Let's Get That Pulse Pumping!

Making America Healthy Again, here’s a health-conscious experiment that you can do at home!

Want to find out what happens to your heart rate when you run and get out of breath? Find out without the need of any expensive equipment! 

How to Find Your Pulse

Turn one of your arms up. Then, run the index finger and middle finger of your other hand under your thumb to your wrist. This will lead you to the radial artery, which goes from your heart to your hands. This should allow you to feel the pulsing of the blood going to your hand. 

Testing Your Heart Rate

1. While resting, take your pulse for ten seconds and write the result on the chart below.

2. Jog in place for 30 seconds, then take your pulse for 10 seconds. Write the result on the chart  below.

3. Rest until your breathing is back to normal.

4. Jog in place for one minute, take your pulse for 10 seconds, and write the result on the chart.

5.  Rest until your breathing is back to normal.

6. Jog in place for two minutes, take your pulse for ten seconds, and write the result on the chart. Hydrate!

Observations

What did you observe as you took your pulse?

You should have observed that your pulse rate rose as your activity increased.

The Science

The heart rate increases because as you move, your muscles need oxygen. The faster you move, the more oxygen your muscles need. This means the heart needs to pump more oxygen through the blood. It delivers oxygen to the muscles to give them the power they need to move. 

Your pulse is a measure of the heartbeats or contractions that occur as the heart pumps blood through the body.