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Serum & Blood Pressure

High and low blood pressure can cause a number of health problems. One of the most fundamental influences on blood pressure is cholesterol in the blood flow, carried in the serum of the blood. Serum is different from plasma, which is the part of the blood that carries red and white blood cells around the body.

  1. Blood Pressure

    • Blood pressure is determined by measuring the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries as it is pumped around the body by the heart. Blood pressure is always changing but it is possible to suffer from consistently high or low blood pressure.

    High Blood Pressure

    • High blood pressure, or hypertension, usually has no noticeable symptoms. A normal blood pressure reading is 120/80 or less. Anything over 140/90 indicates a person suffering from high blood pressure. High blood pressure can place a high level of stress on the internal organs. If this is left unchecked, high blood pressure can cause stroke and heart and kidney failure.

    Low Blood Pressure

    • Low blood pressure occurs when the pressure of the blood being pumped around the body is not strong enough to flow through the veins strongly. Any blood pressure reading below 90/60 is considered low. Blurry vision, dizziness, fainting and confusion can all be symptoms of low blood pressure. Because low blood pressure causes the blood to pump weakly, the condition can starve the organs of the oxygen carried in the blood. This can damage the heart and the brain, among other organs.

    Serum

    • Serum is the part of blood that is clear and fluid. It does not contain blood cells but does carry proteins that are involved with responses in the blood of the body's immune system. Serum is different from plasma not only because it is the part of the blood that contains red and white blood cells, but also because serum does not clot. Serum also carries cholesterol in the blood.

    Serum Cholesterol

    • Serum cholesterol has been connected to heart disease because it clogs the arteries and can also severely damage the heart. In combination with high blood pressure, high levels of serum cholesterol can put too much strain on the heart. Combined with low blood pressure, high serum cholesterol can prevent adequate amounts of blood from getting to the organs, causing oxygen starvation. High serum cholesterol is most commonly caused by eating foods high in saturated fats and cholesterol.

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