The number of pulse waves per minute. The rate of a person's pulse and what high and low pulses mean. What should be the frequency of beats per minute of the pulse in a healthy adult at rest, while running, walking, in training: normal


The main function of the heart is to pump blood around the human body. There is a clear relationship between the size of the heart and the frequency of its contractions - the larger and more trained this organ, the more blood is pumped in one push. Based on this, we can conclude that as the human body grows older and grows, the heart rate decreases. These changes can be displayed as follows.

  1. In children under 1 month old, the pulsation rate averages 140 beats per minute, but even an indicator of 170 beats will not go beyond the norm.
  2. From 1 month to reaching one year - heart rate fluctuates in the aisles of 102 - 162 beats.
  3. From one year to 15 years - the pulse in children gradually decreases and should not cause alarm at rates not exceeding 100 beats.
  4. By about the age of 17, the indicators are set at a rate of 60 - 80 strokes and remain in these aisles until 50 - 60 years.
  5. In adulthood, the pulse again begins to gradually increase. This is due to the fact that the tone of all muscles and blood vessels decreases and much more energy is required to pump the required amount of blood.

It is important to remember here that all these age norms are acceptable only for healthy people in a state of complete rest.

Dependence of indicators on gender

Gender also plays a very important role in identifying the norm. As has been proven as a result of many observations and measurements, in adulthood it is somewhat different from the pulsation indicators in men. The pulse rate in women will be higher by about 8 beats per minute.

Physical and emotional stress

Another important point in determining the indicators will be the state in which the person is. All existing norms correspond only when a person is completely at rest, but any physical activity will cause an increase in the number of heartbeats per minute. If the increased heart rate does not cause discomfort and quickly passes after the cessation of exercise, then such fluctuations are also considered normal.


Particular attention here deserves people involved in professional sports, for example, running, skiing, swimming, etc. These athletes have a very trained heart, which is able to pump increased blood volumes in one contraction. Naturally, in a calm state, the heart needs to contract much less frequently, which means that the pulse will be somewhat lower than that of an ordinary person.

Any emotions - negative and positive - have a similar effect on the human body. With excitement, the heart rate also has the ability to increase and this can also be considered the norm.

Other Factors Affecting Heart Rate

Many other conditions will also affect the pulse rates - air temperature, body position (in the horizontal position, the heart rate is somewhat lower than in the vertical one), time of day (in the morning, the pulse rate is at the highest rates, and in the evening it decreases significantly).

Heart rate during exercise

Today, many people of different ages go in for sports with great pleasure, and it will be useful for them to know what heart rate is considered normal for various physical activities.

Naturally, with an increase in physical activity, an increase in the load on the heart will also occur, which will instantly be reflected in an increase in the frequency of heart beats. In untrained people, even the slightest load will have its consequences.

Pulse while walking

Walking is the type of activity that is inherent in almost every person, and many are interested in how many beats per minute the pulse should be. In this situation, it will directly depend on age, gender and intensity of the load, but the average for an adult is considered to be the norm from 100 to 120 strokes. With sports or very fast walking, a slight increase in indicators above the generally accepted indicators is acceptable.


Pulse while running

Running is one of the most intense activities for the heart and the results here can fluctuate quite a lot. For example, for weight loss, the pulse rate in a healthy person should be at the maximum allowable limits, but for training the heart muscle and blood vessels, it should not exceed 60%.

In order to effectively control cardiac activity, it is customary to use the following simple formula: 220 - the age of a person. Some sports health professionals recommend a more gender specific formula. For a woman, age is recommended to be multiplied by a factor of 0.8, and for men - by 0.9.

Pulse in training

Physical activity of any type increases the number of heartbeats by about 50 to 95%. You can calculate acceptable indicators using the same formula as heart rate when running - 220 - age. Here it is important to take into account:

  • Age.
  • Body fitness.
  • Height and weight.
  • The presence of diseases, etc.

Experts identify 4 training zones that are recommended for people with different physical fitness. Each of these zones will have their own heart rate increase limits.

  • Rehabilitation zone with low load. The heart rate should increase by no more than 50-60% of the maximum norm. This type of load is indicated for beginners, people with serious chronic diseases and athletes during the recovery period after injuries.
  • Moderate load zone. Here the heart rate can reach 70% of the maximum heart rate. This type of training involves an increased pace, which is no longer suitable for people with health problems.
  • The zone of increased load is aerobic. The pulse reaches 80% of the maximum allowable, and the training takes place at a very intense pace. This is the most suitable option for burning body fat while losing weight. Professional athletes often train in this mode as well.
  • anaerobic threshold. This zone is characterized by the work of the body at the maximum limit when the pulse rises to 90%. Such training is acceptable only for very trained people, otherwise it can be dangerous for the human body.

