Traditional medicine

Symmetrical pulse. Pulse (heart rate): normal values by age, causes and consequences of increased and decreased

A slowdown or increase in heart rate indicates the development of arrhythmia due to the influence of certain factors. If nothing is done, then irregularities in the heartbeat may remain permanently, and even worsen over time. To avoid such problems, it is necessary to find out the specifics of measuring vascular pulsation and age standards. If serious abnormalities are detected, you should consult a doctor.

Pulse is translated from Latin as a blow or a push. It is a vascular oscillation that occurs due to the cycles of the heart muscle. There are 3 types of pulse:

arterial;
venous;
capillary.

In a healthy person, the vessels should “oscillate” after an equal period of time. The rhythm is set by the heart rate (HR), which directly depends on the sinus node. The impulses it sends cause the atria and ventricles to alternately contract. If the detected pulsation is too weak or irregular, then we can talk about the development of pathological processes in the body. The easiest way to detect the arterial pulse. Fluctuations in capillaries and veins are determined in a hospital setting according to individual indications.

Measurement

Pulse measurement is usually performed at the wrist. It is enough for a person to count the number of pulse waves in 1 minute. To obtain more accurate data, it is recommended to take measurements on both limbs. As a comprehensive examination in a hospital setting, the doctor will first find out the heart rate, then he will count the number of respiratory movements (RR) in 1 minute and determine the type of breathing. The resulting indicator is especially important for assessing the child’s development.

When measuring your pulse, you need to pay attention to its rhythm. The shocks must be of equal strength and at equal intervals of time. If there are no deviations, it is enough to spend 30 seconds on the procedure, and then multiply the result by 2. If a clear disturbance in the heartbeat is detected, it is better to spend at least 1 minute taking the measurement and consult a doctor. The specialist will prescribe instrumental examination methods. The main one among them is electrocardiography (ECG). It will allow you to evaluate the electrical activity of the heart and identify the causative factor of arrhythmia. As a supplement, the following tests are prescribed:

Daily ECG monitoring will allow you to see changes in heart function throughout the day under the influence of various factors.
A treadmill test is prescribed to assess heart rate under the influence of physical activity.

Due to problems with blood vessels or injuries, it is sometimes necessary to count pulse waves in other arteries. Instead of the wrist, you can palpate the neck. The vibrations will come from the carotid artery.

Dependence of heart rate on various factors

A person's normal heart rate should remain between 60-90. Its frequency may increase or decrease due to certain factors.
If they are not associated with pathological processes developing in the body, then the caused deviation will be considered harmless. Stress, overwork, overeating and the effects of low temperature, for example, after a long walk in cold weather, will only briefly disrupt the usual heart rhythm.

The frequency of contractions may vary depending on the time of day (morning, night). After waking up, a person’s pulse is lowest, and in the evening it is closer to the upper limit. It is equally important to consider physical fitness. In athletes, the number of pulse waves at rest is slightly lower than normal. This phenomenon is associated with intense training, which forces the heart to pump more blood.

The pulse rate for men and women is not particularly different. The difference is 5-7 beats per minute. Significant deviations are detected only due to the characteristics of the hormonal system. During menopause, which occurs at fifty to sixty years of age, and during pregnancy, female representatives may experience tachycardia and small surges in pressure.

The pulse is most dependent on age characteristics:

In children, the heart rate, even in a calm state, is significantly higher than the norm for an adult. The deviation is caused by the intensive growth of the body.
Adolescent children may suffer from tachycardia due to puberty and manifestations of vegetative-vascular dystonia (VSD). It occurs against a background of stress and anxiety, especially in high school (before exams).

In older people, the cardiovascular system is not in the best condition due to gradual wear and tear, so they are more likely to develop various pathologies. Against the background of age-related changes, the heartbeat can be eighty to one hundred beats per minute even at rest, and the reaction to physical activity is usually more pronounced.

Normal heart rate for an adult: table by age

The normal heart rate of an adult by year (age) is given in the table:

In an adult, the heart rate norms by age and the permissible heart rate limits in a child under 15 years of age differ significantly, which can be seen in the following table:

Age	Maximum and minimum limit	Average value
Up to 3-4 weeks	115-165	135
From 1 to 12 months	105-160	130
1-3 years	90-150	122
3-5 years	85-135	110
5-7 years	80-120	100
7-9 years	72-112	92
9-11 years	65-105	85
11-15 years	58-97	77

Knowing what the normal heart rate is for women and men by age, you can avoid many diseases. Measurements should be taken at rest. Under the influence of other factors (sports, pregnancy), slight deviations are possible.

Heart rate while walking

While walking, there is a slight increase in heart rate. How many heartbeats there will be per minute depends on the person’s fitness. For people leading a sedentary lifestyle, the heart rate can jump to 120, but for people who like to walk, it will remain within 90-100. To calculate the maximum permissible limit, subtract the person's age from 180.

When walking, the permissible heart rate is as follows:

15 years - 165;
35 years old - 145;
55 years old - 125;
75 years old - 105.

Heart rate at rest

The resting pulse is determined in the morning. A person needs to sit on a chair and count his pulse. Changing body positions or taking measurements in the evening is not recommended, as the final result will be distorted.

Generally accepted norms at rest:

adults – 60-80;
elderly – 70-90;
teenagers - 70-80;
children under 2 years old - 90-100;
newborns - 130-140.

