 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
  |
The pressure of the blood in the human body depends upon the heart beat rate, the strength of the heart beat, the quantity of blood pushed out of the heart at each heart beat and also the resistance to flow that the blood vessels have.
Heart beat rate changes as described above and so will have an effect on blood pressure.
The strength of the heart beat can be affected by the condition of the cardiac muscle. If the muscle becomes damaged, perhaps through age, then blood pressure is affected.
The quantity of blood pushed out of the heart can be affected by many things. For example, if any of the valves become damaged then this will affect the amounts of blood being moved during the cardiac cycle.
The resistance to flow in the blood vessels can be affected by lifestyle and diet. For example, fat can be deposited in the vessels so reducing the diameter of the vessels and therefore restricting the flow. Excessive pressure on the vessels can also increase the resistance to flow and so increase the blood pressure.
Useful Link:
Healthy Heart
GlaxoSmithKline and Enigma Interactive accept no responsibility for the links to other websites and content contained therein. Linked websites do not necessarily represent the views of GlaxoSmithKline or Enigma Interactive. Privacy Statement.