The objective of this investigation was to analyze how blood pressure is sustained by homeostasis. We experimented this by documenting an individual’s blood pressure before and after having them run 200m, 400m, and 800m (the independent variables). If the individual's blood pressure returns to a resting pressure, then homeostasis is present in relation to blood pressure.

Homeostasis is the ability to maintain a constant internal environment in response to environmental changes. The nervous and endocrine systems control homeostasis in the body through feedback mechanisms involving various organs and organ systems. To put it simply, it is to maintain balance among your body so you remain a stable condition. Homeostasis was the key feature in what we were experimenting. We tested if blood pressure fluctuates and returns to normal when exercising. This concept helped the completion of the project because it showed us how our bodies fluctuate based on different factors to maintain stable.

A positive feedback loop is an event in nature when the effect of a reaction leads to an increase in that reaction. If we look at a system in homeostasis, a positive feedback loop moves a system further away from the target of equilibrium. It is when your body compensates to something that is not normal. In our project, an example of a positive feedback loop is when heart rate/breathing rate increases, blood pressure increases to compensate for the change in body exertion. This concept helped the completion of the project because it showed us the change in blood pressure.

A negative feedback loop occurs in biology when the product of a reaction leads to a decrease in that reaction. In this way, a negative feedback loop brings a system closer to a target of stability or homeostasis. In this project, a negative feedback loop that was incorporated was the resting period where we allowed the blood pressure to return to normal. This concept helped the completion of the project because it showed us the difference between a resting blood pressure and a running blood pressure.

Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by blood on the walls of a blood vessel that helps to push blood through the body. Systolic blood pressure measures the amount of pressure that blood exerts on vessels while the heart is beating. Blood pressure is related to the blood velocity in the arteries and arterioles. The first number of the measurement given is the pressure of the phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood from the chambers into the arteries. The second number of the measurement given is the pressure of the phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes and allows the chambers to fill with blood. This was the main variable in our project/experiment.

Having a higher blood pressure can lead to multiple hypokinetic diseases. To lower your blood pressure, you should make healthy lifestyle changes such as managing stress, reducing salt in diet, exercise, maintain a healthy weight, do not smoke, and drink less alcohol.

Having a low blood pressure makes you lightheaded and nauseated. You should see a doctor if you have low blood pressure to see the problem.

The average healthy blood pressure is <120/80. An unhealthy high blood pressure is >140/90.

I think we did a good job on our project, though the lack of time given to complete it. Our project only had two partners the majority of the time given which was a burden considering that other groups had a 150% higher production rate compared to us. Experimenting went really well. We collected accurate and conforming data, with multiple trials and multiple variables (while maintaining a constant independent variable). What did not go to well was the computer work. Compiling our data and making the lab report was not too productive. Which is 99% my fault.

I learned that blood pressure is a lot more important that I previously thought. It is a telltale sign for most circulatory diseases. I learned how I can reduce it and become a more healthy human being. This shows my character and that I want to become more healthy. I do research to complete this goal.

What I also learned about myself is that I need to focus more. I tend to lose my focus quicker than I previously used to. I need to start getting more sleep and being quieter. I need to be more of a conscientious learner and hold myself more accountable. I used my communicating skills by allowing other groups to use our data and to compare data based on different factors of the body. Though while doing this I could have been a little more on topic because sometimes I would stray off topic.