Heart rate while running

While jogging, a lot of stress is placed on the heart. People trying to lose weight should keep their heart rate close to the upper limit. If the goal is to strengthen the cardiovascular system, then you need to stop at a figure not exceeding 60-70%. To calculate the norm, you need to subtract your age from 200:

If, against the background of an increase in the pulse (within acceptable limits), the pressure readings remain normal, then the development of pathologies will not follow. Elderly people need to be especially careful. Their body is unable to withstand heavy loads.

Permissible heart rate during pregnancy

A woman who is expecting a baby experiences increased heart rate around the 5th month. This phenomenon is associated with an increase in circulating blood volume during fetal development. Usually the increase is insignificant and gradually the indicators return to the acceptable limit:

at 14-26 weeks there is an increase of 10-15 contractions from the norm;
the maximum increase occurs between 27 and 32 weeks;
gradual normalization occurs closer to the birth of the child.

Causes of tachycardia

Tachycardia is manifested by increased heart rate and is divided into physiological and pathological. The first form occurs under the influence of the following factors:

pain;
physical and mental overload;
taking medications;

stress;
hot weather;
bad habits;
drinking coffee and energy drinks.

Physiological tachycardia goes away on its own and rarely causes complications. The pathological form is a consequence of various diseases and malfunctions in the body:

coronary heart disease (CHD);
hypertension (high blood pressure);
pathologies of the nervous system;
oncological diseases;
malformations of the heart muscle;
diseases caused by infections;
endocrine disruptions;
anemia (anemia).

In women, the cause of tachycardia may be menorrhagia. It is a disorder in the menstrual cycle, which is characterized by large blood losses during menstruation.

In adolescence, the main cause of rapid heartbeat is autonomic failure. It develops under the influence of irritating factors (stress, overwork) and hormonal surges. The problem goes away on its own after puberty.

Features of bradycardia

A slowing of the heart rate to 50 beats or below is called bradycardia. It is a sign of physiological and pathological factors. In the first case, the list of reasons for a decrease in heart rate is as follows:

During sleep, a person's metabolism slows down, body temperature drops slightly and heart rate decreases by about 10% of normal. The reason for the change in indicators is the complete relaxation of the body.
Stimulating reflex zones (eyeballs, carotid artery) can inadvertently cause a slight slowing of the pulse.
In older people, bradycardia can be a consequence of age-related cardiosclerosis. Areas of connective tissue scattered throughout the myocardium impair cardiac contractility, which contributes to a decrease in heart rate
When exposed to cold for a long time, the heart rate slows down as a protective reaction. The body begins to save resources in order to resist adverse effects longer.
Constant physical activity forces the heart to work harder than it should. Tissue hypertrophy begins, against the background of which bradycardia develops. For professional athletes, a heart rate in the region of 40-45 beats per minute is considered normal.

The pathological form of bradycardia is a consequence of the following factors:

inflammatory diseases of the heart muscle;
myocardial infarction;
taking antihypertensive medications;
impulse conduction disturbance;
hypothyroidism (thyroid hormone deficiency);
hypotension (low blood pressure);
stomach ulcer;
high intracranial pressure.

If it is not possible to identify the causative factor, a diagnosis of “idiopathic bradycardia” is made. If it is not accompanied by other disorders and the symptoms are not particularly pronounced, then it is also equated to physiological forms.

Symptoms of heart failure

Pathological forms of arrhythmia are especially dangerous. They manifest themselves quite clearly and often lead to the development of severe complications. In addition to signs of a slow or accelerated heartbeat, symptoms of an underlying pathological process may occur.

Tachycardia is characterized by the following clinical picture:

feeling of heartbeat;
dizziness;
pain and tightness in the chest;
dyspnea;

increased blood pressure;
feeling of anxiety;
pulsation of blood vessels in the neck;
irritability;
insomnia;
lack of air.

Bradycardia manifests itself when the heart rate decreases to 40 beats per minute or lower with the following symptoms:

dizziness attack;
fainting state;
pale skin;
growing weakness
chest pain;
fatigue;
seizures;
respiratory dysfunction.

What to do if your heart rhythm is abnormal

Physiological arrhythmias do not require a course of therapy. It is enough to avoid the causative factor. Pathological forms are treated by eliminating or stopping the underlying cause. Regardless of the type of failure, it is recommended to consult a cardiologist for an examination, the results of which will make a diagnosis.

If you have bradycardia, you will need to take medications that stimulate your heart. It is advisable to combine them with folk remedies based on medicinal herbs. You can increase your heart rate during an attack through light physical activity, caffeine, Zelenin drops and tablets based on belladonna extract.

Rest in a well-ventilated area will help reduce the frequency and intensity of your heartbeat. Before doing this, it is advisable to wash your face with cold water and remove clothes that are constricting the neck area. Additionally, you can do breathing exercises and take valerian tincture.

In both cases, nutritional correction, exercise and walks in the fresh air are recommended. If the attack cannot be stopped and the symptoms increase, then you need to call an ambulance. Visiting specialists must be told about the measures taken to alleviate the condition.

