Types of human pulse. Pulse: normal, dangerous indicators

Pulse is one of the main factors that provides information about the state of the human cardiovascular system. It makes it possible to assess the frequency of heart contractions and their intensity, and speaks about the state of the body at the moment. That is why it is important to know the normal pulse rate of a person in order to be able to timely identify pathological changes indicating the presence of any diseases.

It is important to understand that there is no single number that could be common for every person. Normal heart rate is determined individually and depends on physical health and body condition, as well as age. There are a number of additional factors that influence changes in heart rate. They don't always have to be a cause for concern. Let's take a closer look.

Indicators of normal heartbeat

The main factor determining a person’s normal pulse is his age. For newborns, the normal limit is considered to be a heart rate of about 130-140 beats per minute. In one-year-old children, the heartbeat slows down to 125 beats/min. For middle-aged people, the optimal indicator is a pulse of about 70-80 beats. Elderly people record a heartbeat of 65 beats/min.

Interesting! Statistics show that there is some dependence of normal heart rates on gender. Heart rate in women is usually 5-9 units higher than in men. Moreover, during menopause, their pulse increases by 7-9 units, which is caused by a decrease in estrogen levels.

The next factor that determines heart rate is physical activity. Let's look at the example of an adult. At rest, it varies between 60-80 beats in 60 seconds. When walking, the heart rate rises to 100 (maybe slightly more), depending on its speed. Under the influence of intense physical activity, the heart begins to contract at a frequency of about 140 beats/min. If the heartbeat is too strong, this means that the load is very large, it should be made smaller.

Important! For people involved in sports, there is a formula that determines the maximum permissible heart rate. To get them, just subtract your age from 220.

The pulse also differs depending on the time of day. For example, during the day its indicators are at 60-80 beats per minute, in the evening they rise to 90. At night, the heartbeat slows down to 50 beats in 60 seconds. These are normal indicators.

Body position also affects heart rate somewhat. When a person lies down, the heart contracts 5-7 beats slower than in an upright position. Experts recommend measuring your pulse while lying down. In this case, data will be obtained that is as close as possible to the actual operation of the organ.

What affects heart rate changes?

Above are the normal heart rates observed in a healthy person. Deviations from the indicated figures indicate the presence of any pathologies or a change in the condition of the body. However, in some cases there is no cause for concern. There is no need to worry if we are talking about physiological reasons for increased heart rate (when heart rate recovers on its own over time), which does not indicate the presence of diseases. A temporary increase in heart rate is caused by the following factors:

eating food, especially hot food;
drinking alcohol or energy drinks;
increased physical activity;
physical fatigue;
stress, increased adrenaline levels;
long stay in a stuffy room.

To restore normal pulse in the above cases, it is enough to simply wait a while, eliminating the factor that affects the increase in heart rate. During physical activity, you need to stop and rest for a few minutes. If we are talking about a stressful state, then it is possible to normalize the functioning of the heart by stabilizing the emotional background. After eating, the heartbeat returns on its own after 30-40 minutes.

Important! Causes increased heart rate and high body temperature. An increase of 1 degree increases the heart rate by 10 units. To restore its normal levels, it is enough to lower the temperature.

If we talk about the pathological causes of an increase in heart rate, then these include diseases such as:

cardiac diseases;
infectious diseases;
disruption of the endocrine system;
presence of tumor formations.

In these situations, there is a systematic increase in heart rate, which is observed over several days, provided it is measured at the same time. A person also notices additional symptoms indicating the presence of health problems. For example, cardiac diseases are manifested by pain in the chest, shortness of breath, and excessive sweating. There is pallor of the skin, increased fatigue, and swelling. If we talk about tumors, there is pain in the area of the affected organ, and there is also a decrease in ability to work and loss of appetite. When the neoplasm is large, it is detected by palpation.

In the above cases, you should seek medical help: visit a doctor, undergo a full examination, get informed about your health condition and the required treatment. Ignoring health problems poses a high danger, because in any case there is a high risk of developing additional diseases against the background of existing ailments.

