Question

You got bit by a shark and have lost a lot of blood volume. You're still alive. Initially, how will this affect your blood pressure, and what is one way your body will react to compensate?

A) Your blood pressure will decrease, but your blood vessels will dilate to reduce the total peripheral resistance (TPR).

B) Your blood pressure will decrease, but our heart will beat faster to increase cardiac output.

C) Your blood pressure will increase, but your blood vessels will dilate to reduce the total peripheral resistance (TPR).

Answer 1

b) Your blood pressure will decrease, but our heart will beat faster to increase cardiac output

As the body tends to lose high volume of blood, the body tends to compensate for the loss of the blood and hence it enters the hypovolemic state. Due to this the blood pressure tends to decrease and releases hormones which constrict the blood vessels. As the blood loss takes place from the body, the body tries to preserve the blood in the body and hence in order to do so it tends to constrict the blood vessels. As the blood vessels constrict, it tends to increase the heart or cardiac rate.