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Caffeine consumption and heartbeat rate

Research question

Does caffeine consumption cause a significant change in heartbeat rate in high school

students?

Introduction

I have been drinking coffee, mostly espresso brands since I was a small kid. After joining the

school, however, I learned that coffee and tea contains caffeine, which normally affects sleep

pattern. As you drink more coffee, the effects of caffeine in your body increase. I also learned

that it is not advisable to drink coffee 1 hour before bedtime due to caffeine's effects on sleep

and heartbeat rate. It is through this discovery that I decided to find the effect of caffeine

consumption on a significant change in heart rate in high school students.

Background information

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. Coffee is mostly composed of

caffeine, which is a well-known stimulant. Caffeine is described as a stimulant that increases

the activities of the brain and central nervous system (Modern Heart and Vascular). Increased

caffeine consumption can lead to increased tachycardia, also called heart rate. This is

described as a condition where the heart rate beats faster than the normal resting heart rate. A

normal heart for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm) (Advent Health).
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Caffeine consumption has a direct influence on heart rate. Caffeine works by

stimulating the central nervous system by blocking adenosine receptors (A1 and A2) and thus

increasing automatic nervous system activity (Reichert et al., 2). Adenosine promotes sleep

and relaxation, and thus, by blocking the adenosine, caffeine will increase the release of other

present neurotransmitters, which include dopamine and norepinephrine, which stimulate the

brain and body and help to increase the blood pressure and thus increase the blood pressure

(Villanueva-García et al., 298). The increase in blood pressure and heartbeat rate is a result of

the body's response to flight and fight.

Caffeine consumption can also lead to vasoconstriction of blood vessels, mostly in

the muscles and heart (Pietrangelo). Vasoconstriction is described as the narrowing of the

blood vessels. The activation of the sympathetic nervous system leads to a release of

catecholamines, such as norepinephrine, from nerve terminals (McNight). These

catecholamines help in binding with alpha-adrenergic receptors located in the blood vessels.

The activation of alpha-adrenergic receptors helps promote the vasoconstriction of blood

vessels by inducing the contraction of smooth muscles in the walls of blood vessels. As the

blood vessels reduce, the blood pressure increases, thus affecting the heartbeat rate.

The effect of caffeine on heartbeat rate is normally evident within 15 to 45 minutes

after consumption. It can last for several hours, gradually returning to the baseline heart rate

as caffeine is metabolized and excreted from the body. The main objective of this exploration

is to find if caffeine consumption causes a significant change in heart rate in high school

students.

Aim

The main ambition of this exploration is to find how caffeine consumption affects changes in

heart rate in high school students. In order to measure the pulse rate of a given individual,
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pulse rate will be measured using a heart rate monitor (BPM). The volume of coffee

consumed by each individual will be constant throughout the entire exploration. Due to its

structural similarity, caffeine might result in blockading of some.

Hypothesis

When caffeine is consumed, it enters into your blood from the gut and small intestine, and it

begins to stimulate the central nervous system. The receptors that are located within your

heart are simulated by caffeine, thus increasing your heart rate. Based on this information,

therefore, it can be hypothesized that caffeine consumption increases the heart rate of an

individual. In this exploration, I also hypothesize that the effect of caffeine on heartbeat rate

will be evident within 15 to 45 minutes after consumption.

Variables

Dependent variable

The heart rate/pulse rate will be used as a dependent variable in this exploration. The heart

rate will be measured using a heart rate monitor (BPM).

Independent variable

The consumption of caffeine will be used as an independent variable in this internal

assessment. Each subject will be required to drink 60mL of espresso. A measuring cup will

be used to measure the volume of coffee.

Control variable

Table 1: control table

Controls variable Impact of result Manipulation of the control

variables
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Volume of coffee As the volume of coffee In order to have accurate and

consumed increases, the reliable data in this

amount of caffeine increases exploration, the volume of

and thus increases the heart coffee in the entire

rate of an individual. As the exploration will be kept

volume reduces, the caffeine constant (60 mL).

level reduces, and thus, the

heart rate level reduces.

Therefore, the varying

volume of coffee affects the

heart rate.

Type of coffee Various types of coffee have -in this exploration, the same

varying amounts of caffeine, type of coffee (expresso) will

which might impact the heart be used by all participants.

rate and thus impact the final This will ensure data

results. accuracy and consistency.

Time of the day Different times of the day The experiment will be

impact the heart rate of an conducted at the same time of

individual. During the the day, 10:00 a.m., in order

morning hours, when the to have accurate and reliable

temperature is low, the heart data.

rate is slow compared to the

evening hours when the

temperature is high.

Gender Gender also affects the heart -Data for males and females
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rate of an individual. Males will be collected separately in

tend to have masculine order to ensure data accuracy

bodies, and this tends to and consistency.

increase their heart rate

compared to females who are

less masculine.

Age -Age factors also impact the -All the participants in this

heart rate of an individual. exploration will have the

Young adults and teenagers same age bracket (13-15

have a high metabolism rate years); this will ensure data

compared to older adults. As accuracy and consistency.

a result, young adults have a

higher heart rate compared to

adults.

Time measurement The effect of caffeine The heart rate will be

consumption on heart rate measured after 5 minutes for

depends on the time a period of 40 minutes. A

difference. As time increases, digital timer will be used to

the caffeine level reduces, measure the time difference.

and thus, it is vital for time

measurement to be constant.

Materials

Table 2: material and apparatus table

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Material Quantity/uncertainty Usage

Heart rate monitor 1 -The monitor will be used to

measure the heart rate of each

individual.

Cup 10 -It will be used to hold

caffeinated drinks.

Espresso drink (60ml) 10 -It will be used as an

independent variable in this

exploration.

Timer 1 A digital timer will be used to

measure the time when heart

rate measurement will be

conducted.

Method

Participant recruitment

1. The sample size in this exploration will be 12 secondary school students aged

between 12 and 15 years in order to ensure data accuracy.

2. Since the experiment entails underage school students, the informed contest will be

obtained from their parents.

3. Record the gender of each participant in order to ensure the accuracy and consistency

of data collected in this experiment.

Experimental procedure
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4. Using the heart rate monitor provided, measure the heart rate of every participant

(BPM) before consuming the caffeinated drink (this will be used as a control/baseline

experiment).

5. Using a measuring cup, measure 60 ml of the espresso drink provided and administer

it to the 1st participant.

6. After 5 minutes period has lapsed, measure and record the heart rate of the 1st

individual.

7. Repeat this procedure (6) four more times to ensure data accuracy and reduce random

errors in this experiment.

8. Repeat steps 4-7 with four other participants while recording the heart rate (BPM) in

the raw data table.

9. Find the difference between the baseline and heart rate every five minutes and plot a

graph of time against heart rate.

Risk Assessment

Risk considerations

Some individuals are more sensitive to caffeine than others, and this might lead to allergic

reactions. It is, therefore, important to ensure that the amount of caffeine used is small to

reduce the amount of caffeine in the blood. It is also vital to ensure that all participants do not

have caffeine allergies.

It is crucial to screen participants for existing health conditions, including cardiovascular

problems. Any individual with an underlying health condition that could be exaggerated by

caffeine consumption should not be included in this exploration.

Environmental considerations
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The experiment was conducted in a silent room, and thus, there were no environmental

considerations in this exploration. It is also important to ensure all the cups have been washed

after the experiment, and all the coffee leftovers will dumped in designated points.

Ethical considerations

It is important to ensure that the experiment adheres to ethical manners and guidelines. It is

vital to obtain informed consent from parents since all the participants are underage. It is also

important to maintain participant confidentiality and conduct the experiment in an ethical and

respectful manner. After the experiment, provide a debriefing session for participants to

explain the purpose of the study, discuss the results (if desired), and address any questions or

concerns.

