what happens to blood pressure during infection?
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Causes. Sepsis occurs when toxins produced by certain bacteria cause cells in the body to release substances that trigger inflammation (cytokines). Although cytokines help the immune system fight infection, they can have harmful effects: They can cause the blood vessels to widen (dilate), decreasing blood pressure.
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The body quickly responds to the low blood volume and pressure by the following adjustments, which all increase blood pressure: The heart rate increases and the forcefulness of the heart's contractions increase, pumping more blood through the heart. Veins narrow to return more blood to the heart for pumping.
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Viral infections like the flu also put added stress on your body, which can affect your blood pressure, heart rate, and overall heart function. That can raise your odds of having a heart attack or stroke.
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Your blood pressure normally rises and falls during the day and with different activities. And if you're sick or in pain, it's normal for your blood pressure to be higher than usual. If your blood pressure is consistently high, this is considered high blood pressure (also known as hypertension.)
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When you are stressed, your body sends stress hormones — adrenaline and cortisol — into the bloodstream. These hormones create a temporary spike in blood pressure, causing your heart to beat faster and blood vessels to narrow. When the stressful situation is over, blood pressure goes back to its normal level.
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With sepsis, because the body's immune system is weaker or the infection is very severe, the body overreacts. The immune system goes into overdrive and inflammation spreads through the entire body. This can lead to dangerously low blood pressure, septic shock, and organ failure.
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And if you're sick or in pain, it's normal for your blood pressure to be higher than usual. If your blood pressure is consistently high, this is considered high blood pressure (also known as hypertension.) High blood pressure makes your heart work harder than it should.
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This can activate the heart rate and temporarily increase blood pressure. Recovery from anesthesia can hit people with high blood pressure harder as well. Factors such as body temperature and the amount of intravenous (IV) fluids needed during anesthesia and surgery can elevate blood pressure.
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Increase in blood pressure Blood pressure might rise during a heart attack because hormones, such as adrenaline, are released. These hormones are released when the “fight or flight” response is triggered at times of intense stress or danger. This automatic response might make the heart beat faster and stronger.
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Blood pressure after exercise Exercise can increase blood pressure, but the effects are typically temporary. Your blood pressure should gradually return to normal after you finish exercising. The quicker your blood pressure returns to its resting level, the healthier you probably are.
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It is true that physical activity (exercise) will cause your blood pressure to rise for a short time. However, when you stop the activity, your blood pressure should soon return to normal. The quicker it does this, the fitter you are likely to be.
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When blood pressure rises too high, baroreceptors fire at a higher rate and trigger parasympathetic stimulation of the heart. As a result, cardiac output falls. Sympathetic stimulation of the peripheral arterioles will also decrease, resulting in vasodilation. Combined, these activities cause blood pressure to fall.
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When your blood pressure drops, your heart rate increases and the blood vessels in other parts of the body constrict (narrow) to help maintain blood pressure.
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What Causes Increases in Blood Pressure? Even if you're being treated for high blood pressure, your pressures will still rise after exercising. Walking, taking the stairs, and even lifting or moving supplies will all cause the blood pressure to increase.
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Septic shock: Sepsis that causes dangerously low blood pressure (shock) is called septic shock. As a result, internal organs typically receive too little blood, causing them to malfunction. Septic shock is life threatening.
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Additional symptoms that may accompany the low blood pressure associated with septic shock may include cool and pale extremities, dizziness or lightheadedness, low or absent urine output, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, behavioral changes, and low or high body temperature.
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Most people with high blood pressure will not experience any symptoms, which is why people often call hypertension the “silent killer.” However, once blood pressure reaches about 180/120 mm Hg, it becomes a hypertensive crisis, which is a medical emergency.