Final answer:
The normal increase in heart rate with each additional MET during exercise is approximately 10-12 bpm. Cardiac output and blood pressure significantly increase during maximal exercise, and maximum achievable heart rates decrease with age.
Step-by-step explanation:
The normal heart rate response to incremental exercise is to increase with increasing workloads at the rate of approximately 10-12 bpm per 1 MET. This means for every increase of 1 MET in the activity's intensity, the heart rate can be expected to rise by about 10 to 12 beats per minute. During exercise, a healthy young adult's cardiac output (heart rate x stroke volume) can increase significantly. At rest, the cardiac output is about 5 liters per minute, but during maximal exercise it can reach upwards of 20 liters per minute in non-athletes, and more than 30 liters per minute in well-trained aerobic athletes.
When considering the effect of exercise on vascular homeostasis, it is essential to recognize that blood pressure also increases from an average of 120/80 mmHg at rest to around 200/90 mmHg at maximum values in athletes. While maximum heart rates can normally range between 200-220 bpm, they decrease with age. For instance, a 60-year-old person typically achieves a heart rate of 160 bpm.