Pulse rate measures the number of times an artery pulses in one minute, indicating a heartbeat. It provides important information about overall health and can be taken at the wrist or throat. An unusually low or high heart rate can indicate health problems, and heart rate monitors can provide constant information to medical providers.
Pulse rate is the number of times in one minute that an artery pulses, indicating that a heartbeat has occurred. Measurements are routinely taken whenever a patient enters a hospital, clinic or doctor’s office for medical treatment, as the pulse provides important information about the patient’s overall health and condition. Some people also like to monitor their pulse to keep track of their health and to track the progress of exercise programs. Many gyms and other athletic facilities even post reminders asking people to check their pulses.
To take someone’s pulse, an area where a pulsating artery is located so that the number of pulses can be counted. The wrist and throat are popular locations because they are easy to access. In adults, the normal resting heart rate is around 60-100 per minute, while athletes have a lower rate of 40-60 per minute. Pulse rate can be elevated when someone has been exercising, and in fact a high rate is desired, because it indicates that the heart is working harder, affecting the cardiovascular system.
People may use the terms “pulse rate” and “heart rate” interchangeably. Indeed, pulse can differ from heart rate in the case of certain medical conditions, although in most people the two measurements will be the same. For this reason, people often take their pulse to arrive at an estimate of their heart rate, assuming their arteries are pulsing every time their heart beats.
An unusually low or high heart rate can indicate that a patient has health problems. Several things can affect how fast your heart beats, including stress, medications, exercise, and tension. In addition to the rate, people can also assess the quality of the pulse, looking for signs of a problem such as an irregular, weak, or thready pulse, which indicates that the heart isn’t working normally.
When someone is hospitalized, they often wear a heart rate monitor which provides constant information to medical providers. This monitor can trigger an alarm if the pulse changes dramatically, alerting hospital staff of a problem. People with medical conditions involving their hearts may be encouraged by their doctors to check their pulses regularly, to monitor heart health. Athletes and athletes also check their pulses at rest and their pulses after exercise to keep an eye on their cardiovascular health.
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