What is a normal pulse rate?

The pulse is equivalent to our heartbeat speed. When we see a Chinese doctor, we generally use the four methods of "looking, smelling, asking, and palpating". Among them, "palpating" refers to measuring the pulse. Generally speaking, the frequency and number of pulses can effectively determine the condition of your body and whether you are healthy or not. So what is the normal pulse rate? How should we feel the pulse in normal times?

In fact, the pulse frequency is affected by many factors. In addition to age, it is also affected by gender. In addition, if it is after exercise or if your emotions are too volatile, it is easy to cause your pulse to beat too fast. So what is a normal pulse rate?

What is a normal pulse rate?

Normal range

Pulse is the pulsation of the artery, and pulse frequency is the pulse rate. A normal person's pulse and heartbeat are consistent. The normal adult heart rate is 60 to 100 times per minute, usually 70-80 times per minute, and the average is about 72 times per minute. The rate is slower in the elderly, at 55 to 60 beats per minute. A normal person's pulse rate is regular, and the pulse intervals do not vary in length. A normal person's pulse is of equal strength and does not alternate between strong and weak.

The pulse rate is affected by age and gender, with infants beating 120-140 times per minute, toddlers beating 90-100 times per minute, and school-age children beating 80-90 times per minute.

In addition, exercise and emotional excitement can increase the pulse, while rest and sleep can slow down the pulse. An adult pulse rate of more than 100 beats per minute is called tachycardia; a pulse rate of less than 60 beats per minute is called bradycardia.

Clinically, there are many diseases, especially heart disease, which can cause changes in pulse. Therefore, measuring pulse is an indispensable examination item for patients. Traditional Chinese medicine uses pulse taking as the main method for diagnosing and treating diseases.

During the cardiac cycle, the blood vessels undergo periodic expansion and return of pulsation due to the alternation of ventricular contraction and relaxation. When the patient is critical, especially before death, the pulse frequency and rate will change significantly. Changes in pulse are also one of the bases for doctors to diagnose patients.

How to feel the pulse

Touching the arterial pulse has very important clinical significance; in fact, ordinary people can do it too. Generally, to feel the radial artery: place the index finger, middle finger and ring finger of one hand on the radial side of the palm at the base of the thumb of the other hand (there is a bone nodule next to the raised palm surface), and you can feel the arterial pulsation, which is the radial artery. You can also feel the pulse at the brachial artery: on the inner side of the biceps above the elbow, which is also where the stethoscope is placed when measuring blood pressure; others: the dorsalis pedis artery, femoral artery, etc.

Regarding what is a normal pulse rate, experts tell us that excluding factors such as disease and gender, generally speaking, a normal adult pulse rate is around 60 to 100 beats per minute, which is considered normal. For infants and young children, the pulse rate is relatively fast, and 90-140 beats per minute is normal. Therefore, if you find that your pulse is too fast or too slow, you should seek medical attention immediately.