PLTW Biomedical Science End of Course (EOC) Practice Test

High blood pressure can be influenced by substances that directly affect the heart, blood vessels, or fluid balance. Some drugs raise blood pressure by mechanisms such as vasoconstriction, increased heart rate, or increased fluid retention, making drugs and medications a clear potential cause. For example, decongestants with vasoconstrictors can raise pressure, NSAIDs can cause the body to retain salt and water, and stimulants (including some prescription medications) can increase both heart rate and vascular tension. Birth control pills and certain antidepressants or thyroid meds can also raise blood pressure in some people. Because these substances can directly push blood pressure upward, they are a plausible cause. Diet and weight are important risk factors that influence the likelihood of developing hypertension over time, and genetics sets baseline susceptibility, but the direct, immediate links to specific substances are most evident with drugs/meds.