Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Health
Part of The Heart and Circulation · GCSE GCSE Biology revision
This deep dive covers Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Health within The Heart and Circulation for GCSE Biology. Heart structure, cardiac cycle, blood vessels, double circulation, heart rate control, and cardiovascular health It is section 6 of 15 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 6 of 15
Practice
30 questions
Recall
25 flashcards
Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Health
Understanding Blood Pressure
Blood Pressure = Force of blood against artery walls
Typical Reading: 120/80 mmHg
- Systolic (120): Pressure when heart contracts and pushes blood out
- Diastolic (80): Pressure when heart relaxes and fills with blood
- mmHg: Millimeters of mercury (pressure unit)
Factors Affecting Blood Pressure:
Increases BP:
- Exercise (temporarily)
- Stress and anxiety
- High salt diet
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Age (arteries stiffen)
- Caffeine
Decreases BP:
- Regular exercise (long-term)
- Healthy diet
- Weight loss
- Relaxation
- Good sleep
- Limiting alcohol
- Not smoking
Coronary Heart Disease
The heart muscle needs its own blood supply via coronary arteries. When these become blocked:
- Atherosclerosis: Fatty deposits build up in coronary artery walls
- Narrowing: Arteries become narrower, reducing blood flow to heart muscle
- Angina: Chest pain during exercise when heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen
- Heart Attack: Complete blockage cuts off blood supply, heart muscle dies
Prevention and Treatment:
- Lifestyle: Exercise, healthy diet, no smoking, manage stress
- Medication: Statins (lower cholesterol), blood thinners, beta-blockers
- Surgery: Angioplasty (balloon opens artery), bypass surgery
- Stents: Metal mesh tubes keep arteries open
Keep building this topic
Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in The Heart and Circulation. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.
Practice Questions for The Heart and Circulation
How many chambers does the human heart have?
Explain how the structure of an artery is related to its function.
Quick Recall Flashcards
30 questions on The Heart and Circulation — practise free
Instant marking, adaptive difficulty, and 25 spaced repetition flashcards. Free until your GCSEs.
Try PrepWise Free