Conclusion
In conclusion our hypothesis was partially supported. After viewing our blood pressures, the overall trend showed that there was a slight increase of both systolic and diastolic blood pressures after caffeine was consumed. However, the heart rate data varied for both individuals. Simarpreet's data often showed decreases after drinking caffeine, while Alix's results were more consistent in showing that heart rate generally increases after consuming caffeine.
Studies have shown that caffeine increases both heart rate and caffeine. There may have been different reasons as too why our data varied so much when it comes to heart rate. One possibility is that the caffeine levels were too low to create an effect on our heart rates. Also, it has been proven that the increase in heart rate is sudden and occurs within a short amount of time. Therefore, the increase may have occurred either before or after we took our readings at the 20 minute mark. Errors that may have occurred with our heart rate/blood pressure readings for each day, such as amount of sleep, what we ate, and how much physical activity was done on those days. If we had kept these factors consistent throughout our testing period, our results may have been more accurate.
Although many studies have been done on the effects of caffeine on the body, little is known about why caffeine increases blood pressure. Scientists think that the caffeine blocks a hormone that would usually cause the arteries to widen. Therefore, the arteries stay constricted, making blood push against the artery walls more, increasing blood pressure. Another theory is that the caffeine signaling the adrenal glands to release adrenaline is the source of the increased blood pressure. Caffeine causes heart rate to increase because it attaches to receptors on the heart. After consumption, caffeine is transported from the stomach into the blood stream in order to enter the central nervous system. While in the bloodstream, when the blood goes into the heart, the caffeine follows, and attaches to receptors. This prevents the enzyme phosphodiesterase from binding to the receptors. Phosphodiesterase works with the enzyme cAMP to control heart rate. If phosphodiesterase can't bind to the receptor, heart rate will start to increase. As a result, the rate of blood flow will increase as well.
A way to improve on this experiment is to use more people to test over a period of time. This will give us a larger amount of data, making the study more accurate. Also, everyone's bodies are different, so everyone will react to the same amount of caffeine differently. Therefore, more people will give a more accurate trend in the results. A way to expand on the experiment is study effects of caffeine on other factors such as sleep and body temperature.
Studies have shown that caffeine increases both heart rate and caffeine. There may have been different reasons as too why our data varied so much when it comes to heart rate. One possibility is that the caffeine levels were too low to create an effect on our heart rates. Also, it has been proven that the increase in heart rate is sudden and occurs within a short amount of time. Therefore, the increase may have occurred either before or after we took our readings at the 20 minute mark. Errors that may have occurred with our heart rate/blood pressure readings for each day, such as amount of sleep, what we ate, and how much physical activity was done on those days. If we had kept these factors consistent throughout our testing period, our results may have been more accurate.
Although many studies have been done on the effects of caffeine on the body, little is known about why caffeine increases blood pressure. Scientists think that the caffeine blocks a hormone that would usually cause the arteries to widen. Therefore, the arteries stay constricted, making blood push against the artery walls more, increasing blood pressure. Another theory is that the caffeine signaling the adrenal glands to release adrenaline is the source of the increased blood pressure. Caffeine causes heart rate to increase because it attaches to receptors on the heart. After consumption, caffeine is transported from the stomach into the blood stream in order to enter the central nervous system. While in the bloodstream, when the blood goes into the heart, the caffeine follows, and attaches to receptors. This prevents the enzyme phosphodiesterase from binding to the receptors. Phosphodiesterase works with the enzyme cAMP to control heart rate. If phosphodiesterase can't bind to the receptor, heart rate will start to increase. As a result, the rate of blood flow will increase as well.
A way to improve on this experiment is to use more people to test over a period of time. This will give us a larger amount of data, making the study more accurate. Also, everyone's bodies are different, so everyone will react to the same amount of caffeine differently. Therefore, more people will give a more accurate trend in the results. A way to expand on the experiment is study effects of caffeine on other factors such as sleep and body temperature.