Feel the Beat (Pulse Rate) ACTIVITY

Feel the Beat (Pulse Rate) ACTIVITY

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Your pulse is the rate at which your heart beats. Your pulse is usually called your heart rate, which is the number of times your heart beats each minute (bpm). Changes in your heart rate or rhythm, a weak pulse, or a hard blood vessel may be caused by heart disease or another problem. Some medicines such as decongestants, stimulants such as caffeine, fever, stress, and levels of activities can change your heart rate.

As your heart pumps blood through your body, you can feel a pulsing in some of the blood vessels close to the skin's surface, such as in your wrist, neck, or upper arm. Counting your pulse rate is a simple way to find out how fast your heart is beating. Your doctor will usually check your pulse during a physical examination or in an emergency, but you can easily learn to check your own pulse.

You can check your pulse the first thing in the morning, just after you wake up but before you get out of bed. This is called a resting pulse. Some people like to check their pulse before and after they exercise. You check your pulse rate by counting the beats in a set period of time (at least 15 to 20 seconds) and multiplying that number to get the number of beats per minute. Your pulse changes from minute to minute.

EXPLORE:

You cantry two different ways to check our pulse. You can either check your pulse rate on the wrist or on your neck.

1. Checking your pulse on the wrist

You can easily check your pulse on the inside of your wrist, below your thumb. Gently place 2 fingers of your other hand on this artery.Do not use your thumb, because it has its own pulse that you may feel.Count the number of beats for 30 seconds, and then double the result to get the number of beats per minute.

1. Checking your pulse in the carotid artery

You can also check your pulse in the carotid artery. This is located in your neck, on either side of your windpipe.

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

Does physical activity affect your pulse rate?

Hypothesis:

Complete:If Iincrease my physical activity, then my pulse rate will ______.

PROCEDURES:

1. Measure your pulse rate, by pressingboth your index and middle finger on your wrist or neck to locate your pulse (see pictures on previous page).Take your pulse rate at rest. Measure your heart beat or pulse rate by counting the number of beats in 30 seconds, and then multiply by 2 to get your pulse rate per minute (bpm=beats per minute).

1. Walk for 1 minute and then measure your heart beat or pulse rate by counting the number of beats in 30 seconds and then multiply by 2.

1. Jump up and down for 1 minute and then measure our heart beat or pulse rate by counting the number of beats in 30 seconds and then multiply by 2.

DATA:

Pulse Rate: At Rest______After Walking______After Jumping______

EVALUATE:

1. When you measured your pulse rate, what body organ wereyou analyzing?

2. What did you notice when comparing your pulse rate from resting, to walking,to jumping?

3. List 3 factors that may make your heart beat faster (Hint: Read background information)

CONCLUSION:

1. What was investigated? (State the purpose of the experiment by describing the problem statement.)

1. Was your hypothesis supported by the data (was your hypothesis right or wrong)?

3. What possible explanations can you offer for your findings (WHY was your hypothesis right or wrong)?

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