Heart rate during sleep

Significant differences from the heart rate in the normal state will have these standards for the period of human sleep. Here, the rate of heart beats per minute can decrease by almost one and a half times, and throughout the night the heart rate also varies somewhat. The rarest heartbeat is recorded at about 4 o'clock in the morning. It is at this time that the risk of developing heart attacks is highest. This is due to the fact that at this time the activity of the vagus nerve is activated, which has a depressing effect on the work of the heart. Decreased pulse occurs immediately after waking up and persists for a while.


High and low heart rate

Unfortunately, not all people have a normal heartbeat throughout their lives. Here, pathologies are divided into deviations towards high or.

Tachycardia

An increase in heart rate can occur not only as a result of increased physical exertion. This may be the result of various pathologies that require prompt medical intervention. In the event that an increase in heart rate occurs for no apparent reason and is accompanied by shortness of breath, headaches, pain in the heart, dizziness, or even periods of loss of consciousness, tachycardia is most often diagnosed. This pathology can accompany a number of serious diseases - vascular and heart pathologies, tumors, infectious diseases, hormonal disorders, etc.

Bradycardia

It is characterized by a decrease in the pulsation frequency slightly below 60 beats. This can occur as a result of functional causes and as a manifestation of various diseases.

Most often, this phenomenon occurs in highly trained athletes. The hearts of such people are able to pump a much larger volume of blood in one contraction, which means that at rest, the heart rate is noticeably reduced. This is not a pathology and allows the body to work in an economical mode.

Unfortunately, bradycardia can also be pathological. A decrease in heart rate may indicate the development of heart failure or other diseases.

From the foregoing, we can conclude that it is very important to know how many beats per minute the heart should beat based on each specific situation. This knowledge will help to notice deviations in time and get qualified medical advice.

The pulse rate is one of the main indicators by which it is possible to draw a conclusion about the level of health and fitness of the body without prior diagnosis. To find out for yourself whether you are at risk, you should look at the table of a person’s normal pulse by year and age.

At its core, the pulse represents slight fluctuations in the vascular walls, which are set in motion by the work of the heart (i.e., rhythmic contractions of the myocardial muscles).

Ideally, the intervals between pulsations are equal, and the average indicators at the moment of rest do not reach the upper limits. In the case when the heart rate (HR) is disturbed, this gives reason to think about problems in the body and the presence of a serious illness.

finger way

It is customary to measure the fluctuations of the heart muscle by the method of palpation according to the beats of the arteries. Basically, they use the beam, which is located on the inside of the wrist. It is at this place that the vessel is better palpable, as it is located as close as possible to the surface of the skin.

  • If no rhythm disturbances are detected, then the pulse is measured for half a minute, and the result is multiplied by 2.
  • If fluctuations or irregularity are observed, then the beats are counted for one minute.
  • To obtain the most accurate indicator, the pulse is measured on both hands at the same time.

In some cases, heartbeats are counted in places where other arteries are located. For example, on the chest, neck, thigh, upper arm. In young children, the pulse is measured mainly on the temporal part, since it is not always possible to feel the blows on the arm.

Hardware Methods

  • In addition to the finger method, you can also use special devices, for example, a heart rate monitor (chest, wrist) or an automatic tonometer. Although the latter device is more suitable for determining blood pressure.
  • If a person is suspected of any disturbances in the work of the heart, then the pulse is measured using special methods and medical equipment (ECG or daily (Holter) monitoring).
  • In particularly difficult cases, a treadmill test is used. A person's heart rate is measured using an electrocardiograph during exercise. This method helps to see hidden problems at the earliest stages of the disease, as well as to make a forecast about the state of the cardiovascular system in the future.

But even the most advanced methods will not be able to give an accurate result if the pulse is measured incorrectly.

So, you can not measure after the following actions:

  • a sharp change in body position (get up, lie down);
  • physical activity, as well as after sexual intercourse;
  • emotional tension, stress;
  • psychological experiences, including fear or anxiety;
  • taking medications, alcohol;
  • visiting saunas, baths, taking a bath;
  • hypothermia.

Table: normal human pulse by year and age

It is customary to distinguish the upper and lower limits of the pulse. If the heart rate exceeds the first indicator, this condition is called tachycardia. It may be short-term and not cause anxiety, as with intense physical activity or a feeling of fear. Prolonged tachycardia occurs when a person has disorders of the cardiovascular or endocrine systems.

If the pulse is below normal, this is also considered a deviation. This condition is called bradycardia. It can be caused by congenital heart problems, medications, reactions to infectious diseases, and even poor diet. Fortunately, all of these conditions are completely treatable or correctable.

To determine your own indicators of contraction of the heart muscle, you need to use the table below.

Person's age, yearsMinimum valueMaximum value
baby up to a month old110 170
from 1 month to 1 year100 160
1 – 2 95 155
3 – 5 85 125
6 – 8 75 120
9 – 11 73 110
12 – 15 70 105
before 1865 100
19 – 40 60 93
41 – 60 60 90
61 – 80 64 86
after 8069 93

What should be the heart rate of a healthy adult?

