure and Hypertension

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Blood Pressure and Hypertension
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Blood Pressure

• Your Blood Pressure Reflects
• How hard your heart is working
• The condition of your arteries

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Cardiac Output x Arterial Resistance

• Cardiac Output Amount of blood your heart pumps
  per minute
• Arterial Resistance Pressure the walls of the
  arteries exert on the flowing blood

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What regulates your blood pressure?

• Complex interactions among your Central Nervous
  System (CNS), hormones, and substances your blood
  vessels produce from the endothelium
• Endothelium layer of cells lining the inner
  wall of blood vessels produce both vasodilators
  and vasoconstrictors

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What happens when blood pressure gets too high?

• Nerve cells in your circulatory system tell your
  Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
• ANS manages involuntary activities of smooth
  muscles, including those in the intestines, sweat
  glands, airways, heart and blood vessels

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Autonomic Nervous System

• The ANS is made of the sympathetic and
  parasympathetic nervous systems
• The SYMPATHETIC nervous system
• Prepares body for action
• Triggers release of the neurotransmitters
  epinephrine and norepinephrine
• Raises blood pressure

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Autonomic Nervous System

• The ANS is made of the sympathetic and
  parasympathetic nervous systems
• The PARASYMPATHETIC nervous system helps the body
  recover from action

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How is blood pressure measured?

• Sphygmomanometer traditional blood pressure
  measuring device measures in mm Hg (mercury)
• Systolic pressure top , amount of pressure
  during the hearts pumping phase (systole)
• Diastolic pressure bottom , amount of pressure
  during resting phase between heartbeats (diastole)

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Classifications of Hypertension

• ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION (Primary hypertension)
• - 90-95 of cases
• -condition has no identifiable underlying cause

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Classifications of Hypertension

• SECONDARY HYPERTENSION arises from another
  condition often treatable
• Common causes
• Renal artery stenosis narrowing of artery that
  supplies blood to the kidneys
• Hyperaldosteronism too much aldosterone, a
  hormone made by the adrenal glands that regulates
  potassium and sodium levels

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Secondary Hypertension

• 3) Hyperthyroidism overactive thyroid gland

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How High is High Blood Pressure?

• See your handout for information on
• -Prehypertension
• -Stage 1 Hypertension
• -Stage 2 Hypertension

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Risk Factors for Hypertension

• Race
• Family history
• Age
• Sex

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Risk Factors for Hypertension

• Cigarette smoking
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Diet (too much salt, saturated fat, and calories
  not enough fruits and vegetables)
• Obesity and overweight
• Inactivity
• Stress