Answer to Question #97076 in Human Anatomy and Physiology for N/A

Question

In general, what conclusions can you draw about the effects of exercise on the human pulse rate?

Answer 1

Exercise increases the rate at which energy is needed from food, increasing the need for both food and oxygen by the body. This is why when we exercise both pulse/heart rate and breathing rate increase.

Pulse rate is an indication of your heart rate as your arteries expand each time the ventricles pump blood out of the heart.  The heart speeds up to pump extra food and oxygen to the muscles, while breathing speeds up to get more oxygen into the body and remove carbon dioxide.