All people who want to avoid diseases of the cardiovascular system should know the normal heart rate by age. Deviations from acceptable limits may be physiological or pathological. In the first case, treatment is not prescribed. It is enough for the patient to learn about methods of stopping attacks. The course of treatment for pathological abnormalities in the heartbeat is aimed at eliminating the causative factor.

There are arterial, capillary and venous pulses.

Arterial pulse- these are rhythmic vibrations of the artery wall caused by the release of blood into the arterial system during one heartbeat. There are central (on the aorta, carotid arteries) and peripheral (on the radial, dorsal artery of the foot and some other arteries) pulse.

For diagnostic purposes, the pulse is determined in the temporal, femoral, brachial, popliteal, posterior tibial and other arteries.

More often, the pulse is examined in adults on the radial artery, which is located superficially between the styloid process of the radius and the tendon of the internal radial muscle.

When examining the arterial pulse, it is important to determine its quality: frequency, rhythm, filling, tension, and other characteristics. The nature of the pulse also depends on the elasticity of the artery wall.

Frequency – this is the number of wave pulses in 1 minute. Normally, a healthy adult has a pulse of 60-80 beats per minute. An increase in heart rate of 85-90 beats per minute is called tachycardia. A heart rate rate of less than 60 beats per minute is called bradycardia. The absence of a pulse is called asystole. When body temperature rises by 1 0 C, the pulse increases in adults by 8-10 beats per minute.

Rhythmpulse determined by the intervals between pulse waves. If they are the same - pulse rhythmic(correct), if different - pulse arrhythmic(wrong). In a healthy person, the heart contraction and pulse wave follow each other at regular intervals. If there is a difference between the number of heart contractions and pulse waves, then this condition is called pulse deficiency (with atrial fibrillation). The counting is carried out by two people: one counts the pulse, the other listens to the beats of the heart.

Magnitude is a property that consists of a joint assessment of filling and tension. It characterizes the amplitude of oscillations of the arterial wall, i.e., the height of the pulse wave. When the pulse is significant, it is called large or high; when it is small, it is called small or low. Normally, the value should be average.

Pulse filling determined by the height of the pulse wave and depends on the systolic volume of the heart. If the height is normal or increased, then it can be felt normal pulse(full); if not, then the pulse empty.

Pulse voltage depends on the value of blood pressure and is determined by the force that must be applied until the pulse disappears. At normal pressure, the artery is compressed with a moderate increase, so the pulse is normal moderate(satisfactory) voltage. With high pressure, the artery is compressed by strong pressure - this is called a pulse tense.

It is important not to make a mistake, since the artery itself can be sclerotic (hardened). In this case, it is necessary to measure the pressure and verify the assumption that has arisen.

When the pressure is low, the artery is easily compressed, and the tension pulse is called soft (relaxed).

An empty, unstrained pulse is called small thread-like.

Pulse study data is recorded in two ways: digitally - in medical documentation, journals and graphically - in the temperature sheet with a red pencil in the column “P” (pulse). It is important to determine the pressure price on the temperature sheet.

Research data in two ways: digital - in medical records, journals, and graphic – on the temperature sheet in red pencil in the “P” (pulse) column. It is important to determine the pressure price on the temperature sheet.

Rhythm	Frequency	Magnitude	Symmetry
		Voltage	Filling
This is an alternation of pulse waves at certain time intervals. If the time intervals are the same, the pulse is rhythmic. If the time intervals are not the same, the pulse is not rhythmic. An abnormal heart rhythm is called arrhythmia.	This is the number of wave pulses in 1 minute. Normally, a healthy adult has a pulse of 60-80 beats per minute. An increased heart rate of 85-90 beats per minute is called tachycardia. A heart rate rate of less than 60 beats per minute is called bradycardia. The absence of a pulse is called asystole.	Pulse voltage depends on blood pressure and is determined by the force that must be applied until the pulse disappears. At normal pressure, the artery is compressed with a moderate increase, so the normal pulse is moderate (satisfactory) voltage. With high pressure, the artery is compressed by strong pressure - this pulse is called tense. When the pressure is low, the artery is easily compressed, and the tension pulse is called soft(relaxed). An empty, unstrained pulse is called small thread-like.	This is the filling of blood vessels. Pulse filling is determined by the height of the pulse wave and depends on the systolic volume of the heart. If the height is normal or increased, then a normal pulse is felt (full); if not, then the pulse is empty.	Normally, the quality of the pulse is symmetrical on the right and left sides of the body.

Blood pressure.

Arterial is the pressure that is formed in the arterial system of the body during contractions of the heart and depends on complex neurohumoral regulation, the magnitude and speed of cardiac output, the frequency and rhythm of heart contractions, as well as vascular tone.

There are systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Systolic is the pressure that occurs in the arteries at the moment of maximum rise of the pulse wave after ventricular systole.

Diastolic is the pressure maintained in the arterial vessels during ventricular diastole.

Pulse pressure represents the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure; measurement (study) of blood pressure is carried out by the indirect sound method, proposed in 1905 by the Russian surgeon N.G. Korotkov. Devices for measuring pressure have the following names: Riva-Rocci apparatus (mercury), or tonometer, sphygmomanometer (arrow), and nowadays electronic devices are more often used to determine blood pressure using a non-sound method.

