Does exercise raise blood pressure the same amount in teenagers and older adults? Resting heart rate differs between age groups. Blood pressure may respond differently to the same workout depending on your age.
You gather two groups of subjects: one aged 12 to 14 and another aged 45 to 55. First, measure each person's resting blood pressure with a home monitor. Then have each subject do two minutes of step-ups and immediately measure again.
Compare the resting readings between the two age groups. Then compare how much each group's blood pressure changes after the same exercise to find out whether age affects the response.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that exercise will raise blood pressure for both age groups, and that adults will have a higher resting blood pressure reading than the children.
Blood pressure reports two values: systolic for the push during a heartbeat, diastolic for the push when the heart rests. Resting readings differ between age groups. Comparing how much each group's numbers jump after step-ups shows whether age affects the body's response.
How the heart and blood flow change during movement is not the same for everyone, and age is one factor that can shape that response. This experiment measures resting blood pressure in two age groups, then takes another reading right after two minutes of step-ups. Comparing each group's response captures how the cardiovascular system shifts under the same workload.
Method & Materials
You will measure the blood pressure of two age groups before and after exercise, and record the results.
You will need 5 girls and 5 boys ages 12-13, 5 women and 5 men ages 29-35, and 5 women and 5 men ages 49-55. You will also need a chart to record the data, a pencil or pen, a blood pressure monitor, a desk, and a chair.
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The results of this experiment indicate that both of the hypotheses should be accepted. The adults had a higher resting blood pressure reading than the children, and both age groups' blood pressure had raised after exercise.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting because it shows how exercise can affect blood pressure, and how age can be a factor in the change of blood pressure.
Also Consider
Variations to consider include gathering more adults and trying to get an equal number of people in each group, conducting more than one trial, and gathering three or four groups instead of just two.
Full project details
Additional information and source material for this project are available below.
