NORTH ANSON — The Carrabec High School Anatomy and Physiology class and Advanced Physical Education class conducted a lab experiment recording and studying the effects of exercise and altitude on heart rate and blood pressure recently.

The first phase of the lab was conducted at the summit building on top of Sugarloaf Mountain at 4,200 feet in altitude. The Sugarloaf staff provided transportation up and down the mountain with a snow cat. Once the students settled into the environment, they took their homeostatic blood pressure and pulse rates. These were done with newly acquired digital blood pressure cuffs and heart monitors purchased through the Oak Grove/Coburn Grant awarded to Carrabec this past winter.

After recording their blood pressure and heart rates, students warmed up and did an exercise regimen that included weights, lunges, jumping jacks and running in place. They exercised for 40 minutes. After completing the routine, students immediately recorded blood pressure and heart rates for the next 22 minutes. That completed the first phase of the lab.

The second phase of the experiment was conducted on Sunday morning at 7 a.m. in the high school gymnasium. Students chose to come in Sunday in order to have enough time to run the experiment and not miss classes. Carrabec is at an altitude of about 300 feet. Students recorded information and exercised in identical fashion as in phase 1. They are currently applying the scientific method to analyze and graph their results.