If afterload increases, cardiac output may decrease, assuming other factors remain constant. This is because the heart has to work harder to eject blood against the higher resistance, potentially leading to reduced stroke volume. Over time, the heart may compensate through hypertrophy, but acute increases in afterload typically result in diminished cardiac performance.
A change in cardiac output without any change in the heart rate, pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP = equated to preload) or systemic vascular resistance (SVR = afterload) would have to be due to a change in the contractility of the heart. Cardiac output (CO) is roughly equal to stroke volume x heart rate. Stroke volume is related to preload, contractility, and afterload. As you can see, the only variables you have not controlled for is cardiac contractility.
Yes, epinephrine can increase afterload. It does this by causing vasoconstriction of peripheral blood vessels through its action on alpha-adrenergic receptors, which raises systemic vascular resistance. Additionally, epinephrine stimulates the heart to contract more forcefully and increases heart rate, contributing to a higher cardiac output, but the increased vascular resistance primarily affects afterload.
Both, peripheral resistance decreases and cardiac output increases.
Decreased blood volume typically leads to a reduction in venous return to the heart, which can lower stroke volume and cardiac output. As a result, the body may compensate by constricting blood vessels, potentially increasing systemic vascular resistance. This increase in resistance can elevate afterload, as afterload is defined as the pressure the heart must work against to eject blood. Therefore, while decreased blood volume primarily reduces cardiac output, it can indirectly lead to an increase in afterload due to vascular compensation mechanisms.
Cardiac output is the total volume of blood that is pumped by the heart per minute. When you exercise, there is a greater demand for oxygen, which is carried in your blood, thus your cardiac output increases.
It increases intrathoracic pressure which decreases venous return to the heart and causes a decrease in cardiac output.
It increases intrathoracic pressure which decreases venous return to the heart and causes a decrease in cardiac output.
Decreased afterload occurs when the resistance the heart must overcome to eject blood is reduced. This can be caused by factors such as vasodilation, which decreases systemic vascular resistance, or conditions like sepsis that lead to widespread blood vessel dilation. Additionally, medications such as ACE inhibitors or nitrates can also lower afterload by relaxing blood vessels. Ultimately, decreased afterload facilitates easier ventricular ejection, improving cardiac output.
regular aerobic exercise strengthens heart muscles which increases stroke volume (the volume of blood ejected with each contraction). since cardiac output = stroke volume * heart rate, this ultimately increases cardiac output.
Reduces the work load and increases cardiac output
If cardiac output increases, blood pressure (BP) typically increases as well, assuming vascular resistance remains constant. This is because blood pressure is determined by the product of cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance (BP = CO x SVR). An increase in cardiac output means more blood is being pumped into the circulatory system, leading to higher pressure in the arteries. However, if the blood vessels dilate significantly, it could mitigate the rise in BP.
Cardiac output (CO) is determined by the heart rate (HR) and the volume of blood pumped by each beat (stroke volume - SV). Mathematically, cardiac output can be represented by the equation: CO = HR x SV As such, if total cardiac output falls as a result of decreased stroke volume, the heart rate can increase to keep the total cardiac output normal, to a certain extent. Stroke volume is more complicated; it is determined by many different factors, including preload, afterload, competence of the atrioventricular valves, ventricular cavity size, and the strength of the squeeze of the cardiac muscle, amongst others. Any change in one of these factors requires a compensation in one or more of the others to maintain cardiac output.