Blood Pressure (B1)

The circulatory system is made up of the heart, blood and blood vessels.

Blood must be under pressure to make sure it gets all over the body. The heart creates the pressure.

Arteries - Carry blood away from the heart under HIGH PRESSURE

Veins - Carry blood back to the heart under LOWER PRESSURE

Capillaries - Tiny blood vessels found in all our body tissues

Systlic - maximum pressure (when the heart contracts)

Diastolic - minimum pressure (between heart beats)

Causes of high blood pressure:

• Old age
• Smoking
• Too much salt
• Too much saturated fat
• Too much alcohol
• Being overweight or obese
• …