Why is heart beat rate equal to the arterial pulse rate?
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The arterial pulse rate can be palpated in any of the body’s accessible sites as pictured to the right, and as specifically described on page 3 of this module section. Show Bernstein D. History and physical examination in cardiac evaluation. In: Kliegman RM, St Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 449. Schriger DL. Approach to the patient with abnormal vital signs. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 7. Last reviewed on: 1/16/2021 Reviewed by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Editorial update 09/30/2021. Pulse/heart rate is the wave of blood in the artery created by contraction of the left ventricle during a cardiac cycle. The strength or amplitude of the pulse reflects the amount of blood ejected with myocardial contraction (stroke volume). Normal pulse rate range for an adult is between 60-100 beats per minute. A well-trained athlete may have a resting heart rate of 40 to 60 beats per minute, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).[1]See also heart rate
Factors that Influence Heart Rate[edit | edit source]
To measure pulse rate. Place your index and third fingers on your neck to the side of the trachea, never press on the pulses on both sides of the lower neck at the same time to prevent blocking blood flow to the brain. To check your pulse at your wrist, place two fingers between the bone and the tendon over your radial artery (which is located on the thumb side of your wrist) When taking your pulse:
Rate: Number of pulsation which could be Bradycardia (<60/minute) or Tachycardia (>100/minute) Rhythm: Time interval between pulse beats[2][3] The role of the physiotherapist is to monitor the heart rate during exercise, the intensity and safe exercise level. The pulse rate must be taking into account to determine the level of intensity exercise the patient can bear (light vs moderate vs heavy exercise intensity zone).[4][5] Each heartbeat creates an arterial blood flow pulse that can be felt on the skin over the artery. Normal, healthy, average heart rates vary by an individual's age, body mass, and fitness level. Other physiological, but not health related, influencers of heart rate (pulse) include air temperature and changing body positions. In hot and humid conditions, the heart may beat faster in response to the physical stressors the heat causes; cold may have the same effect. Alternately, if a person sits or lies down for a period of time, resting heart rate may decrease. When that person stands up, or gets up quickly, the heart rate may jump up as well in order to supply the now-active body's needs. Average Heart Rate and PulseNormal, healthy adults who are reasonably fit and not overweight, and do not smoke or drink heavily, will have resting heart rates between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm); their pulse will reflect this. Average, healthy teenager heart rates are the same as those for adults, while children under 10 years of age experience higher heart rates and pulses:
Athletes share the same range with others in their age group, but teen and adults who are excessively active and fit may have resting heart rates and pulses as low as 40 bpm. VariabilityIf a person's pulse, equivalent to heart rate, is frequently or regularly above or below average for their health and fitness level, there are a variety of reasons this may be the case. Some variations are attributed to positive factors, such as an increase in healthy activity and good stress management. Others variations have negative root causes, like adverse reactions to medications, smoking, and being overweight, and can indicate a potential problem for heart health. One National Institute of Health (NIH) study that evaluated data from the records of approximately 64,000 children who experienced conditions worthy of an emergency room visit indicated that body temperature had a distinct effect on their heart rates. The UK study showed that a one-degree change in body temperature could increase or lower the pulse by as much as 10 beats per minute. According to the Copenhagen Heart Study, a person is twice as likely to die from heart problems if their RHR is 80, compared with someone whose RHR is below 50. And three times as likely to die if their RHR is over 90. Resolving unhealthy variables may be as straightforward as combining yoga body movement with meditation to increase core strength and decrease stress[1], or as simple as layering for changeable weather to reduce body temperature fluctuations. Limiting exposure to non-prescribed chemical influences and maintaining a healthy body weight are also heart healthy. During ExerciseBeyond exercising for health and fitness, there are a number of activities that cause exertion, everything from sexual relations to standing up quickly from a prone position. For most people, heart rate and pulse will not go above 220 beats/minute during these times, nor should that high of a heart rate be accepted for more than minutes based on activity level and duration as a variety of studies