High blood pressure and stuff

radicals

highly reactive oxygen species. Radicals can damage endolethial cells that line the blood vessels

oxidative stress

unbalance between free radicals and body’s ability to neutralise them with anitoxidants

list of antioxidants

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) (C6h8O6)

• Vitamin E

Test to find Vitamin C

• Add DCPIP

• solution turns from purple-blue to colourless

• can estimate concentration by reading the change of

volume of DCPIP

Cholestrol

• Lipid produced in body

• needed for cell membrane to function

• needed for structure in sex cell and production of bile

• transported as lipoproteins

lipoproteins

• LDL (low density lipoprotein) and HDL (high density lipoprotein)

• Healthy ratio is 3:1

• Larger than 5:1 increases risk of heart disease

Reasons for high blood pressure

• stress

• diet

• age

• genetics

• lack of excercise

Cortisol

• hormone than is released during stress

• reduces metabolism

Angiotensin

Hormone that constricts the arteries

Antihypertensives

Drugs that reduce blood pressure

Examples:

• diuretics

• beta blockers

• sympathetic nerve inhibitors (ACE inhibitors)

Diuretics

substance that increases urine volume which eliminates salts and excess fluids so blood volume decreases so blood pressure falls

Beta blockers

Block response of heart to hormones like adrenaline which increase heart rate and blood pressure. Using them decreases blood pressure by reducing heart rate and strength of contractions

Sympathetic Nerve Inhibitors

• affect sympathetic nerves that constrict arteries coming from the CNS to all over the body

• this reduces blood pressure

• angiotensin is a hormone that constricts blood vessels

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