How Exercise Affects Blood Pressure

Introduction:

Did you know that even while at rest, the heart works twice as hard as the leg muscles of a
person sprinting? The heart is a very strong muscle, and it works hard even with the pressure of
blood pushing against the hearts walls. In fact, that is what blood pressure is- the force of the
blood pushing against the hearts arterial walls.

Just as many different situations can affect heart rate, there are several forces that can change
our blood pressure, both short term and long term. Long term effects can include bad diets,
obesity, stress, and little exercise. Over time, a person can develop hypertension, or high blood
pressure, which is not healthy for the heart, and must be treated. Short term effects on blood
pressure can include diet, body temperature, and posture. One more example of a short term
effect on blood pressure includes body activity and rest. In this experiment, you will explore how
rest and different intensities of physical activity affects blood pressure.

Problem:
How does exercise/body movement affect blood pressure?

Hypothesis:
Exercise and changing the bodys movement will increase the bodys blood pressure.

Material List:
Computer with Vernier Logger Pro software
Vernier LabQuest Mini with USB cable
Vernier Blood Pressure Sensor
Pencil
Paper

Procedure:
1. Gather required materials.
2. Create a table with three trials. You should measure the blood pressure for a
person at rest, after moderate exercise, and more intense exercise. Moderate exercise
will call for 10 jumping jacks,and intense exercise will call for 25 jumping jacks. You will
begin by measuring the blood pressure of a person at rest.
3. Start the Logger Pro software and open the Blood Pressure program.
4. Start the Logger Pro software and open the Blood Pressure program.
5. Click on File Open and open the Human Physiology with Vernier folder.
6. Open the program titled 07 Blood Press Vital Sign.
7. Connect the LabQuest Mini to the computer using the USB cable.
8. Connect the Blood Pressure Sensor into CH 1 of the LabQuest Mini.
 9. Wrap the blood pressure cuff around the designated persons upper arm. The cuff
should be secured snugly. Make sure the arrow on the cuff is pointing towards the index
finger and that the tubes run down the inside of the elbow.
10. Position the persons arm resting on the table. During the test, the person should not
move.
11. Click the green Collect arrow in the top toolbar.
12. Pump up the cuff using the rubber bulb.
13. Pump the cuff until the pressure reaches 160 mm Hg in the gauge.
14. Once it reaches 160 mm Hg, stop pumping. The cuff will deflate gradually. Do not
push the release valve.
15. The systolic, diastolic, and pulse will be calculated by the software and displayed on
the computer screen. When the cuff pressure drops below 50 mm Hg, you can terminate
data collection by clicking the red Stop button. Press the release valve to release any air, but
do not remove the cuff.
16. Under the Experiment menu, select Store Latest Run.
17. Record the systolic and diastolic pressures.
18. Wait about 3 minutes and repeat steps 9-17 for blood pressure after 10 jumping
jacks, and after 25 jumping jacks.
19. Make sure you have all data recorded for each trial- while the person is at rest, after
doing 10 jumping jacks, and after doing 25 jumping jacks.

Data Table:

Resting 10 Jumping Jacks 25 Jumping Jacks

Blood Pressure in Trial #1 104/56 159/61 172/81

Graph:
Conclusion:

Based on the results of my experiment, I can say that my hypothesis was correct. I hypothesized
that exercise will increase blood pressure in that moment, and my data supported this. I conducted
the experiment in three trials. My first trial was taking blood pressure while the person was at rest.
The second trial was taking blood pressure after the person just did ten jumping jacks, and my third
trial was taking blood pressure after the person just did 25 jumping jacks. As the physical activity
increased, both the systolic and diastolic pressures increased. My test studys systolic pressure
increased from a resting level of 104, to a level of 159, then to 172. Her diastolic pressure increased
from a resting level of 56, to a level of 61, then to 81. Overall, her blood pressure increased with
each increase of physical activity, proving that my hypothesis was correct.

Suggestions:

I would definitely improve my lab by taking several trials for each situation of resting and physical
activity. Due to the short time period, I did not have time to test blood pressure multiple times for
each situation. Testing it multiple times would have ensured accuracy, and that is what I strive for. I
would also like to add more exercise or try testing different physical activities to see how it affects
blood pressure.

I would also like to test (in a separate lab, of course) how body position affects blood pressure. I
know that body position has an effect on blood pressure, but I would like to go deeper into how
laying down, standing, sitting, crouching, or kneeling truly makes a difference.

Sources for intro:

http://www.arheart.com/cardiovascular-health/amazing-heart-facts/
http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/hypertension.html