The heart is a blood-pumping machine, beating over 2 1/2 billion times nonstop in the average lifetime, according to the Franklin Institute. Measuring the pulse is a way of learning about a person's fitness levels and diagnosing many medical problems. In order to accurately assess a pulse, however, one first needs to define the normal pulse rate for an adult.
Average Adult Pulse Range
The normal resting pulse rate for an adult ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, a well-trained athlete may have a normal resting pulse rate of 40 to 60 beats per minute. Healthy adults with a lower resting pulse rate typically have better cardiovascular fitness. An adult's maximum pulse rate, which is the highest rate she can achieve with intense exercise, can be predicted by subtracting her age from 220. A 20-year-old would then have a predicted maximum pulse rate of 200.
Checking Pulse Rate
To measure the pulse rate, place two fingertips below the inside of the wrist or put the second and third fingers on the side of the windpipe in the neck, according to the Mayo Clinic. When you feel a pulsing sensation, keep an eye on a clock and count the number of pulses within 30 seconds and multiply it by two. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the pulse can also be measured at the temple, the back of the knees, the groin and the top or inner portion on either foot.
Factors That Influence Pulse Rate
Multiple factors can influence an adult's pulse rate. A person's overall fitness, current activity level, environmental temperature, the position of his body, his emotions and his body size can all influence his pulse rate. Certain medications can also cause an adult's pulse rate to change.
Target Pulse Rate
Exercising within a target heart rate zone can is the most efficient and can reduce many health risks. The target pulse rate is usually somewhere between 60 and 80 percent of a person's maximum pulse rate and, in most cases, one shouldn't exercise above 85 percent of her maximum pulse rate, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Moreover, some physicians may recommend a lower zone to some adults. For the average 20-year-old, the target zone is between 120 and 170 beats per minute, for a 35-year-old it is between 111 and 157, for a 50-year-old it is between 145 and 170 and for a 65-year-old it is between 93 and 132.
Abnormal Pulse Rate
Seek medical help as soon as possible if you are concerned that your pulse rate is abnormal. A resting pulse rate that is consistently higher than 100 beats per minute or below 60 beats per minute may be a sign of an underlying health condition, particularly if it is accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness or shortness of breath, according to the Mayo Clinic. A firm or irregular pulse may also indicate a health problem, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
