BIO FPX 1000 Assessment 1 Cardiovascular System Lab
Capella University
BIO FPX 1000 Human Biology
Prof. Name
October, 2024
Cardiovascular System Lab
One basic activity performed in the lab about the cardiovascular system involves the assessment of blood pressure, which makes it essential for obtaining information related to cardiovascular health and function (Schutte et al., 2022). It shows the use of digital monitors and manual sphygmomanometers, teaching pupils to get hands-on while putting a cuff in appropriate positions to interpret readings correctly. The lab focuses on how exercise, stress conditions, and postures will affect blood pressure measurements. Students are expected to look into the mechanisms that physiologically help regulate blood pressure. Those include the heart, vessels, neural factors, and hormonal. This should equip students with the knowledge to identify what abnormal readings mean, such as hypertension, and understand the significance of monitoring in clinical practice.
What is Blood Pressure
BP is a very important vital sign that is the force exerted by circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels, particularly the arteries (Mukkamala et al., 2022). BP values are reported as two numbers: systolic pressure is the highest pressure when the heart is in contraction and diastolic pressure is the lowest when the heart is at rest between beats. These readings are measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg), and the usual reading for blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg. Systolic pressure reflects how well the heart pumps and the amount of blood it is forcing into the arteries, while diastolic pressure reflects how well the heart rests and the resistance of the blood vessels. Blood pressure may fluctuate for several reasons, including exercise, stress, position in the body, and the general health of the body.
The right blood pressure is always required for a healthy heart as high and too low levels of blood pressure can cause major health conditions (Flack & Adekola, 2020). The increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and even kidney failure comes with elevated blood pressure due to too much pressure on the heart and vessels. Low blood pressure causes dizziness and fainting, along with an insufficient amount of blood in the vessels reaching vital organs. Blood pressure needs to be checked regularly to identify any potential issues related to the cardiovascular system early on so that they can be managed effectively. Lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and stress management play a significant role in blood pressure regulation, and healthcare providers often recommend lifestyle modifications alongside pharmacological treatments to achieve and maintain healthy blood pressure levels.
What is Heart Rate
The heart rate, which reflects the number of heartbeats per minute, is one of the prominent markers of cardiovascular wellness and general fitness (Tiwari et al., 2020). It is autonomically regulated and is influenced by a wide range of stimuli, including the body’s physical activity level, emotional condition, body temperature, and overall health status. Resting heart rate normally ranges for adults from 60 bpm and 100 bpm, even though most athletes are measured with a much lower level due to high cardiovascular effectiveness. Heart rate can also be assessed using a lot of different techniques such as pulse palpation at several peripheral sites such as the wrist or neck, the use of electronic monitors, and other machines like electrocardiogram (ECG). In the clinical environment, it is very crucial to monitor heart rate for an assessment of heart function, diagnosis of arrhythmias, and response of the body to stress and exercise. Sometimes, alterations in heart rate can represent illness; thus, for example, an elevated heart rate might indicate tension, dehydration, or disease, while a low heart rate could suggest heart disease.
Correlation between Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
One of the main aspects of cardiovascular physiology relates to the relationship between heart rate and blood pressure (Parati et al., 2020). The two parameters are always interlinked in their respective responses to various physiological demands. Typically, the increment in heart rate is usually accompanied by an increase in blood pressure during exercise or stress because the heart pumps faster to facilitate the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the muscles and vital organs. It is modulated by the autonomic nervous system, which can alter cardiac output and vascular resistance to ensure proper blood flow. However, there are instances where this association can differ from one individual to another and can even be modified by fitness, age, and other cardiac diseases. This makes it possible for the heart to adjust so that even at a very low rate, maintaining blood pressure effectively becomes possible, and here one may show that high rates of the heart do not correspond with high rates of blood. The study of this kind of interaction is thus very central to many clinical decisions concerning cardiovascular assessment in determining appropriate responses of the body under exercise, stress, and diseases.
