BOW

There are many factors that affect ones heart rate. One of the most effective ways of getting your heart rate up is exercise. When our bodies detects the need for higher amounts of oxygen, several, heart rate increases so that blood is pumped through our system more quickly. The faster the blood courses through our veins and arteries, the more oxygen can be delivered. As our heart rate increases, we also begin to breathe faster and more deeply. The faster our blood flows, the more oxygen it needs to replace the oxygen that is expended. So, our breathing increases to match the flow of our blood. Conversely, sleep has the opposite affect. Because less oxygen and energy is needed during rest, the heart rate slows down so as not to expend uneeded energy. Another factor affecting heart rate is stress. Anxiety and fear cause the release of hormones that make the heart pump faster and harder to provide muscles with the strength to fight or take flight.