Heart rate depends on many factors and circumstances: age, level of physical activity, hormonal levels, air temperature around, body position, overwork, pain, etc.

At rest

Those numbers that are called the norm are the pulse in a relaxed, calm state. For adults who do not have serious diseases, this number is in the range from 60 to 85 beats / min. In exceptional situations, a deviation from the "golden mean" is allowed, which is also considered the norm. For example, athletes or highly trained people may have a heart rate of only 50, while young energetic women will have this figure as high as 90.

Heart rate during training

Since physical exercises have different degrees of intensity, it is necessary to calculate the normal pulse in an adult during training, taking into account individual characteristics and the type of load.

With little physical activity, the calculation of heart rate will look like this.

  1. The maximum heart rate is calculated using the formula 220 minus age (i.e. for a 32-year-old person, this figure is 220 - 32 \u003d 188).
  2. The minimum heart rate is half of the previous number (188/2=94)
  3. The average rate during exercise is 70% of the maximum heart rate (188 * 0.7 = 132).

With intense or high activity (running, cardio, outdoor group games), the calculation will be slightly different. The upper limit of the pulse is calculated in the same way, but the next two indicators are different.

  1. The lower limit is 70% of the maximum rate (132 beats per minute).
  2. The average heart rate should not exceed 85% of the upper limit (188*0.85=160).

If we summarize all the calculations, then the normal pulse of a healthy person during adequate physical activity should not go beyond 50-85% of the upper limit of heart rate.

When walking

The average heart rate at a normal pace of movement is 110-120 beats per minute for women, and in the region of 100-105 beats for men. This statement is true for people of the middle age category, that is, from 25 to 50 years old.

However, if the pace is quite mobile (more than 4 km per hour), walking is carried out with weight, on an uneven surface or in the ascent, then the heart rate will increase.

In any case, if during movement a person does not show signs of shortness of breath, dizziness, blurred consciousness, severe weakness, tinnitus and other unpleasant symptoms, then any pulse, even 140 beats, will be considered normal.

Normal heart rate during sleep

During the rest period, the heart rate of a person can decrease by 8 - 12% of the norm during wakefulness. For this reason, for men, the average heart rate is 60 - 70 beats, and for women - 65 - 75.

It also happens that the heartbeat, on the contrary, rises. This happens when the body is in active sleep. It is during this interval that a person can have dreams and nightmares.

By the way, an emotional experience in a dream can affect the heart. This increases not only the pulse, but also the pressure. If a person is abruptly awakened, then he is likely to feel discomfort. This condition resolves on its own within 1 to 5 minutes.

Normal heart rate during pregnancy

In expectant mothers, the pulse rises slightly. This is due to the fact that the vessels and heart of a pregnant woman distill blood not only for themselves, but also for the fetus. At the same time, the pressure of the baby on the surrounding tissues causes vasospasm, and this also leads to a large load on the heart muscle.

Do not discount the hormonal changes that are inherent in all women during this period. Therefore, the rate of heart rate during gestation is considered to be 100 - 115 beats per minute. Moreover, in late pregnancy, especially before childbirth, even severe tachycardia can be observed, which does not require treatment.

Most changes in heart rate (pulse too fast or too slow) are physiological - it responds to stress, physical effort, changes with age. In certain situations, this is an important signal that reports health problems. Therefore, it is necessary to know what a pulse is and how to measure it. Proper heart rate and pressure are critical to a person's life.

    Show all

    What is a pulse?

    Pulse, or heart rate, is the contraction and stretching of blood vessels, depending on the work of the heart. In this case, the heart rate (HR) is measured, equal to the number of beats per minute, the interval between them and symmetry (the heart rate on the left side of the body should be the same as on the right).

    Pulse and blood pressure are the most important parameters that reflect the condition of the heart. A higher frequency is observed after exercise or as a result of strong emotions, and a lower frequency occurs during rest and sleep. A constant accelerated rhythm is a sign of circulatory disorders, an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. This is an important symptom of diseases of other organs (lungs, thyroid gland) or a side effect after taking certain medications.

    The pulse depends on the contraction of the heart and the elasticity of the vessels. The physical form of a person influences the heart rate. People who exercise regularly tend to have lower heart rates.

    The slower the rhythm, the lower the risk of heart attack and stroke, but too low signals a health problem. A fast heart rate is associated with high blood pressure.

    How to measure heart rate

    Heart rate measurement can be done independently, it should be done after rest or in the morning after waking up. E motions and physical exercises will influence the result.

    To check the pulse, it is necessary to feel the carotid artery on the left hand with the index and middle fingers of the right hand. When you feel the rhythm, you need to turn on the stopwatch and count the beats for 15 seconds. Then the result is multiplied by 4. This will be the heart rate indicator.

    The pulse is determined on the wrists of a person.

