Activity 1.

2
HEART RATE LAB

Directions: Read the article and do the activity afterward. Make sure to follow the
instructions carefully to get an accurate reading of your pulse rate. Anyone in your
household or your classmate can be your partner for this activity.

Pulse rate is one of the four vital signs that are routinely monitored by health
practitioners and health care providers Vital signs are measurements of the basic
functions of the body. Do you know how to get the heart rate without using any
special equipment?

Counting Beats

The pulse rate is the number of times the heartbeats per minute. As the heart pumps
to push blood, the arteries expand and contract with the flow of blood. Moreover,
pulse rate not only measures the heart rate, but can also be used to determine heart
rhythm, and the strength of the pulse.

Checking Pulse Rate

1. Get a partner. Using the first and second fingertips, press the wrist pulse
firmly but gently.
2. While sitting quietly, begin counting your pulse when the clock’s second hand
is on 12. Count the pulse in 60 seconds.
3. When counting, do not watch the hand of the clock continuously. Concentrate
on counting the beats of the pulse.
4. Jog in place for 1 minute and do the same steps (steps 2 and 3) by counting
your pulse rate immediately to check if you the same result. Record the results
on the Trial 2 column. Compare the results.
5. Repeat step 2 up to 5 minutes. Record the results below.
6. Ask your partner to do the steps 2 – 4. Record the pulse rate of your partner in
the table below.

Pulse Rate – Trial 1 Pulse Rate – Trial 2

(beats per minute) (beats per minute)
Student 1 (You)
Student 2 (Partner)

Your pulse after 1 minute (while sitting) = ______________

Your pulse after 1 minute2 (after jogging) = ______________
Your pulse after 2 minutes (after jogging) = ______________
Your pulse after 3 minutes (after jogging) = ______________
Your pulse after 4 minutes (after jogging) = ______________
Your pulse after 5 minutes (after jogging) = ______________

It took my heart ___________minute to recover from this exercise.

Guide Questions:

1. Define heart rate. Define pulse. Why is blood pressure different from heart rate?

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2. Is it desirable to have a low resting pulse rate? Why or why not?

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3. If heart rate monitors were not available, how would you instruct an individual to
properly check pulse rate?

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4. What are the factors affecting pulse rate?

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5. How is recovery heart rate related to an individual’s level of health/fitness?

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6. What did you learn about yourself from this experiment?

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7. Did you enjoy working with the heart rate monitors? Why or why not?

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