The pulse, or heart rate, is one of the vital signs used when monitoring or discovering medical problems. Vital signs measure the basic functions of the body's organs and are required to sustain life. Vital signs include body temperature, pulse and breathing rate. Blood pressure is often monitored along with these three values. There are some variations in pulse between men and women.
What is Pulse?
The pulse is a direct measure of the heart rate, how many times the heart beats each minute. Arteries expand as blood enters and contract as blood leaves, causing a pulse that can be monitored by pressing lightly on one of several arterial locations. Pulse is lower at rest and higher with exercise and physical exertion. Illness, injury, medications and emotional state can also affect pulse.
Normal Pulse
Normal pulse, or heart rate, ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute for adults with females typically having a faster pulse than men. Normal pulse tends to differ more by age and cardiovascular health, versus gender. Children under ten years old usually have a resting heart rate of 70 to 120 beats per minute with infants being between 100 and 160 beats per minute. Those that are physically fit typically have a resting heart beat between 40 and 60 beats per minute due to enhanced cardiovascular efficiency.
Target Heart Rate
When exercising, the range in which your body gains maximal benefits with minimal risk is known as the target heart rate. Target heart rate is 60 to 80 percent of the maximum heart rate. It is recommended to stay below 85 percent of the maximum heart rate in order to avoid cardiovascular and orthopedic risk. Maximum heart rate is calculated by subtracting your age from 220. Target heart rate range is calculated by multiplying your maximum heart rate by 60 percent and by 80 percent, the resulting range is your target heart rate range.
How to check your pulse
Pulse can be monitored at one of many arterial locations including the wrist, neck, groin, behind the knee or ankle, however the most common areas are the wrist and neck. In order to measure the pulse in the wrist, the index and middle finger are placed on the palm side of the opposite wrist, below the base of the thumb. Lightly press until you can feel the blood pulsing under your fingers, you will likely need to move your fingers slightly until you find the correct area. Count the number of beats you feel for ten seconds and multiply by six, the result is your pulse in beats per minute.