    Heart rate can be determined using a blood pressure monitor (tonometer), most models have this function.

    Rapid pulse (98-102 beats per minute) - normal or pathological?

    Standard pulse

    The normal heart rate varies with age. The average heart rate is usually:

    1. 1. 110-150 beats per minute in the fetus and newborn.
    2. 2. 130 strokes in infants.
    3. 3. 100 beats per minute in children.
    4. 4. 85 strokes in adolescents and young adults.
    5. 5. 70 beats per minute in adults.
    6. 6. 55-60 strokes in the elderly.

    These are average figures. For adults, a very high heart rate level is used: 60 to 100.

    A pulse of 50-60 beats per minute in a physically active person aged 50 and older shows that the body is normal. Attention should be paid to the unusual behavior of the heart. If a young man, whose average heart rate is about 80 beats per minute, suddenly drops to 62-64 beats, feels worse, he should urgently visit a therapist. In case of fainting, call an ambulance.

    If several consecutive rhythm measurements show that the pulse is too slow or too fast, you should inform your doctor. If necessary, he will send for additional research.

    If the heart rate is above 90 beats per minute and is combined with other symptoms (palpitations, shortness of breath, anxiety, chronic fatigue), it is better to consult a specialist. The cause may be related to a cardiac, circulatory, or endocrine disease. At the time of excitement, tension and intense loads, it makes no sense to measure the pulse, its frequency can increase significantly, which is the norm.

    Individuals who exercise regularly have lower heart rates than those who avoid sports. The lowest heart rate (which was not a symptom of the disease) was observed in a cyclist - his result was only 20 beats per minute.

    What affects heart rate

    The ideal heart rate for an adult is 60-70 beats per minute at rest, that is, during normal daily activities. During menopause, women's heart rate is slightly higher than men's.

    The pulse depends on the time of day. During the first three hours after waking up, the heart rate increases, then falls, after dinner it rises again, and during sleep it reaches 40 beats per minute. Therefore, it is best to measure the pulse always at the same time.

    An important symptom is a violation of the heartbeat. If more than 100 beats per minute is observed, this is a sign of tachycardia. At the same time, shortness of breath and dizziness are present. To help yourself, open a window, let in fresh air, and take a few deep breaths. Then drink a glass of cold water. If the condition does not improve, call an ambulance.

    Many factors affect the number of heartbeats, so the cause of a fast heartbeat can vary. Pulse pressure increases due to stress, fever, alcohol, cigarettes, and dehydration. Tachycardia is associated with thyroid problems, heart disease, certain mineral deficiencies (potassium, calcium, or magnesium), and respiratory failure.

    Bradycardia is too low heart rate and is less than 60 beats per minute. If such a pulse does not cause suspicion in athletes, for other people it is a symptom of cardiac diseases, hypothyroidism, hypokalemia, or neurological conditions. Bradycardia indicates metabolic pathologies associated with increased intracranial pressure (brain tumor) and problems with the nervous system.

    During exercise, the heart rate increases, but should not be excessive. The maximum heart rate (HRmax) is the limit that should not be exceeded during intense exercise. It can be calculated using the following formula: HRmax (pulse factor) = 220 - age. The optimal frequency during exercise is 90-126 beats per minute. For a 40-year-old man during training, the maximum heart rate is 180 beats.

    Why does the heart beat unevenly

    There can be many reasons for heart rhythm disturbances - from natural (great physical effort, stress, fear) to diseases that need to be diagnosed and treated:

    • Hypertension. A condition in which blood pressure is higher than 139/89 mm Hg. Art. This is facilitated by overweight, alcohol abuse, strong coffee and tea, a large amount of salty foods. A healthy lifestyle and medicines (if necessary) normalize blood pressure and thereby reduce heart rate.
    • Diabetes. Fasting blood glucose should not exceed 100 mg/dl. It becomes thicker and circulates more slowly, it is more difficult for the heart to pump it. Even a small but persistent excess of sugar in the blood speeds up the rhythm by several beats per minute. Therefore, once a year you need to undergo examinations. And in the case of diabetes - be under the supervision of a doctor, observe doses, time of taking medications and diet.
    • Excess cholesterol. If it exceeds 190 mg / dl, then it settles on the walls of blood vessels, narrows them and interferes with blood circulation. In order to pump enough blood, the heart must overwork, causing the pulse to speed up. If atherosclerosis is not diagnosed, you need to follow a diet, replace animal fats with vegetable fats, reduce the amount of red meat, fatty dairy products and eggs in the diet, and eat more vegetables and fruits.
    • Sports. You can correct your heart rate with exercise. Every effort quickens the pulse. Regular exercise develops the heart muscle. The best forms of physical training that improve the condition and functioning of the circulatory system are aerobic training. This is a great way to develop breathing and heartbeat (biking or a brisk walk). At the same time, a sufficient amount of oxygen is supplied to the blood. A trained heart in a stressed state works slower and more economically.
    • Healthy food. Some foods and drinks (such as tea, energy drinks, yellow cheese) promote the production of hormones called adrenaline and norepinephrine. They increase blood pressure and speed up the heart rate.
    • Moderate alcohol consumption. Although alcohol has an anxiolytic effect and lowers the heart rate, its excess (especially during a hangover) contributes to a faster heartbeat.
    • To give up smoking. Each cigarette increases blood pressure by 10-15 mm Hg. Art. and accelerates the pulse by 8-10 beats per minute.

