Final answer:
Increased systemic vascular resistance, often due to arteriosclerosis, forces the heart to exert more effort to pump blood, leading to a rise in blood pressure. This condition requires the heart to work harder, increasing the risk of hypertension and coronary heart disease. Blood pressure regulation involves changes in arterial resistance through vasoconstriction and vasodilation, as well as reflexes that maintain systemic blood pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phenomenon being described occurs when systemic vascular resistance exerts pressure on the heart. This typically happens in the condition known as arteriosclerosis, where the compliance of the arteries is reduced. As compliance decreases, arteries are less able to expand and recoil, which leads to increased pressure and resistance within these blood vessels. Consequently, the heart must work harder to generate enough pressure to overcome this resistance, which can contribute to hypertension and coronary heart disease. In essence, as arterial resistance increases due to arteriosclerosis, blood pressure increases, making the heart's pumping action more strenuous.
Vasoconstriction and vasodilation in the arterial system also play significant roles in systemic blood pressure. Slight vasodilation can greatly decrease resistance and increase blood flow, whereas slight vasoconstriction can increase resistance and decrease flow. When blood pressure drops, a decrease in baroreceptor firing results in increased sympathetic stimulation, causing vasoconstriction and an increase in cardiac output that together raise blood pressure to maintain blood flow and pressure throughout the body.