How to measure your pulse correctly

To obtain objective information about the heart rate, it is necessary to conduct the study in a calm state. You need to place your index and middle fingers on the radial artery, pressing them a little to feel the pulsation. You should count the beats for 30 seconds, then multiply the resulting number by 2. This will be your heart rate per minute. If marked, the count should be kept for exactly 60 seconds.

Heart rate of a healthy person per minute represents jerky vibrations of arterial walls associated with the cardiac cycle. Any changes in it may indicate the presence of diseases of the cardiovascular system, or other pathologies, the development of which has an indirect effect on the functioning of the heart.

Normal heart rate per minute

What is the heart rate of a healthy person?? This question is not so easy to answer, since the heart rate of each age group is different.

For example, a newborn baby’s pulse is 140 beats/min for the first few days, but after a week it is normally 130 beats/min. Between the ages of one and two years, it begins to decline and is around 100 beats/min.

In preschool age (children from 3 to 7 years old) at rest, the heart rate should not be higher than 95 beats/min, but at school age (from 8 to 14 years) - 80 beats/min.

In a middle-aged person, in the absence of pathological changes in the functioning of the heart, the heart beats approximately 72 times per minute, and in the presence of any diseases, the contraction frequency increases to 120 beats/min.

In old age, a person’s pulse is 65 beats/min, but before death it increases to 160 beats/min.

In a state of complete rest it is 60 – 80 beats/min. It can change in the morning and at night (50 – 70 beats/min), and in the evening, on the contrary, the heart rate increases (normally up to 90 beats/min).

To understand exactly what heart rate is normal for a particular person, you can use a simple formula: you need to subtract age from 180. Thus, a number will be obtained that will indicate how many beats per minute the heart should beat under the condition of complete rest and absence of diseases.

And to confirm the data obtained, it will be necessary to count the heart rate over several days at the same time and in the same body position. The thing is that changes in heart contractions occur not only in the morning, evening and night, but also change depending on the position of the body.

For example, in a healthy person, in a lying position, the pulse is lower than in a sitting position (increases by approximately 5–7 beats/min.), and while standing, it reaches its maximum level (increases by 10–15 beats/min.). Also, minor disturbances can be observed after consuming food or hot drinks.

To accurately measure heart beats per minute, place your index and middle fingers on the radial artery. It is in this place that the pulsation of the arteries is most clearly audible.

You can determine the location of the radial artery as follows: place your thumb just above the first crease on your wrist. The radial artery is located above the index finger.

When measuring the pulse, the wrist should be slightly bent, and given the fact that the pulsation on the left and right hand may be different, the pulse measurement should be carried out on both hands. Each finger should clearly feel the pulse wave and when counting the pulse, the pressure of the fingers on the wrist should be slightly reduced.

It is not worth using hardware equipment for measurements, since the indicators may be inaccurate. The palpation method has been the most reliable and reliable for many years and can tell a specialist about many diseases.

Another important point. It is also necessary to take into account the respiratory cycle, which consists of inhalation, a short pause and exhalation. In a healthy person, one respiratory cycle accounts for about 4–6 beats/min.

If these indicators are higher, then this may indicate a malfunction of any internal organs; if less, then a functional failure. In both the first and second cases, you need to immediately consult a doctor and undergo a full examination to identify pathology.

What is the normal heart rate during physical activity?

Every person who leads an active lifestyle and regularly plays sports should know what the heart rate should be during physical activity?

Per minute during physical activity is much higher than during a state of complete rest. For example, when walking it is approximately 100 beats/min, while running it increases to 150 beats/min. Do a short test, go up the stairs to the 3rd - 4th floor and count your heartbeats. If they are less than 100 beats per minute, you are in excellent physical shape. If the readings exceed 100 beats/min. by more than 10 - 20 beats/min, then you are in poor physical shape.

There are certain criteria that allow you to understand whether loads of one intensity or another are dangerous for the body. If the pulse rate is 100 - 130 beats per minute, then this indicates that physical activity can be increased, from 130 to 150 beats per minute. - the norm for humans. And if, when counting the pulse, indicators close to 200 are found, then physical activity will need to be urgently reduced, as this can lead to serious disturbances in the functioning of the heart.

After exercise, pulse of a healthy person per minute returns after about 4 – 5 minutes. If after this period of time the pulse does not approach normal, this may indicate a malfunction of the cardiovascular system.