    An accelerated pulse can indicate various diseases. A high heart rate is indicative of hyperthyroidism, lung disease or bronchial disease (including asthma), as well as calcium, potassium, magnesium deficiency, anemia caused by heavy menstruation. In this case, it is worth contacting your doctor for research (including tests for morphology, electrolytes and thyroid hormones). Based on their results, you can establish a preliminary diagnosis and contact a narrow specialist - an endocrinologist or pulmonologist.

The pulse is the one sound that is often associated with life. It is he who is the first sound that a person hears while in the womb - the mother's heartbeat. In adult life, the sound of a measured heartbeat is a sign of health and well-being.

Proper functioning of the cardiovascular system guarantees a long life. Is everything normal in the operation of this complex mechanism and demonstrates a pulse. The norm for women by age will differ, since at different ages the human body has different needs for heart rate (HR).

The pulse is the echo of the contraction of the heart, it can be felt in the form of shocks in the large vessels of the human body, regardless of the age of the person, whether he is a few minutes from birth or 60 years old.

For the correct diagnosis of the heart rate, the correct measurement is important:

  1. In children, it is better to measure heart rate in the armpit, by palpation of the carotid arteries and at the temples.
  2. In adults, measurements are most often taken on the hands and in the hollow of the elbow.

When measuring the pulse, it is worth following a few rules and measuring in the most calm periods.

Table number 1. When it is worth and when it is not necessary to measure the pulse:

Important: for greater accuracy, measurements can be taken on each "half of the body", for example, on both arms or on both carotid arteries.

If a person does not suffer from arrhythmia, then it is enough to count for 30 seconds, and then multiply the result by a factor of 2. An even faster way is to measure for 15 seconds, and then multiply by 4. If there is an arrhythmia, the measurement will have to be done for a whole minute.

For measurement in our time, you can use not only the usual method - palpation of a large vessel, but also modern methods - wearable heart rate trackers, an apparatus for measuring blood pressure.

The photos and videos in this article will show how to correctly measure heart rate in a little girl and in an adult woman.

Normal heart rate in childhood

The heart rate in little girls is significantly different from what is the norm for women. The table will show how the heart rate changes with the growth of the child.

Table number 2. Normal heart rate values ​​in girls:

Throughout childhood, the rate of the heartbeat changes in accordance with the development of the body, it slows down due to the increase in the size of the heart, which can now drive a much larger amount of blood through itself in the same amount of time. It also affects the work of the heart by slowing down the rate of metabolic processes, which allows the heart to contract less frequently.

Pulse rate in adolescence

In adolescence, women's heart rate per minute is lower than that of girls, but still higher than that of an adult. The reason for the high pulse is hormonal changes due to puberty and the size of internal organs that have not yet reached adult size.

At the same time, in the age range from 10 to 11 years, in girls the heart can beat more often than in boys at that age. This is due to the fact that girls begin hormonal changes earlier than boys.

Table number 3. Pulse rate in adolescents:

Indicators in adult women

When a woman reaches adulthood, her heart rate will be faster than that of men by several beats - from 6 to 7 beats per minute. This is due to the fact that women, as a rule, are lower than men, and blood passes through the pulmonary circulation faster. If the height of a woman is above average, then there will be no such differences.

Table number 3. Normal values ​​in adults:

From the age of 30, as can be seen from the data in the table, the heart rate tends to gradually increase, this is due to age-related changes and the gradual deterioration of the cardiovascular system. So by the age of 54, the pulse will be a little more frequent than at 18.

Between the ages of 40 and 45, a woman enters menopause, when the amount of estrogen produced in the body decreases. Due to its decrease, the pulse during menopause in women increases, and can reach values ​​​​of more than 84 beats per minute. A woman in such a situation should contact a cardiologist and undergo an examination. If no cardiac pathology is detected, then in this age period such numbers should not cause concern.

Important: 50 years for women is not an easy time, when there is a huge number of all kinds of changes that should not be ignored, any change in well-being must be monitored by specialists.

Why is the heart rate higher

The pulse rate is a purely individual indicator, it will depend on the state of health, emotional state, and the conditions under which the measurement takes place. As tables with normal values ​​​​by age show, a woman’s pulse of 85 will never be the same as that of a girl at 25 years old. In some cases, the pulse may differ from the norm due to individual characteristics, while without the presence of any pathology.

