is heart rate same as blood pressure
1 A rising heart rate does not cause your blood pressure to increase at the same rate. 2  Even though your heart is beating more times a minute, healthy blood vessels dilate (get larger) to allow more blood to flow through more easily.3  When you exercise, your heart speeds up so the blood can reach your muscles. Taking your pulse can measure your cardiovascular activity and oxygen consumption but it is not a substitute for measuring your blood pressure. 2  If you take your pulse (measuring your heart rate) before, during and after physical activity, you'll notice your pulse will increase over the course of the exercise.