When might metrics be wrong?

Measuring your pulse does not always reveal accurate data. Violations can be observed in the following cases:

prolonged exposure to frost, sun or near fire;
after eating food and hot drinks;
after consuming tobacco and alcohol products;
after sexual intercourse within 30 minutes;
after taking a relaxing bath or massage;
during periods of feeling very hungry;
during menstruation (in women).

How does the pulse reflect your health status?

Knowing what is the pulse of a healthy person Normally, it is possible to prevent the complication of diseases, since it is the change in the frequency of contractions that indicates changes in the body.

For example, rapid heartbeat (over 100 beats/min) is the main symptom of tachycardia, which requires special treatment. In this case, an increase in heart rate can be observed both during the daytime and at night.

When the contraction frequency decreases to 50 beats/min. or lower is also an alarming signal for a person, which indicates the presence of bradycardia, which also requires urgent treatment.

In heart failure, the pulse is very weak and slow. This condition is dangerous and can cause sudden death, therefore, if symptoms of this disease appear, the patient must be urgently taken to any medical facility.

Heart rate can also indicate the presence of other diseases and conditions that require special attention. Therefore, if for unknown reasons your pulse begins to decrease or, on the contrary, to increase, you should urgently see a doctor.

A clear pulse within normal limits indicates excellent health, which does not require worry or see a doctor.

Resting pulse is an indicator of overall health. Everyone should know their normal resting pulse and count it periodically, since the slightest deviation in rhythm or frequency signals illness or pathology. For accurate results, it is important to know the rules for measuring heart rate.

How to measure pulse

Heart rate can be measured at the carotid artery, at the temples, under the knee, and at the bend of the elbow, but the wrist remains the most popular measurement site.
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Most people, even those far from medicine, are familiar with the basic concepts of the rules for measuring pulse, but still make mistakes in measurements. It is better to measure the pulse using 3 fingers: ring, middle and index on the radial or radial artery, which is located slightly below the thumb. When measured correctly, each finger feels the beating in the artery. There is no cause for concern if the heart rate on the left and right arms is different; this is a normal physiological feature of the body. In order for the indicators to be truthful, it is worth paying attention to the following factors:

At different times of the day, heart rate is different, so you need to constantly record indicators at the same time of day. Measuring your pulse at rest should be done in the morning, after waking up, while lying in bed - this is the best way, recognized by doctors.
You cannot measure the number of beats for 15 seconds and then multiply by 4, since rhythm irregularities, for example, tachycardia or bradycardia, will not be detected.
You should refrain from taking measurements after eating, exercising, taking alcohol and medications, after a bath or poor sleep.

Normal heart rate at rest

The normal resting heart rate of an adult ranges from 60 to 90 beats per minute, but this is an average value. Pulse rates differ between men and women and depend on age. Under the influence of emotions or physical activity, heart rate increases, sometimes even up to 200 beats per minute, and this is considered normal.

Normal for women and men

The pulse rate is different for women and men.

Since men are the stronger sex and endure negative life events and emotions more steadfastly, their heart rate is always lower than that of women, who are initially prone to strong experiences. Although, from a theoretical point of view, the normal heart rate at rest in men and women is almost the same, in life the difference is 7-8 units. But these are just guesses, because there is no scientific explanation for this phenomenon.

As you age, your heart rate tends to increase. In a state of death throes, a person’s heart rate sometimes increases to 160 beats per minute. If the deviation from the norm is permanent, then we are talking about the presence of rhythm disturbances: arrhythmia or bradycardia, which require consultation with a cardiologist. For the most part, arrhythmias do not cause significant harm to the human body and serious treatment is not required.

Norm for children

The heart rate of a child directly depends on age.

At birth, a child's heart rate is twice as high as that of adults, with an average value of 140-150 beats per minute. Gradually, as you grow older, every 3-4 years, the heart rate decreases by 10-15 and by the age of 20 it reaches 60-80 beats per minute - the norm for adults. Therefore, if a small child’s heart rate reaches 100 beats/min, this is not a pathology, but normal functioning of the heart.

