The Effects of Postural Changes, Exercise and Cognitive Stress on Human Arterial Pressure and Pulse Rate - Essay Example

High blood pressure turns out to be silent killer which many people fail to detect, since it does not have any easily identifiable symptoms. The Circulatory System, which plays a major part in coronary health, functions mainly in the transportation of blood carrying nutrients and oxygen to all parts of the body. However, the Circulatory System is subjected to various pathological conditions. Pathological conditions may result from the abnormality of any component or processes in the Circulatory System.

Heart disease results when coronary blood vessels are damaged and cannot provide adequate circulation of blood to the supporting cardiac muscles and tissues, thereby affecting the overall functionality of the systemic arterial blood pressure. According to the World Health Organization, 17 million people die of Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) including strokes and heart attacks annually (WHO, 2011). High blood pressure, specifically, has been identified as a major risk factor for most CVDs and therefore, it should be monitored.

The primary importance of studying the components and the processes of the circulatory system is to understand the relationship between the functions and the structures, and for proper diagnosis of the diseases affecting the Circulatory System. Normal blood pressure (BP) is generated when the blood flows through the arterial blood vessels. During systolic contraction, blood pressure peaks at 120 mmHg and drops to 70 or 80 mmHg during the diastolic phase. Essentially, blood pressure can be used as an indicator for abnormalities in processes or in structures within the Circulatory System.

For example, changes in the elasticity of the arterial walls as in the case of arteriosclerosis can be identified by the increase in pulse pressure; however, it is the mean arterial pressure (MAP) that is important clinically. MAP is the main pressure that drives blood for systemic circulation. It is regulated to ensure that sufficient amount of blood is propelled to the tissues, but the pressure would not be high enough to cause extra workload for the heart. As the blood passes through the arterial walls, the arteries expand to accommodate the amount of blood pumped by the heart.