Psychological measurements

• Do not use sphygmomanometer in a home setting, blood pressure monitor is more applicable
• Exercise increases systolic blood pressure
• Atherosclerosis


  Fatty deposits in arteries reducing blood supply to the heart
• Atherosclerosis


  Reduces blood supply to the heart
• Physical activity


  Increases the need for oxygen/blood
• Less oxygen available


  Causes breathlessness/exhaustion
• Poor circulation


  Means that less oxygen is transported/lower blood oxygen levels
• Physiological factors causing symptoms

  • Atherosclerosis/fatty deposits in arteries
  • Physical activity increases the need for oxygen/blood
  • Poor circulation
• What happens during exercise

  1. Body needs more oxygen

  2. Breathing rate increases to supply oxygen

  3. Heart beats faster to take oxygen to where it is needed

  4. Energy is needed for the muscles to work

  5. Oxygen is needed for the release of energy
• What happens after exercise stops

  1. Body no longer needs the additional oxygen supply

  2. Breathing rate decreases

  3. Heart rate reduces as the demand for oxygen falls
• More muscle activity to support the level of exercise


  More carbon dioxide is produced
• Increased carbon dioxide levels

  Quickly detected and promptly cause an increase in heart rate
• How the body adjusts to increased oxygen demand

  1. Heart rate begins to increase so that the blood can move around the body quicker

  2. Breathing rate increases so that more oxygen can be inhaled

  3. Increased blood flow distributes more oxygen to where it is needed
• Negative feedback mechanisms


  • Help to control heart rate and breathing rate
• How the heart rate adjusts

  1. Baroreceptors recognise when the blood vessels become stretched and send impulses to the cardiovascular centre

  2. Action potentials/sympathetic stimulation are initiated to adjust the heart rate
• Walking vs sprinting


  Walking places less demand on muscles, consumes less oxygen, produces less carbon dioxide, and has a less stimulating effect on the cardiovascular system