The peripheral resistance is the friction between the blood and the walls of the blood vessels, which forces the blood to travel in only one direction. The greater the friction, the more difficult it is for blood to flow through that area. The peripheral resistance affects how quickly oxygen-rich blood flows through your body. If there's too little or too much peripheral resistance, it can lead to health problems. For example, high peripheral resistance can lead to hypertension, while low peripheral resistance can lead to blood pooling in the extremities and a decrease in blood pressure.