Heart Rate,

Blood Pressure, and

Exercise

Blood Pressure
Made up of two numbers:
systolic blood pressure
diastolic blood pressure.

Written as:
Systolic/Diastolic
Spoken as:
Systolic Over Diastolic
Measured in mmHg

Measuring Blood Pressure

Sphygmomanometer and
stethoscope
Normally, inflate cuff to 180 mmHg
Allow pressure to drop at a rate of 3
mmHg/second

Three Conditions
No Flow
Turbulent Flow
Laminar Flow

Cardiac Output and Exercise

Q = HR x SV
Q is cardiac output (L/min)
HR is heart rate (beats/min)
SV is stroke volume (ml/beat)
Cardiac output must increase in exercise to
meet the metabolic demand of the active
tissues.

Total Peripheral Resistance

Describes the resistance in vessels
Change it via physiological response or by
physical measures
Vasoconstrict or Vasodilate in response to
exercise.
Active Skeletal muscles: Vasodilate
Non essential organs &
Non-active skeletal muscles: Vasoconstrict

Systolic Blood Pressure

Refers to the arterial pressure during the
contraction phase of the heart
Corresponds with the onset of turbulent
flow through the arteries
Pressure at first Korotkoff sound (a
beating sound with each heart beat)
Average value is around 120 mmHg
Reflects Cardiac Output, but is not equal
to it

Diastolic Blood Pressure

Refers to the arterial pressure during the
relaxation phase of the heart
Corresponds with the onset of laminar flow
through the arteries
Pressure at last Korotkoff sound (a
beating sound with each heart beat)
Average value is around 80 mmHg
Reflects total peripheral resistance, but is
not equal to it

Blood Pressure Must Be

Regulated
Low Blood Pressure
Blood will not reach all
tissues
Specifically those
where gravity is acting
against flow
Most importantly the
brain

High Blood Pressure

Heart is placed under
great stress
Excess plasma
leakage
At the extreme,
capillaries burst

Rate Pressure Product

RPP = HR x Systolic BP / 100
Has no units
An estimation of the total work of the heart
Also known as the double product

Two Types of Exercise

Dynamic
Involves repetitive motions
What we typically think of as exercise

Static
A held position with little or not muscle
movement
Still requires energy

What happens during exercise?

Exercising tissues require an increase in
blood flow
Cardiac output (Q) must increase
Cardiac output = heart rate (HR) x stroke
volume (SV)
Q = HR x SV

But how does that affect blood

pressure?
MAP = Q x TPR
Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)
Cardiac Output (Q)
Total Peripheral Resistance (TPR)

MAP = Diastolic +1/3 (systolic-diastolic)

Effects of Exercise on Blood

Pressure
Dynamic Exercise

Need increased Q
Increased HR
Decreased TPR
Diastolic BP stays ~
the same
Systolic BP increases
and then levels off or
slightly decreases

Static Exercise

Need increased Q
Increased HR
Increased TPR
Increased MAP
Increased DBP/SBP