This study assessed heart rate, blood pressure, and pulse oximeter readings at rest and during exercise. The heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and oximetery measurements provide better insight into the inner workings of the human body. In using the results of the assessment, one can determine the affects that rest and exercise have on the cardiac system. Heart rate is described as the rate of the cardiac cycle. Heart rate is measured in beats per minute (bpm). A well conditioned heart is able to pump large amounts of blood with each beat. This is called bradycardia (* 60 bpm). In contrast, a poorly conditioned heart is called tachycardia (* 100). Males have an average resting heart rate between 60-70 bpm, whereas females average between 70-80 bpm. In addition, resting heart rate can be affected by many variables. These include one’s body position, consumption of alcohol or drugs, and fatigue.Blood pressure is defined as an outward force that distends blood vessel walls, “dependent on the energy of the heart action, elasticity of the arterial walls and volume and viscosity of the blood” (Dorland’s 1995). The standard unit of expressing blood pressure is in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). While testing, there are different sounds or phases heard when using a stethoscope to find blood pressure. These sounds define the measurable blood pressure. The first sound is the systolic BP, which indicates the pressure against the brachial artery as the heart contracts. The last sound heard relates to the diastolic BP, which is the pressure exerted when the heart is relaxed. When recording the BP, the systolic is over the diastolic BP (systolic/diastolic). Measuring resting blood pressure is used to screen for hypertension and also hypotension. It is also used to evaluate influences of medications on the cardiovascular system. The average resting blood pressure is around 120/80 mmHg.The pulse oximeter i...
