Snapshot What kinds of things make you feel stressed out? What do you do to calm back down? Do you have any good tricks for de-stressing??
Welcome back! Agenda - Introduction to blood pressure - Blood pressure lab
Under Pressure Review Blood pressure - The force/pressure exerted by your blood against your artery walls as it is pumped through your body Systolic - The larger number found on top - measures arterial pressure during a heartbeat Diastolic - The smaller number found on the bottom - measures arterial pressure between heartbeats Normal bp is ~ 120/80 mmhg
Under Pressure Your bp is controlled by a few different organ systems! 1. Nervous system (brain, nerves, etc.) 2. Endocrine system (hormones) 3. Various autoregulatory functions found in numerous other systems This is but a small part of what keeps your bodily machine running! Homeostasis ~ Maintaining internal bodily conditions and functions
Effects of hypertension (high bp) - - Often no symptoms - your Dr. keeps a record of bp! - Left untreated, can lead to ruptures in blood vessels: - Damage to brain, heart, eyes, kidneys, reproductive organs (ya body needs blood!) - Of untreated patients, ½ die of heart disease; another ⅓ die of stroke Factors & causes - Primary hypertension = most common; no obvious cause; develops gradually - Secondary hypertension = develops suddenly; underlying causes like: - obstructive sleep apnea, adrenal gland tumors, thyroid issues, congenital defects, medication (some BC pills, cold medicines, OTC pain relievers, prescription drugs, etc.), illegal drugs (cocaine & amphetamines)
Hypertension risk factors Certain factors can put you at greater risk for high bp: - Aging, race (esp. African descent), family history of high bp, tobacco use, obesity, excess salt, low potassium, lack of exercise, heavy alcohol use, stress, and chronic conditions (diabetes, sleep apnea, kidney disease), sometimes pregnancy So what can you do? Two simple, safe & cost-effective treatments: Healthy diet and regular exercise In some cases, doctors may need to prescribe medication in addition to the patient changing their diet and exercise. Overall: Try to control what risk factors you can!
Effects of hypotension (low bp) - - Milder symptoms: dizziness, fainting, blurred vision, fatigue, etc. - Severe symptoms: confusion (esp. elderly), cold & pale skin, shallow breathing, weak pulse - Severe cases can cause damage to heart & brain (your body needs oxygen!) Factors and causes - Pregnancy - Low heart rate - Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) - Dehydration - Blood loss - Not enough salt in diet - Severe infection (septicemia) - Anaphylaxis - Lack of B-12 and folate in diet - Certain medication (Alpha and Beta blockers, drugs for Parkinson s, some antidepressants, and some pills for erectile dysfunction)
Hypotension treatments - Drink more water - Limit use of alcohol - Add more salt to diet - Eat a variety of food (human diet) to get proper nutrients - Eat small, low-carb meals (to control blood sugar swings) - Wear compression stockings - Be mindful of body positions (avoid those that reduce blood flow) - Medications - Some boost blood volume; others restrict ability of blood vessels to expand
Checking your bp How to pronounce Sphygmamonometer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adgo9cwvycq&t=4s How to check your bp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8y24vz-tvg&t=4s Lower your bp in minutes! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4fsqcwpzta
Bp Lab! - Groups of 3-4 - Each person completes their own packet - Each group gets a bp cuff (collect from teacher in the lab) - If short on stethoscopes, Ms. Spencer will share hers. THESE ARE EXPENSIVE- please do not hand off to another group! Give back to Ms. Spencer!!!! If another group needs it, they can get it from me! Thank you!!