Norm for an athlete

The word “athlete” should be understood as people who play sports professionally, amateurs who do it for themselves and for the sake of the beauty of their body, and people whose work involves intense physical activity. A person who plays sports has a normal resting heart rate of 30 to 50 beats/min. Such low indicators do not harm the athlete and the person feels absolutely normal. The difference between the heart rate of an untrained adult at rest and the heart rate of an athlete is only a large gap in the indicators. For an ordinary person, a heart rate of 40-50 beats per minute is a sign of bradycardia, but for an athlete it is quite a good indicator.

Changes in heart rate with age

The change in contraction frequency in childhood is associated with the growth of the body and, in particular, with the growth of the heart, which grows and is capable of pumping a larger volume of blood in one beat. After 40-50 years, the heart rate changes due to the aging of all body systems. The heart ages and its ability to perform major functions deteriorates:

the elasticity of blood vessels decreases;
the ability of heart tissue to contract deteriorates and the volume of blood emitted by them decreases;
The heart's sensitivity to hormones increases, which affects blood pressure and heart rate.

Why do heart rate changes occur?

Stress affects a person’s psychological state, thereby increasing the heart rate.

Changes in heart rate are influenced by a number of factors not related to the body. Temporary tachycardia occurs due to strong mental and emotional overexcitation and stress. An increase in heart rate in a healthy person during physical activity is the body’s adaptation to a change in regime. Heart rate is also affected by changes in temperature, which especially affects weather-sensitive people. Food or drinks can provoke a sharp increase in heart rate: coffee or strong tea. In sleep, the heart rate, on the contrary, slows down. In addition to external reasons, changes in heart rate occur due to pathological processes inside the body. For this reason, doctors distinguish between the concepts of high and low pulse.

Our body is very sensitive to various changes occurring within it. Very often, he subtly reacts to the development of any disease, letting us know that not everything is all right with him, and it’s time to see a doctor. One of the clearest signs of problems in the body is a rapid heartbeat or tachycardia. What are the causes of increased heart rate and how to deal with this syndrome?

The human heart beats rhythmically throughout his life, pumping liters of blood every day. Typically, the heart rate, depending on certain factors, ranges from 50 to 150 beats per minute.

The generally accepted norm is that the heart rate of a healthy person at rest should not be higher than 60-80 beats in 60 seconds. However, this indicator may differ for an individual bipedal inhabitant of planet Earth. The pulse rate depends on age, physical and psycho-emotional state, the presence of physical activity and many other factors. For example, in a child, due to the development and growth of the body, as well as an active lifestyle, this indicator is higher than that of the average adult. In this case, the child, even with a rapid pulse, will feel very well in most cases. Below in the table you can see approximate indicators of a person’s heart rate depending on his age.

Age (years)	Pulse rate (beats per minute)
0-1	80-160
2-3	80-120
3-7	75-115
7-10	70-110
10-14	65-100
Over 14	50-100

Thanks to the table, it is clearly seen that the older the child is, the lower the upper limit of the pulse rate is - the heart rate becomes calmer. In normal condition and with good functioning of the blood-pumping organ, we do not feel or hear heartbeats. However, during attacks of rapid heartbeat, a person can clearly not only hear, but even feel the speed at which this organ contracts. A condition in which a rapid pulse is noted is called tachycardia.

If an attack of tachycardia passes quickly or does not cause any particular inconvenience, and is not accompanied by a serious deterioration in the general condition of the body, then most likely it is not a sign of anything terrible. But if palpitations are accompanied by dizziness, nausea, increased or decreased blood pressure, or arrhythmia, then a visit to the doctor is required.

As a rule, palpitations usually appear suddenly and disappear just as suddenly. Sometimes such an attack can last for a very short time, and in other cases the heart will beat too quickly for hours or even days.

His body will help him understand that a person is facing an attack of tachycardia. The main symptoms of this syndrome are as follows:

clearly audible heartbeats;
labored breathing;
panic state;
dizziness;
darkening of the eyes;
chest pain;
feeling of heat;
feeling of faintness.