reported by Cleveland Clinic indicate that repetitive, excessive heart rate experienced, for example, by repeat marathon runners, may cause heart muscle damage leading to arrhythmia (irregular heart palpitations) and an assortment of heart conditions. Exercise Target ZoneFor active individuals who want to keep their heart rate in a healthy and sustainable condition while exercising, sports medicine practitioners and the American Heart Association recommend setting a target heart rate, which can be measured by periodic pulse taking. The formula for a person's target heart rate during exercise or sustained exertion is to subtract the individual's age from a heart rate of 220, then keep the pulse within 50 to 100% of that range based on fitness. So, a 50-year-old person who is reasonably fit should consider a target heart rate no higher than 145 bpm. Body Size, Mass, and FitnessA person who is very petite and has an average fitness regimen, or who is physically large but not overweight or unhealthy, may have pulses, or heart rates, which fall outside of the normal range. This is not indicative of a health problem; it is just a factor of body mass and, perhaps, corresponding heart size and vascular capacity. However, excessive weight can cause the heart to beat faster at all times, and this condition may lead to tachycardia, a condition characterized by a heart rate that is frequently or regularly 100+ beats per minute. Heart and vascular damage, and even failure can result. Fitness, on the other hand, especially if extreme, may result in a person's resting heart rate being as low as 40 bpm, which is not likely to be an indication of bradycardia, or a regular resting heart rate below 60 bpm in someone who is not athletic. Health Conditions and ObesityHealth problems, disease, heart conditions, and other afflictions may be indicated by abnormal heart rates or pulses. Anyone who is concerned about his or her pulse and related heart rate should consult a doctor. Addressing the health hot topic of childhood obesity, one study, which looked at medical tests of about 40,000 teens, concluded that obesity increases both hypertension (high blood pressure) and resting heart rate. Prescription medicines, illegal drugs, alcoholic beverages, smoking, and caffeine can affect one's heart rate, sometimes dangerously so. For example, one study published by the National Institute of Health (NIH) compared heart rates in about 300 20-somethings. Resting heart rates for the smoking population were significantly higher than for the non-smokers, and the smokers failed to achieve the desired peak heart rate in a treadmill test, indicating diminished heart rate capacity. SleepData from Fitbit also shows a correlation between sleep and resting heart rate.[2] The data indicated that average resting heart rate was lowest for people who slept around 7 hours per night. Resting heart rate tended to rise for people who slept less or more than that, with the increase being more pronounced for people who slept 9 hours a day vs. those who slept 5 hours a day. MonitoringAnyone who is making a change from a sedentary lifestyle to an athletic lifestyle, for example, or who has heart and general health concerns, may benefit from monitoring pulse and corresponding heart rate. For most people, it is easiest to find the pulse in the wrist or on the neck, just below the jaw (carotid artery); pulse can also be felt, though typically not as strongly, on the temple, groin, back of knees, stomach, and even on the inside and top of foot. To measure pulse and heart rate, place two fingers on the wrist or other pulse location and press gently until a measurable beat is detected. Using a watch or clock, count the heart beats for 30 seconds, then double that number to get the pulse and heart rate per minute. These measurements can be logged at regular intervals with notations about corresponding activity for delivery to a medical practitioner if out-of-norms exist and are a concern. Alternatively, there are many heart rate (pulse) monitors on the retail market designed primarily for tracking pulse during exercise. Athletes find them useful for evaluating and adjusting fitness and exertion levels. Using trackers, like those made by Fitbit and Jawbone, may also help individuals with abnormal heart rate conditions to determine what causes them. Commercially available products include wristbands, chest straps, and armbands, with most delivering digital readouts. Is arterial pulse the same as heart rate?A pulse is the heart rate, or the number of times your heart beats in one minute. The pulse can be measured using the radial artery in the wrist or the carotid artery in the neck. Heart rates vary from person to person. Knowing your heart rate can help you gauge your heart health.
Why is pulse rate measured with arteries rather than veins?As the vessels that are closest to the heart, arteries must contend with intense physical pressure from the blood moving forcibly through them. They pulse with each heartbeat (which is why your pulse is taken from an artery) and have thicker walls.
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