Factors of a temporary increase in heart rate

The pulse may become more frequent for a short time under the influence of the following factors:

  • medications that have an increase in heart rate as side effects;
  • physical exercises;
  • emotionally active moments, they can be both negative and positive;
  • drinks that contain caffeine - coffee, tonic drinks and others;
  • hypothermia of the body;
  • overheating of the body - exposure to the open sun, bath or sauna, stuffy room;
  • overeating, including the abuse of food too fatty, sweet;
  • alcohol consumption.

Also, women have their own, female-specific causes of heart palpitations:

  • too heavy menstrual bleeding;
  • menopause;
  • pregnancy, especially in the presence of severe toxicosis.

It is worth knowing that these “female causes” should not provoke an increase in heart rate of more than 115 beats per minute. If this happens, then the woman should be examined by a gynecologist-endocrinologist and a cardiologist. You may need to perform some tests - a blood clinic and an analysis of female and thyroid hormones.

The reasons for the temporary increase in heart rate affect in such a way that there is an increase in the indicator than the value that the pulse is considered normal in women. The heart rate in such situations quickly returns to normal.

Important: in any situation, the pulse is normal, which should be no more than 220 beats in 60 seconds, exceeding the indicator requires close attention to yourself and seeking help if the pulse does not return to normal in the prescribed amount of time.

Causes of a pathological increase in heart rate

It happens that the normal pulse in women at rest increases due to the presence of pathological changes in the body.

Diseases and disorders that cause heart palpitations:

  1. Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too much of its own hormone. This pathology occurs in women 5.5 times more often than in men.
  2. Neurotic states, prolonged stress.
  3. Atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease.
  4. Heart defects, both congenital and acquired.
  5. Acute diseases - viral, bacterial infection, respiratory diseases, any inflammatory processes in the body that provoke an increase in body temperature.
  6. The state of anemia, when the content of hemoglobin, an oxygen carrier protein, is reduced in a person's blood.
  7. Blood loss is a particularly dangerous condition for internal bleeding, which is often difficult to quickly diagnose.

With age, by the age of 65, women can experience not only fluctuations in the pulse, but also instability in blood pressure. It, as well as the pulse, must be monitored in order to track the occurrence of pathological changes.

There are additional symptoms of palpitations, or tachycardia. Their knowledge will help to identify problems with the pulse, if the person himself does not feel its increase.

Signs of tachycardia:

  • shortness of breath - a feeling of lack of air;
  • a feeling of anxiety, a feeling that something terrible will happen now, often people at this moment are afraid of death;
  • dizziness;
  • pain in the region of the heart.

When exercising, the heart should beat faster, this is necessary to provide the working body with nutrients and the necessary amount of oxygen. But the rule - the pulse is not higher than 220, must be respected.

In order to track the critical excess of heart rate, it is recommended to use sports trackers to monitor the work of the heart.

Important: when playing sports, the tracker allows you to track not only too high, but also too low heart rate, in which some types of physical activity are not so effective.

Chest devices are considered the best sensors, those trackers that are worn on the wrists do not always demonstrate high accuracy.

Pregnancy

Expecting a baby is an important and worrying period.

In order not to miss the moment when the heart rate begins to drop significantly, or rise, you need to know what a normal pulse is. In a pregnant woman, such changes are very dangerous, because the cause of a decrease in heart rate can lead to a threat to life, both for the baby and for the expectant mother.

An increase in the heart rate of a pregnant woman to 75-90 beats at rest is considered a normal deviation from the norm. This indicator can be demonstrated already in the first trimester.

In subsequent trimesters, the amount of blood in a woman's body increases, and the pulse rate in pregnant women will also increase. However, you need to understand that with a pulse of 100 at rest in a pregnant woman, the expectant mother should consult a cardiologist. This is necessary to prevent excessive stress on the heart and to prevent the consequences of tachycardia - shortness of breath, panic attack, dizziness and loss of consciousness in a pregnant woman.

Important: a pregnant woman should not be embarrassed to seek help, if the slightest ailment occurs, you need to call for help from doctors, the price of delay in such situations is sometimes too high.

Why is the heart rate lower

A decrease in the speed of the heart is no less dangerous than its increase.

The pulse can decrease for various reasons:

  • physiological factors in which the slowdown of the heart is not a pathology - a state of rest, sleep.
  • pathological factors - diseases of the cardiovascular system, endocrine disorders.

With bradycardia, when the pulse drops to 40 beats per minute, there are also additional symptoms that allow the patient to identify the condition:

  • dizziness;
  • feeling tired;
  • malaise and feeling unwell;
  • labored breathing;
  • confusion;
  • pain in the chest and heart area.

If a pulse of 47 is diagnosed in women, what to do in this situation, the doctor decides, after the examination and appointment of the examination.

Is it necessary to treat, possible complications

Whether the deviation of heart rate from the norm of treatment is required - the doctor decides. It does not matter at what age the deviation of the pulse from the norm appears - at 15 years old, or at 50 years old.

