One of many essential vital signs, a person’s pulse rate is a measurement of how many times their heart beats every minute. Pulse rate also gives medical staff information on a person’s heart rhythm, as well as how strong their pulse is.
Most healthy adults have a pulse rate that ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. However, this range can vary according to certain factors. A person who does lots of cardiovascular workouts can have a pulse rate as low as 40 beats per minute. On the other hand, many females aged 12 and older have higher pulse rates than males of the same age. Pulse rates can also go up when a person is scared or excited.
A heart arrhythmia is when the heart beats too quickly or too slowly. It can also describe a heartbeat that does not maintain a consistent pattern. Tachycardia is a heart rate that is faster than 100 beats per minute, while bradycardia is a heart rate less than 60 beats per minute.
Tachycardia can result from a number of medical conditions, including:
As for bradycardia, it can result from problems in the heart’s electrical pathways. Bradycardia may also be caused by sick sinus syndrome, which causes heart rate fluctuations ranging from high to low.
Your doctor will tell you if your pulse rate is abnormal during your exam. However, signs of arrhythmia also include:
These symptoms should be assessed by medical personnel immediately. In some cases, they may be a sign of a serious cardiological issue.
Many clinics and hospitals use devices called pulse oximeters to determine a person’s pulse rate. However, a doctor can also place their index and middle finger over a spot on your wrist or neck and count the beats for one minute.
Remember that a high or low pulse rate does not necessarily signal a medical issue. However, when accompanied by other symptoms, pulse rate can be very beneficial for diagnosing patients.