What affects blood pressure?

The regulation of blood pressure is multifactorial.

1.Intravascular fluid volume plays a large role, the larger the amount of fluid in the vasculer space-the higher the BP will be. The lower the amount of fluid in the IVS-the lower the BP will be.

2. The renal system plays a huge role, when the kidneys are functioning optimally, BP is normotensive. If the kidneys are functioning less than optimally, the higher the BP will be.

3. Cardiovascular tone- people with good physical fitness have lower BP's, poor physical fitness yields a higher BP.

4. Lipid levels- the higher the cholesterol level-the higher the BP.

5. Sympathetic control- when the sympathetic nervous system is activated the BP rises, due to increased levels of circulating epinephrine. The parasympathetic nervous system lowers the BP.

6. Viscosity of blood- the thicker the blood-the higher the BP.

7. Strength of contractility- the more forceful the heartbeat-the higher the BP.

8. Peripheral vascular resistance-anything that causes the size of the lumen of the arteries to get smaller-raises the BP.