The listed symptoms may appear singly or complement each other. However, it is worth remembering that in a child, sudden jumps in heart rate without other symptoms may be the norm, since the child’s body is more changeable, and the heart easily adapts to a new rhythm of work. But if attacks appear accompanied by a general deterioration of the condition or far exceed the normal indicators presented in the table above, then you should consult a doctor.

Causes of rapid heart rate

Palpitations occur more often in the fairer sex than in men. It manifests itself especially clearly in overly emotional ladies, impulsive and temperamental natures. In addition, an increased heart rate is often a companion for those people who are prone to self-deprecation, frequent and groundless worries, and mood swings. Also, people who are in depressive states and are overly demanding of themselves and the world around them are also susceptible to attacks of tachycardia.

What are the main causes of increased heart rate? It can be:

use of antidepressants and other medications;
severe stress, positive or negative;
consumption of alcohol, nicotine, drugs;
excess weight;
disturbing dreams or insomnia;
drinking strong tea or caffeinated drinks (coffee, energy drinks);
overwork;
use of certain pharmaceuticals;
physical exercise;
pregnancy;
age.

It is worth noting that in the last stages of pregnancy, an increase in heart rate is considered normal. Various diseases can also cause an increase in heart rate:

influenza or ARVI;
diseases of the hematopoietic system;
pathologies of the thyroid gland;
psychological diseases;
tumors of various etiologies.

Elevated body temperature is often the cause of rapid heartbeat. Doctors note that for every extra degree, the pulse rate increases by an average of 10 units.

People who engage in heavy mental work and work in serious leadership positions often suffer from increased heart rates. The responsibility that lies on their shoulders is often a source of considerable stress and anxiety and, consequently, an increase in the level of heartbeat. Tachycardia can also be caused by the death of a loved one, problems in the family or at work, and much more.

Among the heart diseases that cause tachycardia (and it is one of the signs of their development), the following can be distinguished:

heart disease;
ischemia;
myocarditis;
arterial hypertension;
cardiomyopathy;
myocardial dystrophy;
pathological structure of the heart and others.

Also, an increase in heart rate can occur in women during menopause, with bleeding, the development of purulent infections or anemia. Tachycardia is often a companion for people who avoid sports, lead a sedentary lifestyle, do not allow themselves to rest, and those who do not like walking in the fresh air.

Scientists say that consuming chocolate in large quantities has a negative impact not only on the figure - the heart of a sweet lover is also seriously tested. Tachycardia is a frequent companion of chocolate fans.

In fact, there are many reasons why the frequency of contractions of the heart muscle may increase. But it is important to learn to distinguish the so-called pathological tachycardia from the normal reaction of the body to certain loads on it. To do this, you should regularly monitor your heart rate in various states: for example, at rest and after exercise, during stress and immediately after sleep, and so on.

Remember that an increase in heart rate in itself is not a disease as such, but this indicator may be one of the signs of the development of a serious pathology. That is why, if attacks are repeated quite often and occur for no apparent reason, you should definitely visit a doctor.

Video - Rapid heartbeat. How to calm your heart

Diagnostics

If attacks of rapid heartbeat worried you or were accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms, then most likely you have already made an appointment with a cardiologist. What should you be prepared for, what can your doctor prescribe?

Since a rapid pulse is a sign of the possible development of certain diseases, the specialist will definitely prescribe a set of examinations that you will need to undergo. To begin with, the cardiologist will conduct a general examination of the patient, measure blood pressure, pulse rate, and interview the patient. Based on the information collected, he will prescribe a specific list of studies. Tests ordered may include:

Ultrasound of the heart;
blood test (both general and hormone levels);
electrocardiogram.

As a rule, a patient with a rapid pulse is also referred to an endocrinologist, since diseases of the thyroid gland and other organs of the endocrine system often cause a change in the frequency of the heartbeat. After conducting all the necessary examinations, the doctor will identify the cause of the rapid pulse and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Treatment

Treatment for palpitations involves eliminating the cause. That is, for example, if this syndrome arose due to developed diseases of the endocrine system, then, after its condition returns to normal, the pulse rate will also decrease. If the reason for the rapid heartbeat is that a person has an increase in temperature, then after it decreases, the pulse rate will return to normal.

