Heart Rate and Pulse.
Heart rate is reflected in the arteries by the systolic and diastolic pressure of blood flowing through them. This reflection is due to the heart beat which consists of the systole (contraction of ventricles) and the diastole (dilatation of ventricles).
This can be felt as pulse at points where the arteries run near the skin. Heart rate and pulse are therefore synchronized with each other. In other words the pulse indicates the heart beat.
Heart Beat and Pulse.
The pulse indicates the number of heart beats per unit of time or the heart rate. Arteries are deep seated in the body. But in certain areas of the body, they are closer to the surface. Feeling the arteries at such points (feeling the pulse) with your fingers will help you feel the blood flow through the artery with every beat of the heart. Counting these heart beats by feeling the pulse per minute will help you get the heart rate.
Alternatively to cut time short, you could measure your pulse for 15 seconds and multiply the result by 4 to get the pulse or heart rate per minute – or — measure pulse for 10 seconds and multiply by 6 to get the pulse per minute.
Normal Resting Heart Rate and Pulse.
Normal resting heart rate and pulse is taken during rest and not during physical activity nor just after physical activity. Ideally it is best to take it in the morning when you wake up and in lying or sitting down position.
The normal resting heart rate pulse in various age groups is shown below.
- Newborns (0-30 days old): 70 – 190 beats per minute
- Infants (1 – 11 months old): 80-120 beats per minute
- Children 1 to 10 years: 70 – 130 beats per minute
- Children over 10 and adults : 60 – 100 beats per minute
- Well-trained athletes: 40 – 60 beats per minute.
Measuring Pulse and Heart Rate.
Pulse or heart rate can be commonly measured at the following points on the body. The arteries which run at these points are shown in brackets.
- Ventral aspect of the wrist towards the thumb side (radial artery is felt here).
- Inner side of the elbow below the biceps muscle (brachial artery).
- In the side of neck below the jaw bone (carotid artery).
- In the groin on either side of the genitals (femoral artery).
- On the dorsum of the feet (dorsalis pedis artery).
- On the temple (superficial temporal artery).
- In the back of the knee (popliteal artery).
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