The Cardiovascular System and How it is Affected by High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can be managed by dietary intake and lifestyle. If we can control high blood pressure, chances are that we will lessen the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney problems, and other complications related to the excretory and the cardiovascular systems.

In order to do this, we must understand the vascular system. The body is composed of some fifteen trillion cells, which are grouped according to tissues, and cells and further categorized into various systems. The organ, cell, and the organ system have their own designated purpose.

In high blood pressure, the organs involved are the heart, skin, kidneys, lungs, and some glands while the systems involved are the excretory and the cardiovascular systems. Further, the muscle and vascular tissues are also included.

The individual cell requires oxygen and plenty of nutrients. When nutrients metabolize, there is buildup of waste products, especially carbon dioxide being the abundant, to be removed. This is where the cardiovascular system will enter into the picture by removing the wastes and distributing the nutrients to every cell.

The heart will pump a bright red blood filled with oxygen to the aorta, the biggest artery, and to the arterioles and capillaries. The arteriole is the small blood vessel that extends and branches from the artery, which is connected to the capillaries (smallest blood vessels).

The arterioles and microscopic capillaries, which have oxygen and other nutrients, will penetrate every tissue for distribution to each cell. The venous system returns the purified blood to the heart during circulation , by carrying the waste-laden blood to the lungs for carbon dioxide removal and to the kidneys for removal of wastes. As an important function of the cardiovascular system, blood is cleansed and will be returned to the heart for another circulation, this time for distribution.

The peripheral circulatory system is the system when the arterioles and veins transport the blood to and from the muscles and skin. The purpose of which is to bring nutrients and remove wastes in the cells, and regulate body temperature. The body temperature is regulated by an increase in the blood flow to emit heat and the blood flow is reduced when conserving energy.

Since the role of the heart is to pump blood, pressure is needed. Just like any fluid pump, the blood shoves the blood with force on a single stroke, which is called blood pressure. In doing this, two pressures are needed; the systolic or higher pressure and the diastolic or lower pressure.

The former is the force used in pushing the blood to the arteries. The latter is when the lower pressure in the heart's left ventricle, pumping chamber system, is relaxing to fill another blood for the next push.

Blood pressure arises when the heart output is affected and there are factors restricting the flow of blood (peripheral resistance). Heart or cardiac output is the volume of stroke or quantity of blood expelled during the pumping chamber contraction multiplied by the number of beats in a minute.

Peripheral resistance occurs when the flow of blood is affected (blood viscosity), the elasticity of the arterial and veinal walls is unnatural and the arteriole's number and diameter are distorted. Hence, if blood viscosity is high, the arterial and veinal walls are not flexible and there are few arterioles; there is high blood pressure.

To avoid high blood pressure, indulge in regular exercises together with proper diet and healthy lifestyle. It is also best to see your doctor for appropriate medical advice and proper cardiovascular system care.