Lesson 4.3 - Exercise Affects Blood Pressure

You can perform this activity if you have access to a sphygmomanometer.  If you do not have access to a sphygmomanometer, use the data gathered from a student to answer the questions.  

Read Find Out Activity on page 193 so that you understand how the data was gathered.

Sample Student Data:

Pulse

Blood Pressure

Initial (at rest)

72

125/76
After 5 minutes of exercise
115
151/88
After 5 minutes of rest
75
129/79

 

Now, answer the following questions.

Question 1. How did exercise affect the the heart rate and blood pressure of this student?  Explain why this happened.

Question 2. Why did the pulse and blood pressure not return to the initial (first) values after five minutes of rest?

 

Check your answers with those that follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Question 1. How did exercise affect the the heart rate and blood pressure of this student?

Exercise caused the heart rate and blood pressure to increase.  Exercise makes the muscles work harder.  Muscles need more nutrients to work harder; also, they produce more wastes that must be removed.  The blood supplies the nutrients and removes the wastes; therefore, more blood flow is required.  The heart must beat faster and harder to increase the blood flow.  This results in an increased heart rate and increased blood pressure.

Question 2. Why did the pulse and blood pressure not return to the initial values after five minutes of rest?

Five minutes of rest was not enough time for the body to return to a state of rest.  The better physical condition you are in, the faster your body will return to the initial state of heart rate and blood pressure. 


Now, do Assignment 9D.  Page forward to access it.