Pay Attention to Your Pulse Rate
Although it is known by everyone that heartbeat is the most important indicator of human life, unfortunately we do not have enough information about the messages that heartbeat gives. Heart rate is also called pulse. It gives the number of times a person’s heart beats in a minute, in other words, the pulse rate.
It should not be forgotten that pulse measurement should be done at regular intervals, just like blood pressure measurement. A normal person’s heart rate is between 60 and 100. A pulse below 60 or above 100 can be a symptom of various diseases. In people who do sports regularly, the normal pulse rate can be below 60 per minute, but a data below 50 is unacceptable in any case, so a doctor should definitely be consulted.
How to Measure Pulse?
The pulse is the speed that indicates how many times the heart beats in total in a minute, that is, contracts. With the contraction of the heart, blood moves towards the arteries. Expansion occurs with the flexibility of the veins. With this expansion occurring in the vein wall, it continues its function in a short time with its previous state thanks to its elastic structure.
With each pulse beat, a new pressure occurs and expansion is provided. This situation is felt on the wrist, elbow, groin or ankle. On the other hand, it is also expressed as a pulse wave. The current pulse also shows whether the heart is working regularly. Some diseases can be followed or diagnosed with the pulse. In healthy people, there should be an average of 60 to 100 pulses per minute at rest. Conditions such as illness or exercise naturally affect the pulse rate.
Many people ask the question of how to measure the pulse. The pulse is generally measured by the thumb on the wrist via the radial artery. The pulse waves are followed by gently pressing the thumb and other fingertips on this pulse area. If the pulse is felt, it should be examined whether it is regular as well as its number. Because the pulse should come in equal waves. After that, the total number in 1 minute is examined. In the meantime, the second indicator of the watch is followed and the pulse rate in a minute is counted and then multiplied by 4. Thus, the number of pulses per minute is revealed. Most of the time, the pulse wave is not felt in cases such as heart rhythm disorders. In some cases, it is necessary to listen to the heart rate using devices such as a stethoscope. In addition, blood pressure and pulse are measured quickly with digital blood pressure devices in our daily lives.
What is High Heart Rate and What are the Risks?
High pulse, is a condition that occurs when the heart rate is high. This condition occurs after the expansion and contraction of the blood pumped together with the contraction of the heart are rapid. At the same time, the causes of this condition may be diseases such as heart failure, thyroid or goiter. In cases of bleeding, the heart rate works in order to provide enough blood. In these cases, the pulse in the body will decrease as the blood loss increases and this will endanger life.
Infections usually cause an increase in pulse in high fever. However, most of the time, psychological conditions such as anxiety or emotional changes can also increase the pulse. If the pulse increases after physical activity, it will return to normal after resting for a while. A pulse of 90 and above is a risky situation for the heart, the causes of the current situation should be isolated and treatment should be applied accordingly. Patients who experience such problems should not neglect their complaints and should see a doctor. If there is an irregular heart rhythm, it should be examined by a cardiologist. Atrial fibrillation usually occurs when there is an irregular heartbeat. An ECG is taken to check the pulse and then a diagnosis is made.
Symptoms of High Pulse
High pulse rate means that the heart rate exceeds 100, especially at rest. This condition is called tachycardia. In general, the causes of tachycardia are;
- Congenital heart diseases,
- Blood diseases,
- Heart attack,
- Anxiety,
- Excessive caffeine intake,
- Excessive alcohol consumption,
- Anemia,
- Excess thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism)
- Excessive physical activity,
- Drug use,
- Pregnancy.
The causes of high pulse rate are as follows;
- Shortness of breath problems,
- Fainting,
- Excessive heart palpitations,
- Chest pain,
- Excessive exercise.
Some problems that occur during low and high pulse indicate heart diseases. There are some methods for diagnosis of pulse problems that usually occur, these are as follows;
- Pulse Holter monitoring,
- Electrocardiogram (ECG),
- Stress test (effort test),
- Tilt test (pulse monitoring with a tiltable table),
- Imaging methods (ECG, CT, MRI).
What Diseases Does High Pulse Rate Indicate?
A pulse rate over 100 is considered high. A pulse rate over 100 is called tachycardia, or rapid pulse. Heart valve disorders, heart muscle problems, narrowing or blockage of the heart vessels, block disorders in the heart’s electrical circuit, anemia, hyperthyroidism, lung diseases and infections cause tachycardia.
Why Does Pulse Decrease?
In case of low pulse, not enough blood can reach the organs. Since the organs also do not receive enough oxygen, they do not have the opportunity to rest. In this case, patients generally encounter problems such as getting tired easily. The question of Why does the pulse decrease? can be answered as follows. It is expressed as coronary artery disease, nervous system diseases caused by aging, blood pressure problems, liver and kidney diseases, mineral deficiency and goiter or other thyroid gland problems.
Low pulse symptoms are as follows;
- Shortness of breath,
- Chest tightness or pain,
- Dizziness, dizziness,
- Fainting,
- Inability to exercise.
What Diseases Does Low Pulse Rate Indicate?
A pulse rate below 60 is considered low. This condition is called ‘bracardia’, meaning slow pulse. Goiter diseases, hypertension, water and electrolyte loss, rheumatic diseases, deterioration in the heart’s conduction system, structural and functional disorders in the heart, narrowing of the heart vessels, and sleep apnea are among the causes of low pulse rates.
What is the Ideal Heart Rate?
Ideal pulse, the number of times the heart beats per minute is between 60 and 100 in adults, which is normal. The pulse is felt in the person’s neck or wrists. The pulse generally beats regularly. The current pulse is not the same for everyone, for example, the pulse of a person resting after doing sports may drop to 40. However, as a person ages, there is a decrease in heart rate. For this reason, the pulse in children between the ages of 6 and 15 varies between 70 and 100. Heart rate may vary depending on age, exercise, smoking, caffeine use and air temperature.
What Should Those Whose Pulse Rate Is Outside the Normal Range Do?
Although it is considered normal for the pulse rate to be between 60 and 100, it should not be forgotten that the pulse rate actually varies from person to person. The range of 60 to 100 in adults is determined as 70 to 100 in children. People with pulse rates outside these ranges should first observe their pulse rate.
Measuring the pulse again after a 10-minute rest and repeating this at regular intervals helps determine whether the person has a momentary or continuous pulse problem. If the pulse is lower or higher than normal for a long time after resting, a doctor should definitely be consulted.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pulse
What is the normal pulse range?
A normal pulse is between 60 and 90 in adults.
What to do for a low pulse?
In case of a low pulse, you should first get information about this issue by going through a doctor’s examination. At the same time, people who have problems such as being overweight will need to get rid of their weight problems by eating healthy.
How to return the pulse rate to normal?
The most effective method for correcting the pulse is to take a deep breath and relax the body. This should be repeated slowly but regularly.