To study blood pressure, it is important to consider the following factors:

§ the size of the cuff, which must correspond to the patient’s shoulder circumference: M - 130 (130 x 270 mm) - adult average shoulder cuff, shoulder circumference is 23-33 cm. In small children and adults with a small or large shoulder circumference, blood pressure readings are corrected when using an adult cuff M - 130 (130 x x 270 mm) according to a special table or a device with a special cuff size. The length of the cuff chamber should correspond to 80% of the shoulder coverage in centimeters, and the width should correspond to about 40% of the length of the cuff chamber. A cuff with a smaller width overestimates, while a larger one underestimates pressure readings (Appendix 2);

§ Condition of the membrane and tubes of the phonendoscope (stethophonendoscope),

which may be damaged;

§ Serviceability of the pressure gauge, which requires regular verification at least once a year or at intervals specified in its technical characteristics.

Evaluation of results.

The results are assessed by comparing the data obtained with established standards (according to the technology for performing simple medical services, 2009)

Need to remember.

During the first visit, blood pressure is measured in both arms.

The multiplicity of measurements is observed. If the first two measurements differ from each other by no more than 5 mmHg. Art., measurements are stopped and the average value of these values is recorded.

If asymmetry is detected (more than 10 mm Hg for systolic and 5 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure, all subsequent measurements are taken on the arm with higher blood pressure values. If the first two measurements differ from each other by more than 5 mm Hg . Art., then a third measurement and (if necessary) a fourth measurement are carried out.

If a progressive decrease in blood pressure is observed with repeated measurements, then it is necessary to allow time for the patient to relax.

If multidirectional fluctuations in blood pressure are observed, then further measurements are stopped and the arithmetic mean of the last three measurements is determined (excluding the maximum and minimum blood pressure values).

Normally, blood pressure fluctuates depending on age, environmental conditions, nervous and physical stress during the waking period (sleep and rest).

Level classification

blood pressure (BP)

Normal for an adult systolic pressure ranges from 100-105 to 130-139 mm Hg. Art.; diastolic- from 60 to 89 mm Hg. Art., pulse pressure Normally it is 40-50 mm Hg. Art.

With various changes in health status, deviations from normal blood pressure levels are called arterial hypertension , or hypertension if the pressure is high. Decreased blood pressure - arterial hypotension , or hypotension.

The normal heart rate of an adult can differ significantly from that of a newborn. For clarity, the article below presents a table by age, but first we will define what a pulse is and how it can be measured.

Pulse - what is it?

The human heart beats rhythmically and pushes blood into the vascular system; as a result of these shocks, the walls of the arteries begin to vibrate.

Such oscillations of the walls of the arteries are usually called pulse.

In addition to arterial ones, in medicine there are also pulse oscillations of the walls of venous and capillary vessels, but the main information about heart contractions is carried by arterial (not venous or capillary) oscillations, therefore, further, when speaking about the pulse, we mean them.

Pulse characteristics

The following pulse characteristics exist:

frequency - the number of oscillations of the artery wall per minute
rhythmicity - the nature of the intervals between shocks. Rhythmic - if the intervals are the same and arrhythmic if the intervals are different
filling - the volume of blood at the peak of the pulse wave. There are thread-like, empty, full, moderate filling
tension - characterizes the force that must be applied to the artery until the pulsation completely stops. There are soft, hard and moderate-tension pulses

How are pulse fluctuations measured?

In modern medicine, studies of the manifestations of heart function can be divided into two large groups:

hardware - using a heart rate monitor, electrocardiograph and other devices
manual - with all the variety of research methods, palpation is the simplest and fastest method, which also does not require special long-term preparation before the procedure

How to measure the pulse on your hand yourself

You can measure the pulse fluctuations of the arteries yourself.

Where can I measure?

You can measure in the following places:

on the elbow on the brachial artery
in the neck on the carotid artery
in the groin area on the femoral artery
on the wrist on the radial artery

The most common measurement method is the radial artery at the wrist.

To find the pulse, you can use any fingers except the thumb. The thumb itself has a pulsation, and this can affect the accuracy of the measurement.

Usually the index and middle fingers are used: they are placed under the bend of the wrist in the area of the thumb, moving until pulse fluctuations are detected. You can try to find them on both hands, but keep in mind that the strength of the pulsation may not be the same on the left and right hands.

Features of measurements

During training, your heart rate is usually counted for 15 seconds and multiplied by four. At rest, measure for 30 seconds and multiply by two. If there is a suspicion of arrhythmia, it is better to increase the measurement time to 60 seconds.

When measuring, it should be borne in mind that the frequency of oscillations of the walls of blood vessels may depend not only on physical activity. For example, stress, hormonal release, increased body temperature, even food intake and time of day can affect frequency.

It is better to take daily measurements at the same time. For example, in the first half of the day, an hour after breakfast.

Heart rate norm for women

Due to the physiological differences of the female body, which is subject to significant hormonal fluctuations throughout life that affect the cardiovascular system, the normal heart rate for women differs from the norm for men of the same age. The pulse rate in women at rest is usually 5-10 beats per minute higher.

An increase in heart rate is observed during pregnancy, menstruation, and the onset of menopause. This increase is called physiological tachycardia.

Normal heart rate for athletes

People who exercise regularly have a lower heart rate.

The resting pulse of athletes can be less than forty beats per minute versus sixty to eighty for an untrained person. This heart rate is necessary for the heart to work during extreme loads: if the natural rate does not exceed forty beats per minute, in moments of stress the heart will not have to accelerate more than 150-180 beats.

