Lab 15: Pulse and Heart Health
Overview
The cardiovascular system ensures that all the body tissues receive adequate nutrition and oxygen, while eliminating wastes. The heart is the pump that drives blood flow. For this reason, alterations to heart functioning can have devastating consequences for the body. In this lab, we will look at the pulse as a means to assess the functioning and health of the heart and cardiovascular system.
Preliminary Information
With every heartbeat, pressure fluctuations caused by the movement of blood into the aorta and its branches can be felt in several arteries of the body. These pulse points allow one to easily measure the heart rate or pulse (heartbeats per minute). The radial artery is a common pulse point, found by placing your index and middle finger just below your palm on the thumb side. Other areas include the temple and the neck near the jaw bone.
Another important cardiovascular measurement is blood pressure. Blood pressure is a measure of the force exerted on the walls of the blood vessels, shown as two numbers: the systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure. Each heartbeat involves contraction of the chambers followed by relaxation. When the heart contracts, the chambers are considered to be in systole. When the heart relaxes, the chambers are in diastole. The systolic pressure is the maximum arterial blood pressure which occurs when the ventricles contract (ventricular systole) and is the top number. The diastolic number is the minimum arterial pressure during ventricular diastole, written as the bottom number. Normal blood pressure is considered to be in the range of 90/60 to 119/79.
Having too high or too low of blood pressure can be indicative of problems with the cardiovascular system (or signs of disease). Typically, a blood pressure of less than 90/60 is considered low blood pressure (hypotension). High blood pressure (hypertension) is considered 140/90 or higher. Individuals with hypertension and pre-hypertension (140/90) should discuss the various means to reduce blood pressure with their physician. Chronic high blood pressure can be a contributing factor to strokes, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and kidney failure. There are many risk factors for high blood pressure, including genetics, diet, salt intake, lack of exercise, and smoking.
In this section, you will be measuring your pulse while at rest, just after exercising, and after meditation.
Lab Objectives
- Measure your heart rate (pulse) at rest.
- Understand the significance of blood pressure and interpret the blood pressure.
- Determine the effect of meditation on your pulse (and blood pressure).
- Determine the effect of exercise on your pulse (and blood pressure).
Hypothesis
Construct a hypothesis about the effect of meditation on pulse:
Construct a hypothesis about the effect of exercise on pulse:
Materials
- Timer (phone, tablet, or computer timer; watch; kitchen timer)
Methods
NOTE: If you are unable to exercise for any reason, please find someone to do this experiment on rather than yourself. Being safe is the most important factor!
- Determine your resting heart rate or pulse. The best places to find your pulse are the: side of your neck wrists, inside of your elbow or top of the foot. To get the most accurate reading, put your finger over your pulse and count the number of beats in 60 seconds. Your resting heart rate is the heart pumping the lowest amount of blood you need because you’re not exercising.
- Record the pulse of yourself and your partners (if anyone is also participating with you at home) in Table 1.
- Determine your pulse after meditation. Use the same area you used in step 1 to get your pulse. Sit comfortably or lay down in quiet area. You may either set an alarm on low (so it doesn’t startle you) for 2 minutes or have your partner keep track of the time. If using an alarm, make sure the alarm is a quiet one so it does not shock you when it goes off. When you start the timer, close your eyes, take very deep breaths, and try to clear your mind of any thoughts. If thoughts occur, try to send them away and relax your mind thinking of nothing. Consistently take deep breaths and clear your mind. When the timer sounds, take a pulse reading. Record the after meditation pulse for each person in Table 1.
- If you are unable to exercise for any reason, please find someone to do this experiment on rather than yourself. Being safe is the most important factor! Next, determine your pulse after moderate exercise. Taking turns, each person will do jumping jacks, jog around, or perform an alternate exercise of your choice for at least 60 seconds, being sure that this exercise gets you at least breathing a little faster. After finishing, immediately take your pulse and record in Table 1. Make sure to use the same area used before for measurement in step 1 and 3. Record the after exercise pulse for each person in Table 1.
Data:
According to the American Heart Association, your resting heart rate is the heart pumping the lowest amount of blood you need because you’re not exercising. If you’re sitting or lying and you’re calm, relaxed and aren’t ill, your heart rate is normally between 60 (beats per minute) and 100 (beats per minute).
Table 1: Pulse at Rest, After Exercise, and After Meditation
| Name/s | Pulse at rest (beats per minute) | Pulse after meditation | Pulse after exercise |
| 1. | |||
| 2. | |||
| 3. | |||
| 4. |
Conclusion – Discussion:
- What is the difference, in your own word, between blood pressure and heart rate (pulse)? Use the following link if you need further help, but don’t copy from the site. http://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/the-facts-about-high-blood-pressure/blood-pressure-vs-heart-rate-pulse
- What changes in pulse you or your partner experience as you meditated?
- Why do such changes in pulse and blood pressure occur due to meditation?
- What changes in pulse did you or your partner experience as you exercised?
- Why do changes in pulse occur due to exercise? Be specific.
- Explain how at least two other factors can affect your pulse rate. http://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/the-facts-about-high-blood-pressure/all-about-heart-rate-pulse
- If someone has hypertension, what lifestyle changes might you recommend for her or him?
Extra Credit: Extra Information About Blood Pressure
The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology recently changed the blood pressure guidelines. Interpret your blood pressure as Normal (less than 120/80), Elevated (systolic is between 120-129 and diastolic is less than 80), Stage 1 hypertension (systolic is between 130-139 or diastolic is between 80-89), Stage 2 hypertension (systolic 140 or diastolic 90 and above), or Hypertensive crisis (systolic 180 and/or diastolic 120 and above). Historically, hypotension (low blood pressure) has been listed as 90/60 or below but many medical professionals only recognize low blood pressure as a problem if it coincides with troubling symptoms (for example, fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting).
Procedure:
If possible or if you have time, you can track your blood pressure the same way you tracked your pulse. This would require you going to a Walgreens, CVS, Jewel or possibly purchasing a blood pressure cuff. Not to mention, you would have to meditate in the store or your car and/or exercise which could be difficult. Hence why this is extra credit. I left some extra spots if a family or friend is doing this with you too.
Insert a picture of you taking your blood pressure if you choose to do this
Table 2. Blood Pressure at Rest, After Exercise, and After Meditation
| Student Name | Blood pressure at rest | Interpretation:
· Hypotension · Normal · Elevated · Stage 1 hypertension · Stage 2 hypertension · Hypertensive crisis |
Blood pressure after meditation | Blood pressure after exercise |
| 1. | ||||
| 2. | ||||
| 3. | ||||
| 4. |
