PULSE

In medicine, one’s pulse represents the tactile arterial palpation of the heartbeat by trained fingertips. The pulse may be palpated in any place that allows an artery to be compressed against a bone, such as at the neck (carotid artery), on the inside of the elbow (brachial artery), at the wrist (radial artery), at the groin (femoral artery), behind the knee (popliteal artery), near the ankle joint (posterior tibial artery), and on foot (dorsalis pedis artery). Pulse (or the count of arterial pulse per minute) is equivalent to measuring the heart rate. The heart rate can also be measured by listening to the heart beat directly (auscultation), traditionally using a stethoscope and counting it for a minute. The study of the pulse is known as sphygmology.

AGE	RATE
Newborn (0 – 3 months old)	100 – 150
Infants (3 – 6 months)	90 – 120
Infants (6 – 12 months)	80 – 120
Children (1 – 10 years)	70 – 130
Children (>10 years)	60 – 100
Adults	60 – 100
Well-Trained Adult Athletes	40 – 60

The heart of a healthy adult beats within the range of 60-100 times per minute at rest. This rate is controlled by electrical signals within the heart. An abnormally high pulse rate above 100 beats per minute is also called tachycardia, and it occurs when the heart tissues produce electrical signals rapidly, affecting the upper or lower chamber of the heart, or both.

Tachycardia, or rapid heart rate, may produce either a regular or an irregular rhythm in the heart. At extremely rapid rates, the heart may not be able to pump oxygen-rich blood efficiently to the rest of the body, and may cause symptoms as well as complications.

FAST PULSE

A fast heart rate may be caused by:

Activity or exercise.
Anemia.
Some medicines, such as decongestants and those used to treat asthma.
Fever.
Some types of heart disease.
An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).
Stimulants such as caffeine, amphetamines, diet pills, and cigarettes.
Drinking alcohol.
Stress.

SLOW PULSE

A slow resting heart rate may be caused by:

Some types of heart disease and medicine to treat heart disease.
High levels of fitness.
An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).

WEAK PULSE

A weak pulse may be caused by:

A blood clot in your arm or leg.
Diseases of the blood vessels (peripheral arterial disease).
Heart disease and heart failure.

Symptoms and Complications of High Pulse Rate

Rapid heart rates reduce the ability of the heart to pump out blood efficiently to the vital organs like the brain. This deprives the organs of oxygen-rich blood, which can cause the following symptoms: dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting spells, palpitations, chest pains, and shortness of breath. Some people, however, do not experience symptoms, especially when tachycardia is temporary or short-lived. In those with underlying medical conditions, tachycardia may be detected during a physical examination or after doing a test called electrocardiogram.
Having chronically rapid pulses may result in complications that depend on the severity of the existing condition and the duration of the tachycardia. These complications may include formation of blood clots leading to stroke or heart attack, heart failure, frequent fainting spells or worst of all, sudden death.
Risk Factors of High Pulse Rate
Some stimuli or underlying conditions increase one’s risk of having high pulse rates, and these are factors that usually put a strain on the heart. These include the heavy use of tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, or recreational drugs, stress and anxiety, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Other inherent factors that could increase the risk of rapid pulse rates include aging and family history of tachycardia.

PULSE

FAST PULSE

SLOW PULSE

WEAK PULSE

Symptoms and Complications of High Pulse Rate

Our Laboratories

Opening Hours