Over a year or two of active training, an athlete’s heart rate decreases by 5-10 beats per minute. The first noticeable decrease in heart rate can be felt after three months of regular exercise, during which time the rate decreases by 3-4 beats.

Heart Rate for Fat Burning

The human body reacts differently to different intensities of stress. Fat burning occurs at loads of 65-85% of the maximum.

Table of load zones and actions on the human body

There are several ways to calculate the required load for burning fat, which give similar results. The simplest one, taking into account only age:

220 minus your age - we get the maximum heart rate (beats per minute).

For example, if you are 45 years old, your maximum heart rate will be 220-45=175

Determining the boundaries of the heart rate zone that is optimal for burning fat:

175*0.65=114 — lower limit
175*0.85=149 — upper limit

A person's pulse is an important indicator of the condition of the heart. A normal pulse indicates that the heart is working without disturbances. Every person needs to know how many beats per minute the heart should beat, but most people do not attach importance to such an important indicator and do not pay attention to its deviations.

Experts call the pulse the mirror of the cardiovascular system. If the pulse increases or, conversely, decreases, this indicates the development or consequence of an already developed pathological process in the heart. Therefore, if you detect a deviation in your heart rate from the norm, you should consult a doctor.

What is pulse

The pulse is a rhythmic oscillation of the vascular walls corresponding to heart contractions. Pulse is one of the main criteria for assessing the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system. This indicator indicates the rhythm of heart contractions, their strength and the filling of the bloodstream.

If the rhythm of the pulse fluctuations is disturbed, the doctor suspects the presence of heart pathology. The following factors can influence this:

excessive consumption of coffee drinks;
psychological overload;
stressful conditions;
hormonal imbalance.

In addition to the rhythm of the pulse, the frequency of its oscillations is important. Oscillation frequency is the number of pulse oscillations per minute. In a person without disorders of the cardiovascular system, in a calm psycho-emotional and physical state, this indicator ranges from 60 to 90 pulse waves per minute.

How to measure your pulse

The most common method is to measure the pulse on the radial artery. It lies on the wrist from the palm side two centimeters below the base of the thumb. Upon palpation, a person will feel a groove-shaped depression. The artery that is closest to the skin passes through this fossa. This arrangement of the vessel allows you to easily feel a person’s pulse.

To measure the pulse on the radial artery, you must perform the following steps:

Relax the hand on which the pulse is measured.
Place three fingers (index, middle and ring) in the hole in which the vessel lies, so that the person clearly feels the pulse wave.
Open the stopwatch and time one minute, counting the number of vibrations of the vessel during this time.
Record the results.

For reliable results, measurements should be taken on both hands at the same time.

If the pulse rhythm is not disturbed, you can measure the pulse for 30 seconds, then multiply the result by two. If the rhythm of the pulse is disturbed, the measurement is carried out for 60 seconds.

In some cases, indicators are taken from the carotid, brachial, subclavian, femoral and temporal arteries.

What can disrupt your heart rate?

Since the number of pulse fluctuations depends on the heart rate, factors that directly affect the heart should be considered. The main factors on which vascular oscillation depends are:

environment;
person's gender;
person's age;
lifestyle;
food ration;
heredity;
physical activity;
mental stress.

Modern research suggests that females have a normal heart rate that is eight beats higher than males. The value can change up or down depending on the general condition of the body, damage to the cardiovascular system or time of day. The pulse rate can be affected by the position of the body relative to a horizontal surface and even the air temperature in the room.

In the evening, the heart rate decreases, and in the morning it reaches its maximum value. For a man, the normal rate is 60-70 vibrations per minute.

Surprisingly, 140 beats per minute is considered the norm for a newborn baby. In an adult, this indicator is considered a strong deviation from the norm and is regarded as tachycardia.

Normal heart rate

The table shows normal heart rate indicators for children and adults by age. These indicators are typical only for healthy people who do not have hereditary or acquired pathologies of the cardiovascular system.

Based on the data in the table, we can conclude that at birth, children have a high heart rate, which is considered normal. But with age, heart rate decreases, and after fifty years it increases again. Heart rate is the frequency of heart contractions, which corresponds to pulse fluctuations. In addition, doctors claim that just before death, a person’s pulse increases to 160 vibrations.

It should be taken into account that women during menopause experience a functional increase in heart rate. This occurs due to a decrease in the concentration of the female hormone (estrogen) in the blood, and not due to heart pathology. During this period, changes in the woman's normal blood pressure are observed.

Normal increase in heart rate

A high pulse is not always associated with the development of pathological changes in the body. In a healthy person, the pulse increases in the following cases:

emotional experiences;

stress;

injuries, wounds, pain syndrome;

low oxygen concentration in the room.

When body temperature rises even by one degree, the heart rate increases by more than ten beats per minute. In this condition, the upper limit of normal heart rate is 90 beats per minute. If the indicator exceeds this value, the situation is regarded as tachycardia.

In the case when the increase in the frequency of the pulse wave is functional in nature, the person does not experience shortness of breath, pain in the chest, dizziness, darkening of the eyes or complete loss of vision.

