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You can usually feel the pulse on your wrist or in your lower neck. When viewed in films, this pulse is usually checked to see whether the cast in the film is still alive or dead. You must have seen this scene many times. However, what are we actually measuring the pulse for? Do you know what the normal pulse rate is?
What is it for to know the pulse?
Pulse rate describes your heart rate, the number of times the heart beats per minute. Your pulse can also show your heart rhythm and the strength of your heartbeat. Monitoring your pulse rate at rest, while exercising, or immediately after exercising can show your fitness level.
Checking your pulse can even help you find any health problems you are experiencing. For example, a faster pulse rate can be caused by anemia, fever, some types of heart disease, or the use of certain medications, such as decongestants. Meanwhile, a slower pulse can indicate disease or medications related to heart disease, such as beta-blockers. In an emergency, the pulse can also help show if the heart is pumping enough blood.
What is the normal pulse?
The pulse rate can vary between individuals. The amount can be lower when you are resting and can increase when you are exercising. This is because during exercise the body needs more blood which carries oxygen to flow to all cells in the body.
The following is the number of normal pulse beats per minute:
- Infants up to 1 year of age: 100-160 beats per minute
- Children aged 1-10 years: 70-120 times per minute
- Children 11-17 years old: 60-100 times per minute
- Adults: 60-100 times per minute
- Athletes in good shape: 40-60 times per minute
Generally, a pulse that is in the lowest range (60 beats per minute for example in adults) at rest indicates that your heart is working efficiently when pumping blood and that your body is fitter. People who are active have better heart muscle so the heart doesn't have to work hard to maintain bodily functions. So, it's no wonder that well-trained athletes have a pulse rate of around 40 beats per minute.
Some of the things that can affect your pulse rate per minute are:
- Physical activity, after you do strenuous physical activity the pulse is usually faster
- Fitness level, the more fit you are usually a slower pulse (in the lowest normal range)
- Air temperature, the pulse is faster when the air temperature is higher (but usually the increase is not more than 5-10 beats per minute)
- Body position (standing or lying down), sometimes when you stand up, for the first 15-20 seconds the pulse will increase slightly, then it will return to normal
- Emotionsthings such as stress, anxiety, very sadness, or very happy can increase your pulse
- Body size, people who are very obese, usually have a higher pulse (but usually not more than 100 beats per minute)
- Drugs
How do I measure the pulse?
You can measure your pulse at several points in your body, such as:
- Wrist
- Inner elbow
- The lower side of the neck
However, it is usually easiest to find them on the wrist. Here's how to measure the pulse on the wrist:
- Place your index and middle fingers on the inner wrist where the artery is passing. Press firmly on your artery until you feel a pulse. (If doing this on the inner elbow or neck, also place your two fingers and press until you find a pulse)
- Count your pulse for 60 seconds (or for 15 seconds, then multiply by 4 to get the beats per minute)
- Remember, when counting, stay focused on your pulse. Don't forget to count or feel your pulse disappear.
- You can start again if you are not sure what your count is.
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