Learn the relationship between heart rate and blood pressure

Blood pressure and heart rate are two important indicators, they are closely related to each other. So, what is the relationship between heart rate and blood pressure? How does heart rate affect blood pressure? Please read the article below.

1.The difference between blood pressure and heart rate

Blood pressure and heart rate are two different indicators but are both related to your cardiovascular health.

There is a relationship between heart rate and blood pressure, but they are not the same. Blood pressure is the pressure of blood flowing in the artery walls. Blood vessels can be thought of as a system of conduits; they can expand or contract to control blood pressure. Meanwhile, heart rate is the number of times your heart beats in a minute. Heart rate is controlled by the heart’s electrical system.

Every time your heart beats, it contracts and pushes blood through the network of arteries in your body. Blood pressure will increase briefly as the heart pushes out more roofs to keep circulation going. Between beats, the heart relaxes and reduces back pressure. That’s also why each heartbeat feels like a beat rather than a constant stream of pressure like water flowing through a faucet.

Ideal blood pressure is often defined as systolic blood pressure reaching 120 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure reaching 80 mmHg. Meanwhile, the average resting heart rate in an adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (BPM).

For people with high blood pressure, you cannot measure heart rate as a substitute for measuring blood pressure. And vice versa, for people with heart rhythm disorders, measuring heart rate to diagnose and treat the disease is still the preferred test.

2. Relationship between heart rate and blood pressure

*Does high blood pressure increase heart rate?

When you understand the relationship between heart rate and blood pressure, you will understand that heart rate and blood pressure do not necessarily increase or decrease together. Accordingly, increased heart rate does not cause blood pressure to increase or vice versa. Even though your heart beats more times a minute, healthy blood vessels dilate to allow more blood to flow through more easily.

When you exercise, your heart rate gets faster so more blood is available to meet your body’s needs. Heart rate can double but still be safe, while blood pressure can respond by only increasing slightly.

However, under certain circumstances, blood pressure and heart rate often increase and decrease together. For example, when you are stressed, have an unhealthy lifestyle such as smoking, staying up late… then your blood pressure and heart rate can both increase and negatively affect your health.

*How does heart rate affect blood pressure and health?

It can be said that hypertension is a common health problem and a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Meanwhile, high heart rate will increase the risk of high blood pressure, and for people with high blood pressure, increased heart rate will increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Although, the relationship between heart rate and blood pressure is very important for health. However, increased heart rate is not a major consideration in choosing blood pressure medication. There is no evidence that taking heart rate stabilizers can help treat high blood pressure. Use of antihypertensive drugs, especially drugs that affect heart rate, may not reduce blood pressure.

See more: Learn about medications to treat arrhythmias

*Factors affecting blood pressure

To better understand the relationship between heart rate and blood pressure, you need to clearly identify the factors that affect blood pressure, thereby knowing when blood pressure will increase or decrease. Factors include:

-Weight: Being overweight or obese puts stress on the heart and blood vessels, contributing to increased blood pressure.

-Diet: A diet with too much salt and too little potassium will put you at risk of high blood pressure.

-Level of physical activity: Lack of physical activity will increase the risk of obesity, negatively affecting blood pressure.

-Medications: Using some medications can reduce or increase blood pressure.

-Lifestyle: Drinking alcohol, coffee, smoking, staying up late, and stress all negatively affect the heart and blood vessels.

-Chronic diseases: Some chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease… can affect blood pressure.

-Age: Blood pressure may increase or decrease as you get older.

*Factors affecting heart rate

The relationship between heart rate and blood pressure is that some factors that affect blood pressure will also affect heart rate. Factors that affect heart rate include:

-Age: Average heart rate can vary with age

-Level of physical activity: The more physical activity, the higher the heart rate

-Chronic diseases: Some chronic diseases such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease can affect heart rate.

-Weight: The more you weigh, the harder your heart has to work to meet the body’s needs.

-Medications: Some medications such as beta blockers can decrease heart rate or thyroid medications can increase heart rate.

-Environmental temperature