The task of the patient in this situation is to seek help on time, because a long-term pathological change in the pulse can lead to the development of the following complications:

  1. With prolonged tachycardia, the cardiovascular system wears out many times faster. The human heart is designed for a certain load while maintaining the constancy of the norm, excessive load will harm the tissues of the organ, reducing its functionality.
  2. Bradycardia provokes insufficient blood supply. With a reduced pulse, the blood will not reach some important tissues, it will not be enough to supply oxygen and nutrients to the internal organs. With a strong violation, a convulsive state and respiratory arrest may occur.

Important: if a person who has been diagnosed with an abnormal pulse has lost consciousness, then you should immediately call an ambulance.

The pulse is an indicator of how the cardiovascular system is doing its job, whether it is stable enough and how it copes with various changes that occur in the human body. What should be the average heart rate for women is determined by age.

There is a big difference between normal rates in girls before adulthood, in women at 35 years old and at 80 years old in older women. When a person has an assumption that the heart rate is outside the normal range, then it is worth visiting a doctor, his instructions will tell you what to do next in order to prevent serious complications.

During the contraction of the heart, another portion of blood is pushed into the vascular system. Its blow to the wall of the artery creates vibrations, which, propagating through the vessels, gradually fade to the periphery. They got the name of the pulse.

What is the pulse like?

There are three types of veins and capillaries in the human body. The ejection of blood from the heart affects each of them in one way or another, causing their walls to oscillate. Of course, arteries, as the vessels closest to the heart, are more affected by cardiac output. The fluctuations of their walls are well defined by palpation, and in large vessels they are even visible to the naked eye. That is why the arterial pulse is most significant for diagnosis.

Capillaries are the smallest vessels in the human body, but even they reflect the work of the heart. Their walls fluctuate in time with heartbeats, but normally this can only be determined with the help of special devices. A capillary pulse visible to the naked eye is a sign of pathology.

The veins are so far from the heart that their walls do not oscillate. The so-called venous pulse is a transmission vibration from closely spaced large arteries.

Why determine the pulse?

What is the significance of the fluctuations of the vascular walls for diagnosis? Why is it so important?

The pulse allows you to judge hemodynamics, how effectively it is reduced about the fullness of the vascular bed, about the rhythm of heart beats.

In many pathological processes, the pulse changes, the characteristic of the pulse ceases to correspond to the norm. This allows you to suspect that not everything is in order in the cardiovascular system.

What parameters determine the pulse? Pulse characteristic

  1. Rhythm. Normally, the heart contracts at regular intervals, which means that the pulse should be rhythmic.
  2. Frequency. Normally, there are as many pulse waves as there are heart beats per minute.
  3. Voltage. This indicator depends on the value of systolic blood pressure. The higher it is, the more difficult it is to squeeze the artery with your fingers, i.e. pulse pressure is high.
  4. Filling. Depends on the volume of blood ejected by the heart in systole.
  5. Value. This concept combines content and tension.
  6. The shape is another parameter that determines the pulse. The characteristic of the pulse in this case depends on the change in blood pressure in the vessels during systole (contraction) and diastole (relaxation) of the heart.

Rhythm disturbances

With violations of the generation or conduction of an impulse through the heart muscle, the rhythm of heart contractions changes, and with it the pulse also changes. Separate fluctuations of the vascular walls begin to fall out, or appear prematurely, or follow each other at irregular intervals.

What are rhythm disturbances?

Arrhythmias with a change in the work of the sinus node (a section of the myocardium that generates impulses leading to a contraction of the heart muscle):

  1. Sinus tachycardia - an increase in the frequency of contractions.
  2. Sinus bradycardia - a decrease in the frequency of contractions.
  3. Sinus arrhythmia - contractions of the heart at irregular intervals.

Ectopic arrhythmias. Their occurrence becomes possible when a focus appears in the myocardium with an activity higher than that of the sinus node. In such a situation, the new pacemaker will suppress the activity of the latter and impose its rhythm of contractions on the heart.

  1. Extrasystole - occurrence of sudden cardiac contractions. Depending on the localization of the ectopic focus of excitation, extrasystoles are atrial, atrioventricular and ventricular.
  2. Paroxysmal tachycardia - a sudden increase in rhythm (up to 180-240 heart beats per minute). Like extrasystoles, it can be atrial, atrioventricular and ventricular.

Violation of impulse conduction in the myocardium (blockade). Depending on the location of the problem that prevents normal progression from the sinus node, blockades are divided into groups:

  1. (the impulse does not go beyond the sinus node).
  2. (the impulse does not pass from the atria to the ventricles). With complete atrioventricular blockade (III degree), a situation becomes possible when there are two pacemakers (the sinus node and the focus of excitation in the ventricles of the heart).
  3. Intraventricular block.

