Reference no: EM133477085
Problem
Physiological Reasoning Activity: Deciphering the possible causes of high blood pressure.
Patient X is a female with low blood pressure, with systolic pressures averaging about 80 mm Hg, and diastolic pressures about 40 mm Hg. Patient X is always tired and is very low energy and poor concentration. Your job is to begin to figure out what might be wrong.
Question A. You discover that heart rates, stroke volumes, cardiac output and heart size are all normal. List three possible causes of low blood pressure that these data eliminate.
Question B. Assume that you can measure cardiac output with a technique such as MRI or Doppler ultrasound, simultaneous with blood pressure. Write out the equation for calculating total peripheral resistance (TPR), and include an example of correct units for TPR.
Question C. You calculate their total peripheral resistance, and it is lower than normal. One possibility is that Patient X exhibits excessive vasodilation. Describe what vasodilation is.
Question D. What type of drug treatment might help a person with this problem (excessive vasodilation)?
Question E. You measure Patient X's blood volume and it is lower than expected for her size. What sort of problem might this indicate? What drug treatments might help this problem?
Question F. Infection (septicemia) can also cause low blood pressure. Explain why.