Blood Pressure Research Paper

Blood is moved from the heart to the body by arteries. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. With each heartbeat, blood is pumped into the arteries. Systolic pressure is determined when the heart is contracting which causes increased pressure in the arteries. Diastolic Blood pressure is the remaining pressure in the arteries when the ventricles of the heart is relaxed allowing the heart to fill with blood. Blood pressure is influenced by cardiac output (CO) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR). The formula to determine blood pressures is BP=CO x SVR. Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped by each ventricle in 1 minute. Systemic vascular resistance is the force formed in the small arteries
The elevated pressure in the arteries, reduces oxygen and blood flow to the brain, causing the heart to increase its workload and oxygen utilization. Also the elevated pressure decreases the blood flow and oxygenation of the kidneys. The nervous system comes into play when blood pressure drops. Blood pressure is then increased by activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Increased activity in the SNS causes elevated heart rate and cardiac contractility. However, causing the arteries to constrict and stimulate the kidneys to circulate renin. Therefore, by increasing CO and SVR blood pressure increases in return. The SNS activation is usually stimulate in the response to stress factors. The renal system is also a regulator for blood pressure. The blood pressure is regulated by the control of sodium excretion and extracellular fluid (ECF) volume. When sodium (Na+) is retained water (H2O) retained as well. As a result of Na+ and H2O, ECF volume increases which causes an increase in CO and blood pressure by the venous return to the heart and stroke
Renin is secreted in the response to SNS stimulation by the Juxtaglomertular apparatus (JG apparatus). Renin converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I which is then converted in the lungs into angiotensin II by angiotensin- converting enzymes (ACE). Angiotensin II, a vasoconstrictor causes an increase in SVR which immediately raise blood pressure and also stimulates the release of aldosterone from the adrenal cortex. Aldosterone provokes the retention of NA+ and H2O by the kidneys that raises the blood volume and CO as a result causes an elevation in blood