Understanding Blood Pressure and Circulation

Having just lost my mother in September, I am naturally very concerned about my father's health. About ten years ago, Dad had a major heart attack. Fortunately for our family he was staying in a hotel near Cleveland Hospital awaiting his morning check in for his scheduled heart surgery. He was there in the first place as his doctors in Pennsylvania felt that they did not have the expertise to help him any further. This was an unacceptable response for my mom, my siblings and myself. Hence, our contact with Cleveland. Had he not been taken to Cleveland Hospital, I truly believe I would today no longer have either parent in this world any longer.

Dad has now moved in with me since my mother's passing and I began noticing some wheezing upon exertion. Out to Cleveland we headed after scheduling an appointment with the cardiologist affiliated with the Cleveland Hospital.

I am happy to share that we received good news. Fortunately, his bypasses are mostly clear. Our family just didn't want to trust his heart to anyone else. I would like to express my many thanks to the folks at Cleveland Hospital. I also felt compelled to research and write about blood pressure and blood circulation. I hope this article may be of help to others.

Blood Pressure and Circulation

Discussing blood pressure (BP) requires that one first understands the basics of what first what blood pressure essentially is or refers to. The organs in your body require oxygen to survive. Oxygen is carried by the blood throughout the body. The heart beats and creates pressure, which pushes blood through a system of arteries and veins or blood vessels and capillaries. The pressure that is put forth by circulating blood upon the walls of the blood vessels creates blood pressure, which is one of the main vital signs. As an individual’s heart beats, there are varying degrees of blood pressure. There is a maximum pressure or systolic pressure and a minimum pressure or diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure refers to the positive fluid pressure which occurs within the chambers of the heart and is directly linked to the heart and the lungs. It is the period of the cycle of the cardiac system where the section of the heart, the myocardium, contracts in response to intricate physiological and electrical stimuli. When one discusses the diastolic pressure, they are referring to the duration when the heart fills with blood after the systolic contraction. One could think of it as recoil opposed to a coil.

The average BP, which is caused by the pumping heart and resistance to flow in blood vessels, decreases as the circulating blood moves in the direction away from the heart and works its way through the arteries. An individual’s blood pressure drops most briskly along the small arterioles and the small arteries. A person’s blood pressure steadily decreases as the blood continues to move through the capillaries and returns back to the heart, which occurs through veins. One must consider the effects of the valves in the veins, the pumping that occurs in response to the contraction of the skeletal muscles and of course, gravity plays a role as well.

The blood pressure may be measured at an individual’s upper arm. It is measured on the inside of the elbow directly at the brachial artery, the major blood vessel at the upper arm. The role of the vessel is to carry the blood away from the heart.

High blood pressure

Problems occur when individuals have high blood pressure, often called hypertension. People mistakenly attribute high blood pressure to personality traits such as anxiety or nervousness. However, even very calm individuals may have hypertension.

Hypertension is a condition that occurs when there is a rise in pressure as a result of circulating blood on the artery walls. The arteries consist of muscle and a tissue with an element of elasticity. The more the exertion of an individual, the more forcefully the blood pumps, which stretches the arteries increasingly in order for blood to flow more easily. When the pressure is high on a continuum, the heart and arteries are working overtime, the arteries are stretched beyond a natural condition, which in turn leads to arterial disease, strokes and heart attacks. This stretching may lead to vascular weakness leading to possible ruptures leading to strokes or aneurysms. The weaknesses may also lead to vascular scarring enabling the tissue to act like nets that catch debris such as plaque, cholesterol or blood cells that are passing through the bloodstream. There is an increased risk of blood clots, which can break off and block vessels also leading to a possible stroke. The plaque buildup lends itself to the heart working harder to pump blood throughout the body. As mentioned, the organs need oxygen, which is delivered by the blood as it is pumped from the heart. If the organs are not receiving adequate oxygen, other areas of the body begin to deteriorate as well.

Who is at Risk for high blood pressure?

People tend to believe that high blood pressure only happens as you age. This is not entirely accurate. Hypertension occurs in both adults and in children. However, it is true that people over the age of 35 have a higher risk for high blood pressure. There are groups that have higher risks for as well. African-Americans, the elderly, those with obesity issues, individuals suffering from diabetes mellitus, have gout, heavy drinkers, those with kidney disease, middle-aged folks and women on birth control pills are more at risk for high blood pressure than others.

What is Low Blood Pressure?

Low blood pressure is almost never a problem as long as no symptoms exist that seem to indicate otherwise. However, health problems may happen if a person’s blood pressure drops suddenly, which may lead to the brain becoming deprived of an adequate blood and oxygen supply. If an individual becomes dizzy or lightheaded, this may be the case.

When a person stands up, blood naturally pools in the lower extremities. The body compensates by sending messages to the heart to beat faster, which causes the blood vessels to constrict. This offsets the drop in blood pressure. If this happens too slowly, the pressure drops or hypotension occurs.

Blood flow in the brain naturally declines with age that is often the result of plaque buildup in blood vessels. The risk of hypotension also normally increases with age.

What is the Genetic Link?

Blood Pressure patterns do often run in families. It is advisable to be aware of your parent’s medical history in regards to blood pressure.

Preventative measures

Have a regular exercise regimen and eat a healthy diet. Get your blood pressure checked regularly and do what your doctor recommends to protect your heart!