For people who are depressed or have other psychological problems and disorders, a specialist may prescribe various sedatives or antidepressants. It is also recommended that such patients make an appointment with a psychotherapist. Therapy sessions will help restore a harmonious state of mind, calm you down, set you in a positive mood, and a rapid pulse will no longer accompany a person.

Aromatherapy sessions, spa treatments or meditation are very calming. It’s good if, during an attack of rapid heartbeat, you can take 15-20 minutes in the middle of the working day and retire somewhere in a quiet and peaceful place with a cup of green tea. Mild black tea with mint or milk also calms and normalizes the pulse.

Medicines such as Corvalol and Valocordin will also help return the pulse to normal. Take the drug according to the instructions and try to lie down. The heart rate returns to normal within a few minutes.

If a tachycardia attack unexpectedly catches you while jogging in the park, then you should sit down on a bench and rest a little. You should not torture yourself and try to overcome the intended distance if you feel that it is very difficult for your body at the moment.

Those who suffer from frequent attacks of rapid heartbeat are recommended to attend several sessions of acupressure neck massage. However, remember that it is worth finding a good specialist in this field. Incorrect massage technique can only aggravate the condition.

Video - Treatment of tachycardia at home

Prevention

How to avoid tachycardia? In old age, most likely, it will not be possible to completely escape from it, but young people can reduce the risk of this condition. The main preventive measures are as follows:

Proper nutrition. Eat “healthy” foods, avoid eating salty, spicy, fatty and sweet foods too often. Make sure your menu contains all the vitamins, minerals and other beneficial substances your body needs.
Control the amount of caffeine. One cup of coffee in the morning is enough to wake you up. You should not drink this drink, as well as others containing caffeine, throughout the working day. Do not overuse strong black tea.
Stop smoking and alcohol. Nicotine and alcohol will not bring any good; their use negatively affects not only the heart, but also the entire body. And the less you use them, the higher the chance of maintaining health until old age.
Healthy lifestyle. Periodically take evening walks in the park and play sports. The gym, swimming pool, fitness and other types of active recreation will add energy to you, make your body stronger and more resilient. Experts also recommend attending yoga classes - they normalize breathing and strengthen the body.
Avoid stress. Don't worry too much about failures at work or in your personal life. After a dark streak in life, a white one always comes, which means that the best is yet to come. It is also best to simply avoid those stressful situations that you can control as much as possible.
Don't forget to rest. Overfatigue is one of the main reasons for the rapid wear and tear of all body systems. Don’t overload yourself with work; be sure to take at least one day off a week.

A rapid heartbeat in itself is rarely dangerous, but it sometimes signals us about problems in our body. If you are experiencing tachycardia for the first time, you should monitor your condition for a while and periodically check your pulse rate. If you visited a doctor and were prescribed a certain course of treatment, then you should definitely undergo it. But you should not self-medicate if attacks of tachycardia cause you serious inconvenience.

Pulse is a word that every person has heard in life. But what it is and its exact concept is not known to everyone. The characteristics of the pulse can tell a lot about the state of health, give a signal about malfunctions in it, which will help identify pathology at an early stage. You need to know all this to control your body, because the phrase “keep your finger on the pulse” is more relevant than ever.

In the general concept of this term there is a division into types of pulse. Each of them has its own normative values, which show the functioning of the entire organism.

Arterial

This is a rhythmic contraction of the walls of the arteries during the release of blood supplied by the contracting heart muscle. Pulse waves begin at the mouth of the aortic valve as the left ventricle of the heart ejects blood.

Its main wave is formed due to a surge in systolic pressure when the vascular bed expands, and when it declines, the walls take their original shape. Cyclic contractions of the myocardium create a rhythm of oscillation of the aortic surfaces, which leads to a mechanical pulse wave.

It passes first through large arteries, smoothly moving to small ones, and lastly to the capillaries.

Interesting! In the capillary network, the pulse readings are zero, which is why it is impossible to feel the pulse at the level of the arterioles, but the flow of blood in them is uniform and smooth.

Capillary

It is also called Quincke's pulse. This is the movement of capillaries, which is most often tested by pressing on the tip of the nail. Redness of the nail plate shows heart rate. Its manifestation is a deviation from the norm, because in a healthy person, the movement of blood through the capillary network should be continuous, since the precapillary sphincters work constantly.

