Your pulse rate is a measurement of heart beats per minute (bpm). Most healthy adults have a resting heart rate ranging from 60 to 100 bpm, but it can vary according to lifestyle, level of physical activity, medications, and other factors.
Medical staff often measures a patient’s pulse during exams, but you can also check it on your own. Understanding the causes and contributing factors of high or low pulse rates is important, as it can help you find the right sort of support should you experience a medical issue.
A higher-than-normal pulse rate (meaning one’s heart rate is above 100 bpm) is known as tachycardia. A fast pulse rate can result from excessive caffeine intake or strenuous exercise, but it can also signal a medical problem like high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and anaemia.
Conversely, bradycardia is when the pulse rate is less than 60 bpm. Bradycardia is not always a symptom of dysfunction, as athletes naturally have a lower resting heart rate. However, bradycardia can also result from heart problems, medication side effects, and obstructive sleep apnoea.
When a sudden change in pulse rate is accompanied by symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, and chest pain, you must seek medical attention immediately. You are also encouraged to visit a doctor if you experience a consistently high or low pulse rate without lifestyle factors (such as regular exercise).
While a medical professional is the best option for accurately gauging your pulse rate, you can also check it yourself with the following steps:
This method will give you a reasonable idea of your pulse rate. If you notice your pulse is outside of the normal range, try checking it again at different times of the day.