Can you tell the difference between pulse and heart rate? 99% of people get it mixed up!

Heart rate and pulse are two concepts that are easily confused. And in most cases, there is no observable difference between the two in the data. So what is the difference between the two?

1. What are heart rate and pulse?

Heart rate is a statistic of the number of heart contraction and relaxation activities, and pulse is a statistic of the number of times blood impacts peripheral blood vessels when the heart contracts. Generally, the two are consistent. Each time the heart contracts, a pulse is produced.

The most important difference between the two is that heartbeat is the palpable beating of the heart; pulse is the palpable rush of blood on the skin.

2. What is the normal range?

Under normal circumstances, heart rate and pulse are the same. Guidance: The normal range of heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute. Abnormal heart rhythm is mainly caused by heart disease. An electrocardiogram is recommended.

3. What are the reasons that may lead to the difference between the two data? The pulse can be lower than the heart rate, but it must not exceed the heart rate.

❶The heart cannot complete effective contraction

Partial contraction of atrial fibrillation and frequent premature contractions is insufficient to cause peripheral arterial pulsation due to incomplete ventricular filling, low cardiac output, and low pressure change (in other words, the heart does not beat strongly enough to cause changes in the arteries to form a pulse). At this time, the pulse rate is lower than the heart rate.

❷ Arteries cannot deform normally

Arteritis causes arterial occlusion, which prevents heart beats from being transmitted normally and results in pulselessness.

Atherosclerosis, reduced vascular elasticity, weak pulse, and pulse omission. (ie blood vessels cannot reflect heartbeat)

Summarize

To sum up, the pulse is formed when the heart effectively pumps blood and the blood exerts pressure on the blood vessels. Normally the pulse is equal to the heart rate. The heart contracts once, producing one effective circulation and one pulse. However, under some pathological conditions (the heart cannot contract effectively and the arteries cannot deform normally), the pulse rate may be lower than the heart rate. But the pulse rate will not be greater than the heart rate.