Answer to Question #183102 in Human Anatomy and Physiology for Yana

Question

What happens to blood pressure, respiratory rate and heart rate during and after aerobic exercise?

Answer 1

During exercise, the muscles have a higher physical activity and therefore respire more than when the body is at rest and hence the breathing rate and depth increases to increase the uptake of oxygen and to release carbon IV oxide quicker. The heart rate is high during exercise as it pumps faster and harder to circulate blood to deliver oxygen to muscles. Consequentially, systolic blood pressure rises.

After finishing the exercise session, the blood pressure gradually returns to its normal level. The heart rate too immediately begins to drop after the exercise has stopped. Furthermore, the respiratory rate returns to normal.