Term
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Definition
| elevated blood pressure, anything greater than 140/90. Percentage higher in people over 65, though it is due to lifestyle, not aging. Due to imbalance between vasodilators and vasoconstrictors. |
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Term
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Definition
| dependent on smooth muscle layer contraction. |
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Term
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Definition
| primary vasodilator; produced in endothelial cells, it causes arterioles to relax. Production of NO allows for vasodilation of arteries. |
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Term
| Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) |
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Definition
| the enzyme that produces NO. |
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Term
| Sympathetic Nervous System |
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Definition
| nerves cause smooth muscles to contract and vasoconstriction occurs. |
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Term
| Oxidative Stress (vasoconstrictor) |
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Definition
| free radical production can damage blood vessels, inactivate NO and increase resistance. |
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Term
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Definition
| condition where endothelial cells become damaged and unable to carry out normal functions resulting in reduced NO availability, facilitation of platelet aggregation and lipid oxidation, and ultimately hypertension and CAD progession occurs. Meals high in fat and sugar induce endothelial dysfunction. |
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Term
| Excercise/BP Reduction: Enhanced Insulin Sensitivity |
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Definition
| link between insulin and hypertension: excercise enhances insulin action so that less is required resulting in decreased circulating insulin which in turn cause a decrease in blood pressure. |
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Term
| Excercise/BP Reduction: Increased NO |
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Definition
| excercise training increases activity of NOS which stimulates more NO production which thus increases vasodilation. Antioxidant levels increase as well, which decreases the oxidative inactivation of NO. |
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Term
| Excercise/BP Reduction: Decreased Sym Nervous Sys Activity |
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Definition
| exercise decreases levels of catecholamines, which is responsible for the actions of the sympathetic nervous system, therefore decreased sympathetically-mediated vasoconstriction. |
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