BIO FPX 1000 Assessment 1 Homework: Cardiovascular System Lab

Homework: Cardiovascular System Lab

Student name

Capella University

BIO-FPX1000

Professor’s Name

Submission Date

Homework: Cardiovascular System Lab

The Lab of the Cardiovascular System measures and investigates several important characteristics, such as blood pressure and pulse rate, which are useful characteristics that can be utilized to estimate the condition of the heart and general health. All of these measurements provide information about cardiovascular fitness and risk factors for illnesses such as hypertension and heart disease.

This lab, through different daily practices and scholarly research, aims at describing the impact of their decisions on such parameters. Hence, knowledge of these elements of cardiovascular health helps the participants make informed decisions that result in improved health and a low risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is measured as the force the blood exerts on the walls of the arteries as it flows to different parts of the body (Mishani et al., 2021). The two types of pressure that are normally employed to represent it are diastolic pressure, which is lower and is the pressure existing in the arteries between contractions of the heart, and systolic pressure, which is higher and is the pressure existing in the arterial system during the contraction of the heart.

Healthy Blood Pressure Level

Blood pressure has been known to be a determining factor in general health when there is no pressure. Magder (2021) states that normal blood pressure is a specific value of less than 120/80 mmHg to indicate that the heart is pumping the blood through the arteries without causing additional pressure to the circulatory system. It assures that the blood contents are adequately circulating nutrients and oxygen to the organs, tissues, and cells in need. With the proper management of blood pressure, many cardiovascular ailments have been avoided, like cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks, strokes, and a myriad of kidney ailments.

A Level of Concern

Blood pressure levels exceeding 130/80 mmHg all the time are a cause of concern. This gives an indication of high blood pressure, which is an indication of life-threatening illnesses such as heart disease. Elevated blood pressure shows that there is increased pressure within the arteries, which might suggest that there is an increased flow of blood through the cardiovascular system (Saghiv & Sagiv, 2020).

In an attempt to reduce blood pressure and minimize these risks, medical professionals recommend such lifestyle modifications as changes in diet, physical activities, stress coping, and sometimes medication. Constant monitoring and the right intervention are the only ways to avoid the consequences of hypertension on the overall well-being of the cardiovascular system and its general health.

Heart Rate

The other vital parameter that displays the cardiovascular health is the heart rate -Beats Per Minute (bpm) that indicates the capacity of the heart to pump blood to the body (Tiwari et al., 2020). It elevates itself naturally to supply the body with increased oxygenated blood during exercise or during stress. Heart rate monitoring is an important way of determining the fitness of a person, stress level, and the overall health of the heart.

Healthy Heart Rate Level

It is important to point out that normal resting heart rate differs among various individuals because of Age, fitness, medication, and the existence of the disease. An average pulse rate between 60 and 100 bpm is normal in adults and indicates that the heart is pumping blood sufficiently throughout the body to provide oxygen and nutrients to the body cells and tissues without overworking the heart (Oyediji et al., 2021). The resting heart rate of athletes and extremely fit individuals is below 60bpm as well; it is also healthy and indicates a healthy cardiovascular system (Bentley et al., 2020).

A Level of Concern

An abnormal pulse rate of 60 to 100 bpm is usually doubtful, and is an irregular rate that often has an abnormal tendency of oscillation. Continuous low heart rate is considered normal or high resting heart rate when it remains under 100 bpm or exceeds this upper threshold, then it is said to be tachycardia, which implies the presence of some health problems such as cardiovascular disease, anxiety, or thyroid disease (Palatini, 2020).

Conversely, a constantly low heart rate (below 60 bpm) or bradycardia is also a sign of problems with the electrical system of the heart, the effect of a drug, or it may be normal in very cardiovascular-fit individuals and athletes (Good and Jongnarangsin, 2020). Any continuous aberrations outside the usual range of heart rate should be evaluated by a healthcare provider so that the cause can be identified and the most appropriate action can be taken. Monitor constantly the trend of the heartbeat and normally do screenings to detect and prevent heart complications that could be detrimental to the heart system.

Correlation between Heart Rate and Blood Pressure

It is important to understand how blood pressure and heart rate are related to be able to grasp the fundamentals of cardiovascular health. There is a relationship between pulse rate and blood pressure. Increases in blood pressure lead to a faster rate of flow of blood through the heart, also known as heart rate (Whelton et al., 2020). The persistent high blood pressure and heart rate may strain the cardiovascular system in the long term and predispose to hypertension as a significant risk factor of heart disease (Bakkar et al., 2021).

Conversely, a normal blood pressure with a slow pulse rate indicates that the heart is pumping blood to the body effectively and is putting less pressure on the arteries. Analysis of these measures often offers crucial data on the health of the heart, required changes in lifestyle, and drugs that can assist in maintaining the cardiovascular performance as close to normal as it is possible, as well as the prevention of heart diseases.

Cardiovascular Results in Patients and Improvement of Lifestyle Changes

Patient 1

Lorraine Pate

Age: 36

Complaint: Lorraine requested a routine physical checkup

1. Blood Pressure Test:

The normal range of blood pressure is 115/75 mm Hg, and the patient has a normal level of blood pressure, which does not need any medical care.

1. Heart rate Test:

These cardiovascular fitness indicators imply good cardiovascular fitness both in exercise and during the recovery phase in Lorraine. It is also noted that her sitting heart rate is 70bpm that falls within the normal resting heart rate of adults. Her pulse rate was 75bpm prior to exercise, but after 5 minutes of exercise, the pulse rate increased to 130bpm due to the increased bodily activity, which loads the heart, hence pumping more to bring oxygen to the body.

Once the recovery period is over, she is able to breathe as usual, and her heart rate drops to 110 bpm in the first minute and falls to 90 bpm, 80 bpm, and stabilizes at 70 bpm after 5 minutes. Such gradual slowing down to her resting heart rate is a sign of good heart health and healthy recovery, since the heart rate comes back to normal a few minutes after exercise.

Patient 2

Tanya Cainen

Age: 40

Complaint: Tanya requested a routine physical checkup

1. Blood Pressure Test

The 140/100 mm Hg indicates that the patient is hypertensive and is classified as having intense high blood pressure according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Such a degree of hypertension poses serious health consequences, such as heart disease and stroke. In the case of hypertension, the focus should be directed towards the initiation of medications and lifestyle changes regarding blood pressure in order to reach safer levels, that is, below 120/80 mm Hg, to reduce the impact of such high levels of hypertension.

1. Heart Rate Test

The outcomes of Tanya appear to indicate a change in normal heart rate and what may be a worrying response to exercise and restoration. It is notable that her sitting heart rate of 80bpm is in fact not within the normal range of resting heart rate, which is registered to be between 66-72bpm. Her pulse increases to 150 bpm after 5 minutes of exercise, which is normal due to the exercising muscles. Her pulse rate is 150 at 1 minute, 140 at 2 and 3 minutes respectively, and 130 at 4 and 5 minutes respectively. This gradual and partial recovery is an indication that the heart of Tanya might be failing to resume its resting rate efficiently, and a regular heart rate of over 100 bpm during the recovery may be an indicator that should be further considered or taken action upon.

Conclusion

Regulating and observing heart rate and blood pressure are crucial to having optimal cardiovascular health. The risk of heart disease is decreased when blood pressure is kept below 120/80 mmHg. Physically healthy, a normal resting heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute, indicating good cardiac ability and fitness. The length and quality of life today have largely become a matter of choice, and it includes exercising, a healthier diet, and, in some cases, taking medication accordingly.