nBlood pressure is influenced by:
ncardiac output
n
  • heart rate (beats/minute) X stroke volume (litres/beat)
nvascular factors
n
  • systemic vascular resistance
nhumoral factors
n
  • e.g. renin, angiotensin, arginine vasopressin, aldosterone

nfactors that ¯ cardiac output can ¯ blood pressure
n
  • ¯ heart rate
n
    • bradyarrhythmias
n
    • medications
n
  • ¯ stroke volume
n
    • ¯ preload (inadequate filling pressures)
n
    • ­ afterload (e.g. aortic stenosis)
n
    • depressed myocardial contractility (e.g. ischemia)
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