The effect of exercise on the heart rate and breathing rate
Introduction
Aim: Finding out how exercise affects the heart rate and breathing rate.
Hypothesis: Exercise exists in different forms and has many benefits; it improves the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, development of bones, strengthens muscles and the lungs capacity plus it can make you feel good. There are different exercises and intensities for different benefits. Lower intensity exercises are not designed to work the body as hard. As a result less oxygen is needed and less waste is in excess. However even low intensity exercises require more substances to be carried out than if your body was in its resting state. Therefore different concentrations of substances are required for different intensities of exercise. In effect this affects your heart and breathing rate. (Jones & Jones, 1984) (Ross, 1978)
Null Hypothesis: Exercise has no effect on the heart rate or breathing rate.
The overall rate of the heart and breathing increases during exercise. The heart beats faster, allowing blood to supply substances required by the cells to respire. Oxygen is needed to replace the oxygen used up in respiring cells, while at the same time the cells produce carbon dioxide that needs to be removed from the body. The heart rate increases to pump blood around the body quicker, ensuring oxygen is constantly dissociating from the blood to the cells. At the same time the breathing rate increases to increase the rate of gaseous exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, and remove excess waste from the body as soon as possible. (Jones & Jones, 1984) (Ross, 1978)
“Exercise, although essential both for early, sudden muscle contraction ( a few minutes ) and for prolonged, sustained exercise, muscle food stores are not enough. The contracting muscle
Bibliography: * Jones, M. And Jones, G. 1984. Biology: The Press Syndicate * Ross, G. 1978. Human Physiology: Year Book Medical Publishers * Why Does Exercise Increase Heart Rate And Breathing Rate? (2012)Breathing Rate & Heart Rate [Online] Available at: http://www.livestrong.com/article/109267-exercise-increase-heart-rate-breathing-rate/ (Accessed: 15 November 2012) * Heart Rate (2012) Measurement [Online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_rate (Accessed: 16 November 2012)