UNIVERSITY OF ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

Department of Science
SC101 (Biology) Laboratory
Calsado, Lourdes Antonette V. Date Performed: 10 September 2015
1POLECO Date Submitted: 17 September 2015
The Effect of Strenuous Exercise on Blood Pressure
OBJECTIVES:

- To measure the blood pressure of an individual using a sphygmomanometer

- To determine the effects of exercise on blood pressure
- To assess the effect of exercise on systolic and diastolic pressure

MATERIALS:

sphygmomanometer, ruler, stethoscope, pencil

METHODS/PROCEDURE:

In this experiment, we took the blood pressure of each person in the group before, right after, and
after the person did some exercise. The first individual who undertook this was Angeles. We
wrapped the cuff around his right upper arm and propped it on the table. We then started
squeezing the bulb until the pressure valve of the sphygmomanometer reached 180mm Hg. We
then put the bell of the stethoscope midway between the epicondyles of the humerus. We gently
started to release the pressure applied in the arm and listened closely as the pressure dropped
slowly. We listened closely for the Korotkoff sound to get the systolic pressure and waited for it
to stop so that we could get the diastolic pressure. At rest, Angeles’ blood pressure was 120/70.
We made him to exercise as we took the blood pressure of Jordan. We repeated the procedure
explained above and got her blood pressure at rest which was: 100/70, after which, she started to
do the exercise. At that point, Angeles went to back to us to get his blood pressure after having
done the exercise. His blood pressure right after the exercise was 130/70. We then took Reyes’
blood pressure which was at 110/70. After we took his blood pressure, Jordan came back to get
her blood pressure right after the exercise which was at 120/70. As no one else could take
Calsado’s blood pressure, she asked help from other groups to take her blood pressure while
Reyes was exercising. Calsado’s blood pressure was at: 120/70. Reyes came back after
exercising and we got his blood pressure which was at 120/80. Calsado went to exercise and
came back and got her blood pressure which was at 130/90. We then went back to Angeles after
5 minutes of resting after exercise. His blood pressure had already gone back to his initial blood
pressure. We then went to Jordan and took her blood pressure and it had already gone down to
110/70. After we took Reyes’ blood pressure which, like Angeles’, had gone back to its initial
blood pressure. Lastly, we took Calsado’s blood pressure and it had gone back to its initial blood
pressure at 120/70. We repeated taking our blood pressure in 5 minute increments but due to lack
of time, it was not executed anymore. But seeing as there was little to no change in the blood
pressure after 5 minutes of resting, we proceeded and wrote what we finished in the lab manual.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:

Results

The result of the experiment was, all of individuals tested had higher blood pressures after doing
exercise. Angeles went from 120/70 to 130/70, Jordan went from 100/70 to 120/70, Reyes went
from 110/70 to 120/80 and Calsado went from 120/70 to 130/90. After resting for 5 minutes,
they were tested again and almost all of the individuals had gone back to their initial blood
pressures.

Conclusion /////>

In conclusion, blood pressure is affected by doing strenuous exercise. We saw that using the
sphygmomanometer. Strenuous exercise increases the blood pressure of the person because more
blood is flowing because the heart is pumping faster. It mostly affects the systolic pressure more
than the diastolic pressure. We also learned the importance of rest because it lowers the blood
pressure so that it is in the limit that is normal for a person who is healthy. Overworking
ourselves can lead to high blood pressure which may eventually lead to heart attack and death.

ANSWERS TO GUIDE QUESTIONS:

Blood pressure - pressure of the blood in circulatory system measured by force and rate of
heartbeat and the diameter and elasticity of the blood vessel(arterial walls).
Pulse rate – measurement of the heart rate or the number of times the heart beats per minute.
Heart rate – speed of the heartbeat; measured by contractions of the heart per unit time.

External factors that may affect the blood pressure of an individual

Stress- produces a surge of hormones that makes the heart beat faster and the vessels get
narrower so blood pressure becomes higher
Temperature- temperature change can disrupt homeostasis because blood pressure will increase
to maintain body heat. Blood pressure will increase after exposure to cold temperatures and
decrease after a time of exposure to hot temperatures.
Full bladder -
Not resting
Alcohol/caffeine
Factors that may cause high blood pressure

Factors that may cause low blood pressure

Why do athletes have lower blood pressure