If it appears, then we are talking about a significant fluctuation in diastolic pressure. The load prevents the precapillary sphincters from working fully. Pulse properties are observed in people with pathological aortic valve insufficiency.

Venous

The heartbeat is reflected not only in the arterial bed, but also in the venous bed. A positive venous pulse is diagnosed. But negative is considered to be normative, but it is not present in the small and medium venous network.

If we compare venous waves with arterial ones, then the first ones are smoother, even sluggish, with a longer period of rise than fall.

Basic characteristics of pulse

There are 6 main features:

Rhythm,which shows how cardiac oscillations alternate at equal intervals of time. A failure in cyclicity is characteristic of extrasystole - foci with additional signals or heart block due to non-conduction of the nerve impulse.

Frequency (HR)shows how many times the heart contracts in one minute. Palpations are carried out with a heart rate monitor or tonometer. There are 2 types of deviations:

less than 50 beats/min - bradycardia occurs when cardiac activity is slow;
more than 90 beats/min - tachycardia is excessive muscle pulsation.

Magnitude, which directly depends on the tension and fullness of the blood flow. It is measured by the vibrations of the artery wall with the elasticity of the vessels, systole and diastole. There are 4 types of deviations:

large, in which a huge volume of blood is pumped in the arteries with increased tone of the bloodstream, which is typical for problems with the aortic valve and hyperfunction of the thyroid gland;
small , which is most often provoked by narrowing of the aorta, cardiac tachycardia, excessive vascular elasticity;
threadlike , in which it is difficult to feel the blows, this is caused by shock or severe blood loss;
intermittent, provoked by oscillations of large and small waves, is diagnosed with severe myocardial damage.

Voltage- the force that is necessary to completely stop arterial blood flow. Directly depends on systolic pressure. There are deviations:

tense due to high blood pressure;
soft when the artery is blocked without effort.

Filling. This is the amount of blood that the artery ejects, which is reflected in the vibration of the vascular walls. Full pulse is the normative value of this indicator. With an empty pulse, the ventricles do not release a sufficient volume of blood into the arterial bed.

Formdepends on how quickly the pressure level changes when the heart muscle contracts and relaxes. Deviations from the norm are as follows:

soon when the ventricles eject a lot of blood with increased elasticity of the vascular bed, which leads to a sharp decrease in pressure during the decline of the wave, characteristic of aortic valve insufficiency and thyrotoxicosis;
slow , which is characterized by small pressure drops, which indicates narrowing of the aortic walls or mitral valve insufficiency;
announcer , diagnosed with an additional wave, which is associated with a decrease in tone in peripheral vessels with normal myocardial functioning.

Measurement methods

Pulsometry involves examining the pulse in a convenient place, most often the wrist, where the radial artery flows.

When palpated, the pulse is felt well, because the bloodstream is close to the skin. Sometimes contractions are checked by palpating the carotid, temporal, subclavian, brachial, or femoral arteries.

To complete the picture, you need to check the heart pulse in both arms. If the rhythm is good, the check takes half a minute, and the value is multiplied by 2. Athletes use heart rate monitors during exercise to show their heart rate. The device can include different functionality; it is indispensable when running. This technique is quite accurate and is therefore recommended by the MoH.

There are cases when heart rate measurements will not give accurate results, these include:

hypothermia, extreme heat or prolonged exposure to sunlight;
drinking hot food and drinks;
smoking and alcohol;
a quarter of an hour after intercourse;
30 minutes after a relaxing bath or massage;
severe hunger;
premenstrual and menstrual period.

Pulse rates

The value may vary depending on the age, gender and physical activity of the patient.

The normal heart rate for people of different ages can be determined from the following table.

In athletes

For people with increased physical activity, heart rate results and its standard values are very important, because their health directly depends on it. Excessive overload is quite dangerous and can lead to serious consequences, including heart attack, which often occurs with arrhythmia. During physical activity, your heart rate will always be higher than at rest. When walking, this value is on average 100 beats/min, and when running it can reach up to 150.

