This Lab focused on the effects blood pressure(BP) may have on gender, age, and health factors. Such as, family history, increase salt intake, lack of exercise, and alcohol consumption. Learning to maintain a healthy lifestyle at a younger age will hopefully help decrease your chance of developing hypertension(HTN) at a later age. The photo to the left is a graph of the average systolic and diastolic BP of male and females in different age categories. The purple and blue lines represent male and the green and yellow represent females. The photo to the right is a table of the input and outputs for the graph. Below I will discuss the questions related to the lab project I performed realted to BP and age/gender.
Questions:
1. State a problem about the relationship of age and gender to BP? During this lab project, the males systolic and diastolic BPs were typically higher than the females. During the age groups of 11-17 and 18-24 both the male and females BPs were basically WNL, but family history and lack of exercise were still factors that could influence their levels as they get older. Learning to stay healthy and exercise daily are important, especially with a family history of HTN.
2. Use your knowledge about the heart and circulatory system to make a hypothesis about how the average BP for groups of people would be affected by manipulating the age and gender of group members. In order for the heart to beat strong, it needs a body that is willing to help maintain that healthy balance. If the heart has to travel through an artery built up of fatty tissues (also known as plaque) it is going to have difficulties supplying other systems of the body. One of the major diseases that is associated with this is build up is heart disease, heart attacks. Male and Females over the age of 55(in this lab experiment) are at a higher risk of developing heart disease, HTN, and other diseases; if they are unable to maintain a healthy diet and exercise. This lab shows how lack of exercise, increased intake of salt, alcohol consumption, and family history are factors of developing HTN. Taking care of your body is important starting at a young age. As mentioned earlier, the younger teenagers BP were WNL, but some already showed signs of developing HTN. Staying away from the delicious, juicy McDonald burgers everyday for lunch would be a great start keeping your arteries free from build up.
3. How will you use the investigation screen to test your hypothesis? What steps will you follow? What data will you record? I already interpreted this question into the previous question. Basically the graph shows an increase in both systolic and diastolic pressure after the age 54. Monitoring your lifestyle is an important key to prevention of diseases. A few other examples to test would be: weight, drug/smoking, exercise, ethnicity, and diet. The lab does not talk about weight, ethnic groups, or smoking, but these factors can increase the risk of HTN or cardiovascular diseases. I would record the above factors related to the different age groups. The purpose of this would be to test the relationship of these factors and their relationship to diseases.
4. Analyse the result of your experiment. Explain any patterns observed. Basically this lab experiment, is not detailed with the factors I mentioned above, but its main factors are: family history, increase salt intake, lack of exercise, and alcohol consumption. These are important factors, but with the different ethnic groups it provides, it doesn't show them at greater risk for HTN, when typically they are. As the genders aged, they did tend to develop HTN. Most of the males were due to: lack of exercise, increased salt intake, and alcohol consumption. Interesting point, was some that had increase BP did not have any of the factors listed. Therefore I would state they may have had factors that I mentioned in the previous question, such as, smoking, ethnicity, and possibly overweight. As an individual ages, their circulation decreases, which causes them to have increase BP, which is why it is important for them to realize the factors that may increase their chances of disease.
5. Did the result of your experiment support your hypothesis? why or why not? Based on your experiment what conclusion can you draw about the relationship of age and gender to group BP averages? My hypothesis was that genders over the age of 55 are at greater risk of developing diseases such as HTN and cardiovascular diseases. For the most part my experiment is supportive because as individuals age, they are more prone to diseases. My conclusion is, this lab shows how between the ages of 45-54, BPs increased and appear to continue to increase. It all depends on how the individual cares for their body. Family history also plays a role i developing diseases, but being watchful of outside factors is important.
6. During the course of your experiment, did you obtain any BP readings that were outside of normal range for a group being tested? What did you notice on the medical charts for these individuals that might explain their high readings? Yes there were quite a few BPs that were outside of normal range, but the factors listed were: family history, lack of exercise, increase salt intake, and alcohol consumption.
7. List risk factors with HTN. Based on your observation which risk factor is most closely related with HTN? This is very repetitive. Factors related to HTN: smoking, weight, diet, exercise. It all depends on the individual to draw a conclusion on what is the most closely related factor. Having a diet high in cholesterol, salts, and fats is a good start at clogging your arteries. Atherosclerosis(fatty materials, such as cholesterol) is found in individuals with HTN/ Too many lunches at Taco Bell and Sonic Burger are good places to avoid, if you are a regular customer.
8. What affect might obesity have on BP? Does obesity alone cause a person to be at risk for increase BP? What other factors, in combination with obesity, might increase the risk of increase BP? Being overweight has a great deal at developing high BP. To start off, if the individual is not active, it causes an accumulation of fat to build up within the body. Obesity is combined with out health risks, such as, Diabetes, respiratory difficulties, HTN, and Cardiovascular diseases. Learning to maintain a healthy diet and being active will hopefully lower the obesity outbreak.
In conclusion, this lab shows how important it is to learn the factors that are related to HTN. Since I work in the healthcare field, its easy for me to know that as an individual ages, BP typically increases. Lack of exercise, diet high in cholestorol, salt, and fat, family history, weight, smoking, gender, age, ethnicity all are possible factors to take into consideration. It does not mean if you have one or two of these factors, you will develop HTN. It is a possibilty you may develop HTN or cardiovascular disease. Learning to maintain a healthy lifestyle at a young age is important to help prevent these silent diseases. "Hypertension is sometimes known as the silent killer because it may not be detected until it caused a heart attack, stroke, or even kidney failure" (Mader 96). That proves to be watchful of your habits. Keeping your arteries free of fatty build up, will hopefully lower your chances of the many diseases associated with HTN.
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