The heart rate should not exceed the maximum value typical for the patient’s age group. With functional tachycardia, the value returns to normal within five minutes after cessation of physical activity. In order to quickly calculate the maximum allowable heart rate value, subtract the number of full years of the patient from the number 220.

Pathological increase

Tachycardia caused by pathological changes occurs in the following situations:

acquired and congenital pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
pathological changes in the nervous system;
hypertensive crisis;
hormonal imbalance;
presence of tumors;
coronary heart disease;
heart attack;
human infectious diseases.

Doctors note cases when tachycardia occurs with heavy discharge during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy. This occurs due to anemic syndrome. Prolonged diarrhea, vomiting or other massive loss of fluid in the body can cause pathologically rapid pulse.

Of particular importance are cases when there is an increased heart rate during normal walking and normal blood pressure. If a person discovers this symptom, he should immediately contact a qualified specialist for additional diagnostic measures. This condition may indicate the presence of heart failure.

In a child, a pathological increase in heart rate is much more difficult to track due to his lifestyle. Children are often involved in active games or experience intense emotional experiences, which leads to constant tachycardia. If a teenager has vegetative-vascular dystonia, the doctor will note a persistent increase in heart rate.

If you suspect a pathological increase in heart rate, you should consult with your doctor, because if the body’s processes are not corrected in time, sudden loss of consciousness, deterioration in general well-being, suffocation or attacks of dizziness may occur.

Decreased heart rate

A decrease in heart rate to 60 beats per minute or below indicates a pathological or functional abnormality. Functional pulse deficit is observed during sleep or in professional athletes.

People who engage in professional sports experience a drop in heart rate to 40 beats per minute. This indicator is not a deviation from the norm, because athletes experience a number of changes in the autonomic regulation of heart contractions.

Experts note pathological bradycardia in the following cases:

inflammatory processes affecting the fibers of the heart;
intoxication of the body;
myocardial infarction;
changes in the cardiovascular system associated with human age;
stomach ulcers;
increased intracranial pressure;
hypothyroidism;
myxedema.

A common reason why a low pulse appears is a violation of the conduction of nerve fibers of the heart. This leads to uneven distribution of the electrical impulse along the fibers of the heart.

A slight decrease in the frequency of the pulse wave is difficult to feel on your own, but with more serious deviations, a person’s blood supply to the brain is disrupted. As a result, dizziness, weakness, sticky cold sweat and loss of consciousness occur.

We must not forget about the decrease in pulse wave frequency due to medication. Some groups of drugs can cause bradycardia.

Diagnostics

In order to reliably determine the presence of changes in pulse, specialists use instrumental diagnostics of the cardiovascular system. The main method for identifying such abnormalities is electrocardiography (ECG).

In particularly difficult situations, Voltaire monitoring is prescribed. In this case, heart function is recorded throughout the day. If a person is healthy, then his indicators will correspond to the age or functional norm.

Less commonly used is a treadmill test, in which an electrocardiogram is taken from the patient while running. This method allows you to identify the adaptation of the cardiovascular system to stressful situations and track the rate of restoration of normal heart function after exercise.

In an adult, identifying the cause of deviations is much more difficult to find out, because the number of factors affecting heart rate increases several times. With age, the elasticity of the walls of the bloodstream decreases. This occurs under the influence of the following factors:

presence of bad habits;
alcohol consumption;
low mobility;
poor nutrition;
irregular daily routine;
individual age-related changes in the body;
disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system.

In people over 45 years of age, the body does not have time to adapt to constant changes in environmental conditions.

Stress, environment, lifestyle, congenital pathologies and the influence of many other factors lead to disorders in the cardiovascular system. Any disturbance in this system leads to a change in the normal heart rhythm and pulse rate. Therefore, it is very important to know what the pulse of a healthy person should be and monitor it.

The very first actions in providing emergency assistance involve an objective assessment of the situation and the patient’s condition, so the person acting as a rescuer primarily grabs the radial artery (temporal, femoral or carotid) to find out about the presence of cardiac activity and measure the pulse.

The pulse rate is not a fixed value; it varies within certain limits depending on our condition at that time. Intense physical activity, excitement, joy make the heart beat faster, and then the pulse goes beyond normal limits. True, this state does not last long; a healthy body needs 5-6 minutes to recover.

Within normal limits

The normal heart rate for an adult is 60-80 beats per minute, that which is greater is called , less is called . If pathological conditions become the cause of such fluctuations, then both tachycardia and bradycardia are regarded as a symptom of the disease. However, there are other cases. Probably, each of us has ever encountered a situation when the heart is ready to jump out from an excess of feelings and this is considered normal.

As for the rare pulse, it is mainly an indicator of pathological changes in the heart.

The normal human pulse changes in various physiological states:

It slows down in sleep, and generally in a supine position, but does not reach real bradycardia;
Changes during the day (at night the heart beats less frequently, after lunch the rhythm accelerates), as well as after eating, alcoholic drinks, strong tea or coffee, some medications (heart rate increases in 1 minute);
Increases during intense physical activity (hard work, sports training);
Increases from fear, joy, anxiety and other emotional experiences. caused by emotions or intense work, almost always passes quickly and independently, as soon as the person calms down or stops vigorous activity;
The heart rate increases with increasing body and environmental temperature;
It decreases over the years, but then, in old age, it increases slightly again. In women with the onset of menopause, in conditions of reduced estrogen influence, more significant upward changes in pulse may be observed (tachycardia caused by hormonal disorders);
Depends on gender (the pulse rate in women is slightly higher);
It differs in especially trained people (slow pulse).