Interesting! It's easy to check your health using your pulse. To do this, you need to go up to the 3rd floor at normal speed and measure your heart rate. At a rate of up to 100 beats/min, a person’s physical shape is considered excellent; if it is 15-20 beats above this value, then it is necessary to go in for sports to get the body in order.

For athletes, standard values have been established at which the load on the body will be normal. On average, with a pulse of 100-130 beats/min, it is permissible to increase activity to values of 130-150 beats/min. An indicator of 200 beats/min is considered critical and the one at which activity activity needs to be reduced, as this will negatively affect the functioning of the entire cardiovascular system.

Usually, it takes about 5 minutes for a healthy person to return his pulse after training; if this does not happen, then the cardiovascular system is not working correctly, which may be evidence of a serious pathology.

What does heart rate depend on?

Pulse characteristics may vary depending on various factors such as environment, age, physiological or pathological reasons. The gender of a person is also important, as a woman’s heart beats at a higher speed than a man’s. To summarize, heart rate largely depends on the reasons:

Physiological, such as load, stress, food consumption and digestion. There are drinks that have a significant effect on the pulse. These are caffeine-containing products, including Coca-Cola and alcohol. Smokers also have a faster heart rate. Sleep and monotonous work help slow down the process of ventricular fibrillation and the ejection of blood.
Pathological, for example, infectious diseases, hypertension, neoplasms, asthma, bronchitis, heart attack, large blood loss. Often the cause of a slow heart rate is a side effect of certain medications. If the heart is malfunctioning, then the pulse waves will be irregular, and if the veins in the arms and legs are blocked, they will be completely absent.

Possible pathologies

A certain state of a person’s pulse may indicate that a pathological process is going on in his body. There are general indicators characteristic of certain diseases.

With high heart rate

Tachycardia most often occurs with the following pathologies:

congenital defect;
heart disease, which even at rest gives a rapid pulse;
malfunction of the nervous system;
disruption of the endocrine system;
benign and malignant neoplasms;
infectious diseases.

Diabetes mellitus also provokes high pulse values, which is natural with such a disruption in the production of hormones. For diabetics, this is a signal that it is necessary to take measures to improve the condition, for example, by taking the right medicine.

For high heart rate and blood pressure fluctuations

In only three cases such a condition can be considered normative:

Strong psycho-emotional stress, such as fear, horror, anxiety, great joy, excitement, euphoria. An excited nervous system produces adrenaline, which constricts the vascular bed, leading to increased heart rate and increased blood pressure. When emotions subside, everything returns to its original state.
Excessive physical activity, such as sports or hard work. For such actions, the body needs a large amount of oxygen, which it receives by increasing the pressure and contraction of the heart muscle.
Abuse of alcohol, coffee and strong tea. In the last two cases, the culprit is caffeine, which tones the body, and alcohol contains many toxins that lead to tension in the cardiovascular system.

But often this condition is a sign of pathology, such as a neoplasm in the adrenal glands, which begin to produce excess hormones, which is comparable to the effect of adrenaline. The pathological functioning of this organ is also characteristic of Addison's disease.

Hyperthyroidism, neurogenic and psychogenic diseases also lead to problems with pulse and blood pressure. Hypertensive patients and patients with endocrine, renal, and vascular pathologies are also at risk.

With low heart rate

Bradycardia of a pathological type is not uncommon for:

pre-infarction and post-infarction state and the attack itself;
inflammatory process or muscle intoxication;
changes in blood vessels and heart due to age;
increased intracranial pressure;
ulcers;
myxedema;
hypothyroidism.

Atony also leads to disruptions in heart rate and even increases this figure to 50 beats/min. A low heart rate is the result of a disruption of the cardiac output system when the electrical impulses of the myocardium do not work correctly. A slight disruption of sinus rhythm usually does not give any special symptoms and the patient does not pay attention to it. When a healthy person’s pulse drops, this will manifest itself in:

dizziness;
weaknesses;
cold sweat;
loss of consciousness;
in critical cases - hypoxia.

Drug-induced bradycardia is often encountered, the signs of which are some pharmaceuticals. The idiopathic form of bradycardia has no established causes, but is no less dangerous for humans, especially with pathologies of the cardiovascular system.