Medical professionals use the terms heart rate and pulse rate interchangeably, as both refer to the number of times the heart beats per minute. A normal heart rate, or pulse, ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A number of factors affect the pulse, so doctors use this measurement to determine if the heart is functioning normally.
Identification
Taking the pulse helps medical professionals determine a patient’s heart rate. Using the index and middle fingers of the dominant hand, a nurse or doctor feels the artery located on the underside of the wrist. Once the medical professional locates the pulse, he counts the number of beats for 60 seconds. This is the number of times the heart beats per minute.
Pediatric Pulse
Children have higher heart rates than adults, with the normal heart rate decreasing as a child ages. Newborns start out with a normal heart rate of 95 to 160 times per minute, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. The normal heart rate for a 1-year-old ranges from 90 to 150 beats per minute. A child between the ages of 6 and 8 has a normal heart rate of 60 to 110 beats per minute.
Considerations
Heart rate varies based on a number of factors. During exercise, the heart rate increases to meet the increased oxygen demand of the body. The heart pumps oxygen-rich blood to the organs and tissues, helping the body to exercise efficiently. Heart rate also responds to some emotions. Anger and sadness increase the heart rate, while happiness and a feeling of relaxation decrease the heart rate. CNNhealth.com explains that anger can even cause changes in the electrical activity of the heart. Other factors that affect pulse rate include body size, fitness level, body position, air temperature and the use of prescription or illegal drugs.
Problems
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center defines tachycardia as a heart rate above 100 beats per minute. Some lifestyle factors contribute to this increased heart rate. These factors include smoking, excess caffeine consumption and excess alcohol consumption. Tachycardia also occurs as the result of some medical conditions. They include heart-tissue damage, birth defects of the heart, high blood pressure and an overactive thyroid gland.
Doctors refer to a slow heart rate as bradycardia. Bradycardia represents a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute in an adult, according to the American Heart Association. This condition occurs due to metabolic disorders, electrical problems in the heart, heart-muscle damage and disorders of the sinoatrial node, which helps regulate heartbeat.
Target Heart Rate
Since pulse rate increases during exercise, target heart rate helps determine if a person is exercising efficiently. To calculate your target heart rate, subtract your age from 220, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A 50-year-old person has a target heart rate of 170 using this formula. This formula for maximum heart rate applies to healthy individuals. Anyone with a medical condition should discuss a safe target heart rate with a medical professional.
