1. SC.912.L.14.36 Describe the factors affecting blood flow through the cardiovascular system.
How do lifestyle choices
affect blood flow in the body?

2. Blood pressure is a force that moves blood within the vessels of the cardiovascular systems. What is the major cause of blood pressure?
A. amount of cholesterol in the blood
B. stress that movement and exercise puts on heart muscle
C. contraction of the ventricles in the heart
D. removal of oxygen and nutrients from the blood C

3. While attending a community health fair, Susan finds out that she has borderline hypertension, or high blood pressure. What lifestyle changes would help to lower blood pressure without taking prescription medications?
A. Adding more fried foods to the diet will provide the essential fats that the body needs for vessel elasticity.
B. Drinking less water and other fluids will increase the blood viscosity or thickness so that the heart works less.
C. Moderate exercise and relaxation techniques will reduce emotional stress that can be a factor in hypertension.
D. The person should stop their training for a half marathon since demanding exercise elevates the heart rate. C

4. Interactive Journals
Let the Blood Flow – Write a TV commercial or magazine ad.
Attach Guided Notes here and complete from the PowerPoint.
Left side page will answer the Essential Question
Left side page
Right side page

5. Cardiovascular System
Blood full of oxygen flows from the heart through
arteries of decreasing size
capillaries deliver oxygen to cells
veins return oxygen-poor blood to the heart and lungs

6. Cardiovascular System Video

7. Cardiovascular System
Blood pressure - heart ventricle contractions create a force, or blood pressure, on arteries.
Hypertension – high blood pressure – overworks the heart and puts stress on blood vessels
Very low blood pressure – your cells do not get enough oxygen

8. Control of Blood Flow Blood flow is determined by:
diameter of blood vessels
the larger the vessel, the faster the flow (think about drinking out of a straw vs. a water hose!)
blood vessels constrict or reduce diameter during smoking
blood pressure
the greater the pressure, the faster the flow
blood viscosity (“thickness”)
thin blood flows faster than thick blood
Examples of viscose liquids are molasses and honey. The technical definition of viscosity is fluid resistance to flow.

9. Control of Blood Flow Blood flow is determined by: resistance
narrowed or blocked vessels slow down blood flow
circulated blood volume per minute decreases
key factor in arteriosclerosis – arteries have plaque (deposits of cholesterol, calcium, and fat) present
Studies show that plaque buildup can begin in the teen years although symptoms are not being felt.
Arteriosclerosis – blood clots can block narrowed arteries; blockage in coronary arteries can lead to heart attack, while blockage of cranial arteries can increase stroke risk.

10. Cardiovascular Health
Healthy diet with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains plus moderate amounts of other carbohydrates and protein
Regular exercise
Don’t smoke or quit smoking
Maintain normal weight
Avoid stress
Diet high in fat, cholesterol, and salt (linked to hypertension)
Couch potato
Smoking
Overweight or obese, especially in abdomen area
Worry too much and fail to control stress h
Beneficial choices
Potentially harmful choices

11. Work with a partner – Let the Blood Flow…
Discuss an effective commercial or magazine article:
convince young adults to make positive lifestyle choices and improve their cardiovascular health.
Interactive Journal – left side
write down your ideas; include effect on cardiovascular system and
a brief commercial script or
a quick sketch a magazine ad with your approach
Share if you dare!
Tell students to use their imaginations; examples would be the stop smoking or no texting and driving campaigns. Share out from a few pairs/groups and have students add to their work as an answer to the Essential Question. Make sure that connections are made between blood flow factors and healthy choices, correcting misconceptions as needed.
Home Learning/Extra credit option – create the ad or write the commercial as a skit or story board (construction paper draft with 2-3 scenes that would be seen in the commercial and what would be said during each scene); if this option is used, then just discuss the

12. Blood pressure is a force that moves blood within the vessels of the cardiovascular systems. What is the major cause of blood pressure?
A. amount of cholesterol in the blood
B. stress that movement and exercise puts on heart muscle
C. contraction of the ventricles in the heart
D. removal of oxygen and nutrients from the blood

13. While attending a community health fair, Susan finds out that she has borderline hypertension, or high blood pressure. What lifestyle changes would help to lower blood pressure without taking prescription medications?
A. Adding more fried foods to the diet will provide the essential fats that the body needs for vessel elasticity.
B. Drinking less water and other fluids will increase the blood viscosity or thickness so that the heart works less.
C. Moderate exercise and relaxation techniques will reduce emotional stress that can be a factor in hypertension.
D. The person should stop their training for a half marathon since demanding exercise elevates the heart rate.
Emphasize healthy vs. unhealthy lifestyle choices that affect blood pressure.

14. Total Cholesterol Levels (Amt./vol.)
The table below shows the average blood cholesterol levels in two patients along with the average range of cholesterol levels. Using your knowledge of the cardiovascular system and the above data, which inference can most likely be made about the cardiovascular systems of Patients A and B?
Total Cholesterol Levels (Amt./vol.)
Average Range
mg/dL
Patient A
103 mg/dL
Patient B
220 mg/dL
A. Patient A has the greater chance of having collections of arterial plaque, a risk factor for high blood pressure.
B. Patient B has the greater chance of having collections of arterial plaque, a risk factor for high blood pressure.
C. Patient A should hydrate with water to increase blood
volume so that total cholesterol rises to the average range.
D. Patient B should increase salt intake to decrease blood
volume to that total cholesterol drops to the average range.
This question and the two on the following slides are in a document and can be used as a separate Exit Slip (can be attached to Interactive Journal later).
Answer: B
Remind students of what numbers in, above, or below the average range mean for a patient.

15. Cigarette smoking has many negative effects on the body including immediate changes in the cardiovascular system. Since smoking constricts or narrows blood vessels and elevates the heart rate, what effect would be linked to these differences in a smoker’s circulation?
A. A decrease in vessel diameter would reduce circulating blood volume, limiting oxygen to the affected cells and altering their metabolism.
B. Smaller blood vessels, or capillaries, would be less affected by the pressure exerted by the heart, increasing the pressure on larger blood vessels.
C. The brain would make homeostatic adjustments to the changes in heart rate, storing extra fat needed by the heart for its extra work.
D. The time needed for blood circulation would change, so blood would tend to collect in areas such as the hands and feet.
Answer: A

16. Blood flow through the human body moves at a rate which changes in response to many factors. Which statement describes one of these factors and its effect on blood flow?
A. High blood viscosity causes an increased resistance in the blood vessels and leads to slower blood flow. B. A pharmaceutical drug that reduces diameter of arteries increases blood pressure, which doubles blood flow rates. C. Excess cholesterol and fat cause red blood cell attachment to the vessel walls, thinning the blood for faster blood flow. D. A diet high in salt decreases blood pressure and relaxes blood vessels, which helps to drop the blood flow rate.
Answer: A