Heart Rate and Blood Pressure.
Initially let us understand what both these parameters mean and then, whether blood pressure and heart rate are related or not.
Understanding Blood Pressure and Heart Rate.
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by blood on the walls of the arteries during its flow. It is measured by a blood pressure instrument called the sphygmomanometer and in units as mm of Hg (mercury). Blood pressure has two variants:
1) Systolic blood pressure which is the pressure in the arteries during systole (contraction of the ventricles, with particular reference to the left ventricle)
2) Diastolic blood pressure which is the pressure exerted during diastole (relaxation of ventricles).
An average normal blood pressure reads as 120/80 mm of Hg.
Heart rate is the number of heartbeats during one unit of time, which is typically taken as per minute. It is determined by reading the pulse. The average normal heart rate is read as 72 beats per minute (bpm).
Are Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Connected.
The following points will clarify if any connection exists between heart rate and blood pressure
- No relation exists between normal resting heart rate and blood pressure. Blood pressure has to be measured with a blood pressure instrument and the pulse (which indicates the heart rate) does not give any indication of your blood pressure status.
- A faster heart rate (as during exercise) is compensated by dilation of the blood vessels and therefore a faster heart rate does not cause any significant rise in blood pressure. Your heart rate may double but the rise in blood pressure may only be modest.
- Pulse or heart rate increases during exercise to feed the increased oxygen requirement of the body and gradually returns to normal over a period of time after exercise. The shorter the time it takes to come to normal, better is the fitness. The pulse here helps to indicate the above fact and blood pressure is not linked to this.
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