The rate at which the heart contracts is called the pulse. It depends on the current physical activity, the training condition and other factors. The so-called resting pulse is usually determined.
This is the pulse at absolute physical rest, for example before getting up in bed. Adults have an average resting pulse rate of 70 beats per minute. Blood pressure describes the pressure prevailing in the blood vessels.
In most cases, this refers to the arterial blood pressure at heart level. It is responsible for the flow of blood. The blood pressure is not static, but rises briefly with each heartbeat and then falls again.
Causes
- Before thinking about the exact causes of low blood pressure or pulse, one should rule out measurement errors. Doctors usually have calibrated meters that measure correct values. In addition, they know the typical errors in measuring blood pressure and can eliminate them.
- Both blood pressure and pulse are directly related to the work of the heart, kidney and vessels.
All these systems are precisely controlled by a number of hormones and regulatory circuits. The control of blood pressure and pulse is influenced by predisposition, physical activity and hormonal changes. In most cases, it is not possible to determine exactly why blood pressure and pulse are lowered too much by these endogenous regulatory systems.
This is called essential or primary hypotension. There is no disease as the cause, but it is often found in young and slim people, especially women. A distinction is made between this and secondary hypotension.
It is the direct consequence of a disease or an active substance.
- It is possible that the heart is no longer able to pump enough blood through the circulation due to aging or other damage. This is known as heart failure.
- Often low blood pressure or pulse also occurs with hypofunctions or diseases of different hormone systems. These include the adrenal cortex, the pituitary gland or even the thyroid gland.
- In addition, hypotension, i.e. low blood pressure, can occur if there is a lack of salt or fluid.
- Many drugs influence pulse and blood pressure.
It is worth taking a look at the package insert.
The thyroid gland regulates the body’s metabolic activity through its hormones. In addition to this important function, however, its hormones also have other effects. For example, thyroid hormones at the heart increase the effect of adrenaline and noradrenaline.
These accelerate the pulse and increase the contraction of the heart. If the thyroid gland is underactive, this sensitization is absent, which weakens the effect of adrenaline and noradrenaline. The result is low blood pressure and a slow pulse.
Thyroid hormones also have direct effects on the heart and vascular system. If the thyroid gland is underactive, these can also be weakened. This can also lower blood pressure and slow down the pulse.
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