What is Pulse? What Should the Ideal Pulse Rate Be?

Measuring the pulse shows how fast the heart is beating. A normal pulse beats at a regular rhythm, and its normal values can vary depending on certain factors. If the heart beats too slowly or too quickly, it may be a sign of a heart condition. Pulse measurement provides important results for detecting such problems. The pulse can be measured, particularly at the wrist.

What is Pulse?

Pulse is the number of heartbeats per minute. The human body automatically regulates the heart rate to adapt to a person's activity level or emotional state. Therefore, the pulse increases when active, excited, or scared, and slows down when resting, calm, or relaxed. A high or low pulse may indicate an underlying health condition. Engaging in about 30 minutes of exercise daily, maintaining a healthy diet, keeping a healthy weight, and reducing alcohol, caffeine, and smoking can help maintain a normal pulse rate. When the heart's rhythm is disrupted, this condition is called arrhythmia. Blocked or hardened arteries, high blood pressure, and heart valve problems can cause arrhythmias. Heart surgeries may also play a role in pulse changes. There are four types of arrhythmia:

• Tachycardia: Refers to a high pulse rate, where the heart beats more than 100 times per minute.
• Bradycardia: Refers to a low pulse rate, where the heart beats less than 60 times per minute in non-athletic individuals.
• Supraventricular Arrhythmia: A disorder originating in the upper chambers of the heart.
• Ventricular Arrhythmia: A disorder originating in the lower chambers of the heart.

What Should the Ideal Pulse Rate Be?

The best time to measure your resting pulse is after waking up, before getting out of bed, ideally after a good night's sleep. A very fast or very slow pulse may indicate heart or other health problems. A normal resting pulse should be between 60 and 100 beats per minute, but it can vary from minute to minute. Age and overall health also affect the pulse rate. During physical activity, the pulse naturally increases. The pulse rate during activity can provide information about heart health. For physically active people, pulse values within different ranges may still be considered normal. Therefore, it is important to remember that the ideal pulse rate can vary from person to person. Target heart rate is a percentage of the maximum heart rate your heart can achieve based on age. Factors that can influence heart rate include:

• Weather
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Sudden movements
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Exercise
• Obesity
• Thyroid medications
• Age

How to Measure Pulse?

The best places to measure pulse are the wrists, the top of the foot, and the inner elbow. The easiest spot to find the pulse is the wrist. To measure the pulse, position your hand with the palm facing upward. Place the middle three fingers of your other hand on the most prominent point of your wrist. Gently press to feel the pulse. To get the most accurate reading, count the number of beats in 60 seconds. Resting heart rate is the heart's rate of pumping the least amount of blood required when no exercise is being performed. When sitting or lying down, the heart rate is typically between 60 (beats per minute) and 100 (beats per minute). In irregular pulse cases, the pulse may feel too slow or too fast even while resting. A low or high pulse should be checked by a doctor, as it may indicate underlying diseases. A doctor will investigate the cause of an irregular pulse using tests such as electrocardiography and begin treatment if a disease is diagnosed.

A heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute while at rest is considered a low pulse, also known as bradycardia. Bradycardia can result from damage to the heart muscle. However, this can be normal for some athletes.

Causes and Symptoms of High Pulse Rate

If the heart rate exceeds 100 beats per minute during rest, this is considered a high pulse. Tachycardia, also known as rapid heart rate, can be associated with many different health conditions. It is normal for the pulse to increase during exercise or when the body is fighting an infection. Factors such as stress, caffeine consumption, and alcohol can also cause the heart rate to rise. However, if there is a sudden increase in heart rate along with dizziness, fainting, or palpitations, medical attention should be sought. Rapid heartbeats originating in the lower chambers of the heart are known as ventricular tachycardia. The heart rate can significantly increase when the body goes into shock, either due to internal or external factors. Symptoms of high pulse include:

• Chest pain
• Confusion
• Low blood pressure
• Dizziness
• Palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Sudden weakness
• Fainting
• Loss of consciousness

Low Heart Rate Causes and Symptoms

For some people, a low heart rate may be normal. However, infections, thyroid issues, imbalances in blood values, sleep apnea, or inflammatory diseases can lead to abnormal drops in heart rate. The symptoms of a low heart rate may include:

• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Fainting
• Confusion

How Should Heart Rate Vary by Age?

Age and activity level are factors that can affect heart rate. Depending on these factors, a person's heart rate may fluctuate and some values are considered normal. Generally, the more active a person is, the lower their heart rate can be. A healthy heart does not have to work too hard to circulate blood. These values are determined as minimum and maximum ranges for each age group. The heart rate by age is as follows:

• Age 20: 100-170 bpm
• Age 30: 95-162 bpm
• Age 35: 93-157 bpm
• Age 40: 90-153 bpm
• Age 45: 88-149 bpm
• Age 50: 85-145 bpm
• Age 55: 83-140 bpm
• Age 60: 80-136 bpm
• Age 65: 78-132 bpm
• Age 70: 75-128 bpm

How to Return Heart Rate to Normal?

The process of returning the heart rate to normal depends on whether the heart rate is speeding up or slowing down, and the cause. If the increase in heart rate is due to excitement, resting and calming down may return the heart rate to normal. However, if the heart rate change is caused by a serious illness, treatment may be necessary. Treatment for a high heart rate depends on the underlying cause. If fever is causing the elevated heart rate, fever-reducing medications can help bring the heart rate back to normal. If the fever is due to a bacterial infection, antibiotics may also be required. Some patients respond only to a procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates abnormal heart tissue causing the elevated heart rate. However, in most cases, high heart rate will resolve on its own.

If a low heart rate is found and is linked to a serious illness, it is a condition that requires treatment. A pacemaker, which is a device implanted under the skin to help correct low heart rates, may be needed. If another medical issue, such as hypothyroidism or salt imbalance, is causing the low heart rate, treating the underlying cause usually resolves the issue. If medication is the cause of the low heart rate, the doctor may reduce the dosage or switch to another medication.

If an individual has a high or low heart rate even while at rest, they should seek medical attention. Through examinations, the doctor can identify any diseases causing the heart rate change or determine if the heart rate is within a normal range.