Raw data

Time (s) Average heart rate

(BPM)

5 -2.9

30 -3.7

35 -3.1

40 -0.5

Based on the table above, it can be noted that when the time-lapse was (0min), the average

heartbeat was (-0.5) difference between baseline and BPM. As the time increased to 30 min,

the difference between baseline and BPM was (-3.7), indicating that there was an increased

heart rate after 30 minutes of consuming the beverage. The graph below indicates heart rate

and caffeine consumption;

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Heart rate vs caffine consumption

4

3.5

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
moyenne 0 + 5 moyenne 0 + 30 moyenne 0 + 35 moyenne 0 + 40

Based on the graph above, it can be noted that when the caffeine was taken, there was little

change in pulse rate after (5 minutes). This is because all the caffeine has not entered into the

bloodstream, and thus, there is a small change in pulse rate. As the time increased, the heart

rate increased after 30 minutes, and the change in pulse rate was (-2.9 BPM). As the time

increased to 35 minutes, more caffeine entered the bloodstream, and thus, the change in pulse

rate was high. However, after 40 minutes, the amount of caffeine in the blood has reduced,

and thus, the heartbeat rate has reduced, as indicated by the graph above.

Conclusion and evaluation

The objective of this exploration was to find caffeine consumption causes a significant

change in heart rate in high school students. Prior to this experiment, it was hypothesized that

as caffeine consumption increases, the heartbeat rate also increases. At the same time, it was

hypothesized that the effect of caffeine on heartbeat rate is normally evident within 15 to 45

minutes after consumption. Based on the data collected in this research, it was evident that

there is an association between caffeine consumption and heartbeat rate. At the same time, it
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was evident that the effect of caffeine was more evident after 30 minutes of consumption.

After 30 minutes, the effect of caffeine in the blood reduces, thus confirming my hypothesis.

Based on the above information, it can be concluded that there is a relationship

between caffeine consumption and heartbeat rate. When we consume coffee, caffeine enters

our bloodstream from the stomach and small intestine. As more caffeine enters the

bloodstream, it begins to stimulate the central nervous system receptors. The receptors that

are located within your heart are simulated by caffeine, thus increasing your heart rate.

The exploration was a huge success as the aim of the exploration was a huge success.

However, there were some limitations which might have impacted the final results. The

heartbeat rate can be impacted by various factors, such as BMI. Although the weight of the

subjects was controlled, the BMI could not be controlled; thus, it might have impacted the

final results.
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Works Cited

Advent Health. “How Does Caffeine Affect Your Heart? | AdventHealth.”

Www.adventhealth.com, 27 Sept. 2021, www.adventhealth.com/blog/how-does-

caffeine-affect-your-heart#:~:text=What%20Happens%20to%20the%20Heart.

McNight, Clay . “Does Caffeine Constrict Blood Vessels?” LIVESTRONG.COM, 2019,

www.livestrong.com/article/395736-does-caffeine-constrict-blood-vessels/.

Modern Heart and Vascular. “What Effect Does Caffeine Have on Your Heart?” Modern

Heart and Vascular, 14 Aug. 2022, www.modernheartandvascular.com/caffeine-

effect-on-your-heart/.

Pietrangelo, Ann. “The Effects of Caffeine on Your Body.” Healthline, 31 July 2019,

www.healthline.com/health/caffeine-effects-on-body#Circulatory-and-respiratory-

systems.

Reichert, Carolin Franziska, et al. “Adenosine, Caffeine, and Sleep–Wake Regulation: State

of the Science and Perspectives.” Journal of Sleep Research, vol. 31, no. 4, 16 May

2022, https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13597.

Villanueva-García, Dina, et al. “Neurobehavioral and Neuroprotector Effects of Caffeine in

Animal Models.” Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology, vol. 8, no. 4,

2020, pp. 298–307, https://doi.org/10.31893/jabb.20039. Accessed 30 Oct. 2020.