010-111 · Question #273
As the intensity of dynamic exercise increases, which acute responses occurs?
The correct answer is B. Heart rate and systolic blood pressure increase, diastolic pressure remains unchanged.. During dynamic exercise, the cardiovascular system responds by increasing heart rate and systolic blood pressure, while diastolic blood pressure stays relatively stable due to peripheral vasodilation.
Question
As the intensity of dynamic exercise increases, which acute responses occurs?
Options
- AHeart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure increase.
- BHeart rate and systolic blood pressure increase, diastolic pressure remains unchanged.
- CHeart rate and systolic blood pressure increase, stroke volume and cardiac output remain the
- DStroke volume decreases, heart rate and cardiac output increase.
How the community answered
(58 responses)- A10% (6)
- B83% (48)
- C3% (2)
- D3% (2)
Why each option
During dynamic exercise, the cardiovascular system responds by increasing heart rate and systolic blood pressure, while diastolic blood pressure stays relatively stable due to peripheral vasodilation.
Diastolic blood pressure does not increase during dynamic exercise because peripheral vasodilation in active muscles reduces resistance and keeps diastolic pressure stable.
As exercise intensity rises, the sympathetic nervous system drives heart rate upward and increased cardiac output raises systolic blood pressure. Diastolic blood pressure remains largely unchanged because active vasodilation in working skeletal muscles reduces peripheral vascular resistance, offsetting any tendency for diastolic pressure to rise. This balance between increased output and decreased resistance is a hallmark acute response to aerobic exercise.
Stroke volume does increase during progressive dynamic exercise due to greater venous return and the Frank-Starling mechanism, so stating it remains unchanged is incorrect.
Stroke volume does not decrease during dynamic exercise - it increases (up to moderate intensities) as venous return and myocardial contractility both rise.
Concept tested: Acute cardiovascular responses to dynamic exercise
Source: https://www.acsm.org/education-resources/books/guidelines-exercise-testing-prescription
Topics
Community Discussion
5
Ola B.Jun 14, 2026The correct answer is B. During dynamic exercise, your heart rate climbs steadily and your systolic blood pressure rises because your heart is pumping harder and faster to push more blood to working muscles. Diastolic pressure, though, stays relatively flat or may even drop slightly because the peripheral vasculature dilates to accommodate increased blood flow, keeping resistance low during the relaxation phase of each heartbeat. This is a classic distinction the exam tests, and if you spin up even a light jog or step test in your own lab and strap on a BP cuff, you can watch this pattern play out in real time, which makes it stick way better than just reading the textbook.
Viktor S.Jun 26, 2026B is right, though the diastolic note is a touch loose since it can actually drift slightly downward during dynamic exercise due to vasodilation in the working muscles, so "unchanged" is a generous simplification. A kills itself by claiming diastolic rises with intensity, which is what you see in static/isometric work, not dynamic, and that distinction is exactly what this question is testing.
Mateus R.Jun 25, 2026Think of your cardiovascular system like a garden hose hooked to a pump. As you crank up the exercise, the pump (your heart) spins faster and pushes harder, so the peak pressure in the line, which is your systolic blood pressure, climbs right along with heart rate, and that rules out C immediately because cardiac output and stroke volume are absolutely going up too. The reason diastolic stays put is that your working muscles throw open their local blood vessels like widening the end of that hose, so the residual resting pressure in the system between beats does not build up the same way it would during a static grip exercise or at rest. Option A trips a lot of people because it sounds intuitive that all pressures rise together, but diastolic reflects resistance more than pump output, and peripheral vasodilation during rhythmic exercise offsets that. The answer is B.
Mei-Ling H.Jun 26, 2026Why does diastolic stay flat during dynamic exercise but not static?
Ola B.Jun 27, 2026Diastolic stays relatively flat during dynamic exercise because the widespread vasodilation in active muscles keeps vascular resistance low enough to offset the rising cardiac output, but throw in static holds like a heavy deadlift and that Valsalva-driven spike in intrathoracic pressure wrecks the whole equation, so if you want to see it live, strap on a blood pressure cuff and compare a brisk walk to a wall sit held to failure.