Separately, one should dwell on the flicker and flutter of the atria and ventricles. These states are also called absolute arrhythmia. The sinus node in this case ceases to be a pacemaker, and multiple ectopic foci of excitation are formed in the myocardium of the atria or ventricles, setting the heart rhythm with a huge contraction rate. Naturally, under such conditions, the heart muscle is not able to adequately contract. Therefore, this pathology (especially from the side of the ventricles) is a threat to life.

Heart rate

The pulse at rest in an adult is 60-80 beats per minute. Of course, this figure changes throughout life. The pulse varies significantly with age.

There may be a discrepancy between the number of heart contractions and the number of pulse waves. This happens if a small volume of blood is ejected into the vascular bed (heart failure, a decrease in the amount of circulating blood). In this case, oscillations of the vessel walls may not occur.

Thus, the pulse of a person (the norm for age is indicated above) is not always determined on the peripheral arteries. This, however, does not mean that the heart also does not contract. Perhaps the reason is a decrease in the ejection fraction.

Voltage

Depending on the changes in this indicator, the pulse also changes. The characteristic of the pulse according to its voltage provides for the division into the following varieties:

  1. Solid pulse. Due to high blood pressure (BP), primarily systolic. It is very difficult to pinch the artery with your fingers in this case. The appearance of this type of pulse indicates the need for urgent correction of blood pressure with antihypertensive drugs.
  2. Soft pulse. The artery compresses easily, and this is not very good, because this type of pulse indicates too low blood pressure. It can be due to various reasons: a decrease in vascular tone, inefficiency of heart contractions.

Filling

Depending on the changes in this indicator, the following types of pulse are distinguished:

  1. means that the blood supply to the arteries is sufficient.
  2. Empty. Such a pulse occurs with a small volume of blood ejected by the heart in systole. The causes of this condition can be a pathology of the heart (heart failure, arrhythmias with too high a heart rate) or a decrease in the volume of blood in the body (blood loss, dehydration).

Pulse value

This indicator combines the filling and tension of the pulse. It depends primarily on the expansion of the artery during the contraction of the heart and its subsidence during the relaxation of the myocardium. The following types of pulse are distinguished by magnitude:

  1. Big (high). It occurs in a situation where there is an increase in the ejection fraction, and the tone of the arterial wall is reduced. At the same time, the pressure in systole and diastole is different (for one cycle of the heart, it increases sharply, and then decreases significantly). The causes leading to the occurrence of a large pulse may be aortic insufficiency, thyrotoxicosis, fever.
  2. Small pulse. Little blood is ejected into the vascular bed, the tone of the arterial walls is high, pressure fluctuations in systole and diastole are minimal. Causes of this condition: aortic stenosis, heart failure, blood loss, shock. In especially severe cases, the value of the pulse may become insignificant (such a pulse is called thready).
  3. Even pulse. This is how the value of the pulse is normal.

Pulse shape

According to this parameter, the pulse is divided into two main categories:

  1. fast. In this case, during systole, the pressure in the aorta rises significantly, and quickly drops in diastole. A fast pulse is a characteristic sign of aortic insufficiency.
  2. Slow. The opposite situation, in which there is no place for significant pressure drops in systole and diastole. Such a pulse usually indicates the presence of aortic stenosis.

How to properly examine the pulse?

Probably everyone knows what needs to be done to determine what kind of pulse a person has. However, even such a simple manipulation has features that you need to know.

The pulse is examined on the peripheral (radial) and main (carotid) arteries. It is important to know that with a weak cardiac output in the periphery, pulse waves may not be detected.

Consider how to palpate the pulse on the arm. The radial artery is accessible for examination at the wrist just below the base of the thumb. When determining the pulse, both arteries (left and right) are palpated, because. situations are possible when pulse fluctuations are not the same on both hands. This may be due to compression of the vessel from the outside (for example, by a tumor) or blockage of its lumen (thrombus, atherosclerotic plaque). After comparison, the pulse is evaluated on the arm where it is better palpated. It is important that when examining pulse fluctuations, not one finger, but several, is on the artery (it is most effective to clasp the wrist so that 4 fingers, except for the thumb, are on the radial artery).

How is the pulse on the carotid artery determined? If the pulse waves are too weak on the periphery, you can examine the pulse on the main vessels. The easiest way is to try to find it on the carotid artery. To do this, two fingers (index and middle) must be placed on the area where the indicated artery is projected (at the front edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle above the Adam's apple). It is important to remember that it is impossible to examine the pulse from both sides at once. Pressing two carotid arteries can cause circulatory disorders in the brain.

The pulse at rest and with normal hemodynamic parameters is easily determined both on peripheral and central vessels.

A few words in conclusion

(the norm by age must be taken into account in the study) allows us to draw conclusions about the state of hemodynamics. Certain changes in the parameters of pulse fluctuations are often characteristic signs of certain pathological conditions. That is why the study of the pulse is of great diagnostic value.