Question

In an unusual population of humans (we’ll call them pressurites), blood pressures tend to be much higher than normal, with systolic pressures averaging about 160 mm Hg, and diastolic pressures about 110 mm Hg. Probably because of this, pressurites have a high incidence of stroke. Your job is to begin to figure out what might be wrong.

1. You discover that heart rates, stroke volumes and heart size are all normal. List two possible causes of high blood pressure that these data eliminate? 2 pts

2. Their sodium intake and urine function seems normal. Why is this relevant to high blood pressure? 1 pt

3. They show no evidence of high cholesterol, or arteriosclerosis. Why is this relevant to high blood pressure? 1 pt

4. You calculate their total peripheral resistance, and it is higher than normal. Describe three possible causes of high total peripheral resistance that are plausible, given the evidence. 3 pts

5. Describe experimental tests for each of these three possible causes of elevated total peripheral resistance, and what data would support or refute the potential cause you are testing. 3 pts

Answer 1