Pulse Measurement: Results

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Results

Your pulse is the rate at which your heart beats. Your pulse is usually called your heart rate, which is the number of times your heart beats each minute (bpm).

Normal resting heart rate

The chart below shows the normal range of a resting heart rate (pulse rate after resting 10 minutes) in beats per minute, according to age. Many things can cause changes in your normal heart rate, including your age, activity level, and the time of day.

Your pulse usually has a strong steady or regular rhythm. Your blood vessel should feel soft. An occasional pause or extra beat is normal. Normally, your heart rate will speed up a little when you breathe deeply. You can check this normal change in your pulse rate by changing your breathing pattern while taking your pulse.

Many conditions can change your pulse rate. Your doctor will talk with you about any abnormal results that may be related to your symptoms and medical history.

Fast pulse

A fast heart rate may be caused by:

• Activity or exercise.
• Anemia.
• Decongestants.
• Fever.
• Heart disease.
• An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).
• Medicine used to treat asthma.
• Stimulants such as caffeine, amphetamines, diet pills, and cigarettes.
• Drinking alcohol.
• Stress.

Slow pulse

A slow resting heart rate may be caused by:

• Heart disease.
• Heart medicine.
• 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.

Heart rate during exercise

Many people use a target heart rate to guide how hard they exercise. Use this Interactive Tool: What Is Your Target Heart Rate? This tool calculates your target heart rate using your maximum heart rate (based on your age), your resting heart rate, and how active you are.

During exercise, your heart should be working hard enough for a healthy effect but not so hard that your heart is overworked. You benefit the most when your exercise heart rate is within the range of your target heart rate. You can take your pulse rate during or after exercise to see if you are exercising at your target heart rate.

Or you can wear a heart rate monitor during exercise so you do not have to take your pulse. A heart rate monitor shows your pulse rate continuously, so you see how exercise changes your heart rate.

To check your heart rate while exercising:

1. After exercising for about 10 minutes, stop and take your pulse.
   • Measure your heart rate by placing two fingers gently against your wrist (don't use your thumb). If it is hard to feel the pulse in your wrist, find the artery in your neck that is just to either side of the windpipe. Press gently.
   • Count the beats for 15 seconds. Multiply the number of beats by 4. This is your beats per minute.
2. Make changes in how hard you exercise so that your heart rate stays within the range of your target heart rate.

Target heart rate is only a guide. Everyone is different, so pay attention to how you feel, how hard you are breathing, how fast your heart is beating, and how much you feel the exertion in your muscles.

Last updated:	April 17, 2008
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Brian D. O'Brien, MD - Internal Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer