Pulse rate is the number of times in a minute an artery pulsates or the rhythmic expansion and contraction, which indicates that a heartbeat has occurred. There are many factors which affect the pulse rate which includes: gender, age, body temperature, pain, emotion, exercise, blood pressure, consumption of stimulants, dehydration, body mass index (weight), fitness level, lifestyle and many more. In my investigation, I would be examining the affect of gender in the change in the pulse rates, while keeping the other factors constant.
Background Information:
The pulse rate is a measurement of the heart rate, or the number of times the heart beats per minute. As the heart pushes blood through the arteries, the arteries expand and contract with the flow of the blood. Taking a pulse not only measures the heart rate, but also can indicate the following: * heart rhythm * strength of the pulse
The normal pulse for healthy adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. The pulse rate may fluctuate and increase with exercise, illness, injury, and emotions. Athletes, such as runners, who do a lot of cardiovascular conditioning, may have heart rates near 40 beats per minute and experience no problems. As the heart forces blood through the arteries, we feel the beats by firmly pressing on the arteries, which are located close to the surface of the skin at certain points of the body. The pulse can be found on the side of the lower neck, on the inside of the elbow, or at the wrist.
"Vital Signs (Body Temperature, Pulse Rate, Respiration Rate, Blood Pressure)." The Ohio State University Medical Center. Web. 29 Aug. 2010. <http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/healthcare_services/emergency_services/non_traumatic_emergencies/vital_signs/Pages/index.aspx>.
Hypothesis:
My assumption is that the male gender will have a higher pulse rate than women. This is because, after a short research, I found out that males have a larger body mass than females, i.e