Basically, it is generally accepted that in any case the pulse of a healthy person is in the range from 60 to 80 beats per minute, and a short-term increase to 90-100 beats/min, and sometimes up to 170-200 beats/min is regarded as a physiological norm, if it arose due to an emotional outburst or intense work activity, respectively.

Men, women, athletes

Heart rate (heart rate) is influenced by indicators such as gender and age, physical fitness, a person’s occupation, the environment in which he lives, and much more. In general, differences in heart rate can be explained as follows:

Men and women react to different events to varying degrees(the majority of men are more cold-blooded, women are mostly emotional and sensitive), so the heart rate of the weaker sex is higher. Meanwhile, the pulse rate in women differs very little from that in men, although if we take into account the difference of 6-8 beats/min, then males lag behind, their pulse is lower.

Out of competition are pregnant women, in which a slightly elevated heart rate is considered normal and this is understandable, because while carrying a child, the mother’s body must fully meet the need for oxygen and nutrients for itself and the growing fetus. The respiratory organs, circulatory system, and heart muscle undergo certain changes to perform this task, so the heart rate increases moderately. A slightly elevated heart rate in a pregnant woman is considered normal if, besides pregnancy, there is no other reason for its increase.
A relatively rare pulse (somewhere near the lower limit) is observed in people who do not forget about daily exercise and jogging, who prefer active recreation (swimming pool, volleyball, tennis, etc.), in general, leading a very healthy lifestyle and watching their figure. They say about such people: “They are in good sports shape,” even if by the nature of their activity these people are far from professional sports. A pulse of 55 beats per minute at rest is considered normal for this category of adults; their heart simply works economically, but in an untrained person this frequency is regarded as bradycardia and serves as a reason for additional examination by a cardiologist.
The heart works even more economically skiers, cyclists, runners, rowers and adherents of other sports that require special endurance, their resting heart rate can be 45-50 beats per minute. However, prolonged intense stress on the heart muscle leads to its thickening, expansion of the boundaries of the heart, and an increase in its mass, because the heart is constantly trying to adapt, but its capabilities, unfortunately, are not limitless. A heart rate of less than 40 beats is regarded as a pathological condition; ultimately, the so-called “athletic heart” develops, which often becomes the cause of death in young healthy people.

The heart rate depends somewhat on height and constitution: in tall people, the heart under normal conditions works slower than in short relatives.

Pulse and age

Previously, the fetal heart rate was found out only at 5-6 months of pregnancy (listened to with a stethoscope), now the fetal pulse can be determined using the ultrasound method (vaginal sensor) in an embryo measuring 2 mm (normal - 75 beats / min) and as it grows (5 mm – 100 beats/min, 15 mm – 130 beats/min). During pregnancy monitoring, heart rate usually begins to be assessed from 4-5 weeks of pregnancy. The obtained data is compared with tabular norms Fetal heart rate by week:

Gestation period (weeks)	Normal heart rate (beats per minute)
4-5	80-103
6	100-130
7	130-150
8	150-170
9-10	170-190
11-40	140-160

By the fetal heart rate you can determine its condition: if the baby’s pulse changes towards an increase, it can be assumed that there is a lack of oxygen, but as the pulse increases, it begins to decrease, and its values less than 120 beats per minute already indicate acute oxygen starvation, which threatens with undesirable consequences, including death.

Pulse rates in children, especially newborns and preschool children, differ markedly from the values typical for adolescence and youth. We, adults, ourselves noticed that the little heart beats more often and not so loudly. To clearly know whether this indicator is within normal values, there is table of heart rate norms by age which everyone can use:

Age	Limits of normal values (bpm)
newborns (up to 1 month of life)	110-170
from 1 month to 1 year	100-160
from 1 year to 2 years	95-155
2-4 years	90-140
4-6 years	85-125
6-8 years	78-118
8-10 years	70-110
10-12 years	60-100
12-15 years	55-95
15-50 years	60-80
50-60 years	65-85
60-80 years	70-90

Thus, according to the table, it can be seen that the normal heart rate in children after a year tends to gradually decrease, a pulse of 100 is not a sign of pathology until almost 12 years of age, and a pulse of 90 until the age of 15. Later (after 16 years), such indicators may indicate the development of tachycardia, the cause of which must be found by a cardiologist.

The normal pulse of a healthy person in the range of 60-80 beats per minute begins to be recorded from approximately 16 years of age. After 50 years, if everything is in order with health, there is a slight increase in heart rate (10 beats per minute over 30 years of life).

Pulse rate helps in diagnosis

Diagnosis by pulse, along with temperature measurement, history taking, and examination, belongs to the initial stages of the diagnostic search. It would be naive to believe that by counting the number of heartbeats, one can immediately detect the disease, but it is quite possible to suspect something is wrong and send the person for examination.

Low or high pulse (below or above acceptable values) often accompanies various pathological processes.

High heart rate

Knowledge of the norms and the ability to use the table will help any person distinguish increased pulse fluctuations caused by functional factors from tachycardia caused by disease. “Strange” tachycardia may be indicated symptoms unusual for a healthy body:

Dizziness, lightheadedness (indicates that cerebral blood flow is impaired);
Chest pain caused by impaired coronary circulation;
Visual disorders;
Autonomic symptoms (sweating, weakness, trembling of limbs).

Causes of rapid pulse and heartbeat can be:

Pathological changes in the heart and vascular pathology (congenital, etc.);
Poisoning;
Chronic bronchopulmonary diseases;
Hypoxia;
Hormonal disorders;
Lesions of the central nervous system;
Oncological diseases;
Inflammatory processes, infections (especially with fever).

In most cases, an equal sign is placed between the concepts of increased pulse and rapid heartbeat, however, this is not always the case, that is, they do not necessarily accompany each other. In some conditions (and,) the number of heart contractions exceeds the frequency of pulse oscillations, this phenomenon is called pulse deficiency. As a rule, pulse deficiency accompanies terminal rhythm disturbances in severe heart damage, the cause of which could be intoxication, sympathomimetics, acid-base imbalance, electric shock, and other pathology involving the heart in the process.

High pulse and blood pressure fluctuations

Pulse and blood pressure do not always decrease or increase proportionally. It would be wrong to think that an increase in heart rate will necessarily lead to an increase in blood pressure and vice versa. There are also options here:

Increased heart rate with normal blood pressure may be a sign of intoxication, increased body temperature. Folk remedies and medications that regulate the activity of the autonomic nervous system during VSD, antipyretic drugs for fever and medications aimed at reducing the symptoms of intoxication will help reduce the pulse; in general, influencing the cause will remove tachycardia.
Increased heart rate with high blood pressure may be a consequence of various physiological and pathological conditions (inadequate physical activity, severe stress, endocrine disorders, heart and vascular diseases). Tactics of the doctor and the patient: examination, determination of the cause, treatment of the underlying disease.
Low blood pressure and high pulse may become symptoms of a very serious health disorder, for example, a manifestation of development in cardiac pathology or in case of large blood loss, and, the lower the blood pressure and higher the heart rate, the more severe the patient’s condition. It is clear: not only the patient, but also his relatives will not be able to reduce the pulse, the increase of which is caused by these circumstances. This situation requires immediate action (call “103”).

A high pulse that first appears for no reason can be calmed down drops of hawthorn, motherwort, valerian, peony, corvalol (whatever is on hand). A recurrence of an attack should be a reason to visit a doctor, who will find out the cause and prescribe medications that specifically affect this form of tachycardia.

Low heart rate

The causes of low heart rate can also be functional (about athletes, as discussed above, when a low heart rate with normal blood pressure is not a sign of disease), or stem from various pathological processes:

Vagal influences (vagus - vagus nerve), decreased tone of the sympathetic nervous system. This phenomenon can be observed in every healthy person, for example, during sleep (low pulse with normal pressure),
In case of vegetative-vascular dystonia, in the case of some endocrine disorders, that is, in a variety of physiological and pathological conditions;
Oxygen starvation and its local effect on the sinus node;
Myocardial infarction;

Toxic infections, poisoning with organophosphorus substances;
Peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum;
Traumatic brain injuries, meningitis, edema, brain tumor, ;
Taking digitalis medications;
Side effect or overdose of antiarrhythmic, antihypertensive and other drugs;
Hypofunction of the thyroid gland (myxedema);
Hepatitis, typhoid fever, sepsis.

In the vast majority of cases low pulse (bradycardia) is considered a serious pathology, which requires immediate examination to identify the cause, timely treatment, and sometimes emergency medical care (sick sinus syndrome, atrioventricular block, myocardial infarction, etc.).

Low pulse and high blood pressure - similar symptoms sometimes appear in hypertensive patients taking drugs to lower blood pressure, which are simultaneously prescribed for various rhythm disorders, beta blockers, for example.

Briefly about heart rate measurement

Perhaps, only at first glance it seems that there is nothing simpler than measuring the pulse of yourself or another person. Most likely, this is true if such a procedure is required to be performed on a young, healthy, calm, rested person. You can assume in advance that his pulse will be clear, rhythmic, of good filling and tension. Being confident that most people know the theory well and cope well with the task in practice, the author will allow himself to only briefly recall the technique of measuring pulse.

You can measure the pulse not only on the radial artery; any large artery (temporal, carotid, ulnar, brachial, axillary, popliteal, femoral) is suitable for such a study. By the way, sometimes you can simultaneously detect a venous pulse and, extremely rarely, a precapillary pulse (to determine these types of pulses, you need special devices and knowledge of measurement techniques). When determining, we should not forget that in an upright position of the body the heart rate will be higher than in a lying position and that intense physical activity will speed up the heart rate.

To measure pulse:

Usually the radial artery is used, on which 4 fingers are placed (the thumb should be on the back of the limb).
You should not try to catch pulse fluctuations with only one finger - an error is certainly guaranteed; at least two fingers should be used in the experiment.
It is not recommended to put undue pressure on the arterial vessel, since squeezing it will lead to the disappearance of the pulse and the measurement will have to be started again.
It is necessary to measure the pulse correctly within one minute, measuring for 15 seconds and multiplying the result by 4 can lead to an error, because even during this time the pulse frequency can change.

Here is a simple technique for measuring pulse, which can tell you a lot, a lot.