How to measure your and your child’s pulse at home? Correct ways to measure pulse Where to measure pulse on your hand

Pulse is the beats the heart makes per minute.

We cannot look directly at the heart unless we perform an operation. Therefore, when measuring the pulse, we use the contraction of the walls of the arteries: they also fluctuate when the heart pushes blood into them.

To check your pulse rate, place the pads of your fingers where the artery passes and press down to feel the shock. Count the beats for one minute. This will be the pulse.

Places where arteries pass close to the skin:

But in most cases, it is most convenient to feel the pulse on the wrist and neck: almost everyone can feel the beat there, and not just doctors who are accustomed to palpating patients. In children, the pulse on the femoral artery is well determined; in newborns, the pulsation of the large fontanel can be monitored.

You need to be careful with your neck. If you press the artery too hard, you may feel dizzy, so it is better to measure the pulse on your neck while sitting or lying down and not overdo it.

What should a normal heart rate be?

The pulse is still not a constant value, so it is impossible to name the exact number of beats that corresponds to the norm. You can only specify a range. The table below shows broad values, from minimum to maximum allowable.

What does it mean if the pulse is outside the normal range?

The pulse is affected by both the state of the body and the environment. Your heart beats faster in hot weather, after exercise, during times of stress, or when you are standing. Diseases and certain medications affect the pulse: they can either slow it down or speed it up.

If you periodically feel that your heart rate has become faster or slower for no apparent reason, or if you experience dizziness or a feeling of weakness, you need to consult a doctor. Perhaps these are symptoms of the disease.

How to correctly and accurately measure your pulse at home without instruments. Errors when measuring heart rate. Heart rate norms for children and adults. heart rate chart. Published on the web portal

The correct place to measure your pulse.

The most convenient point for determining the pulse in extreme situations is on the main cervical artery - the carotid artery. It is easy to find if you run your fingers from the back corner of the lower jaw down the neck until they fall into the depression next to the windpipe, where the pulsation of the carotid artery can be clearly felt.

However, the pulse is more accurately determined on the radial artery at the base of the thumb.

To do this, place the index, middle and ring fingers slightly above the radiocarpal joint, feel the artery and press it to the bone.

Since the pulse in both hands may not be the same, it is first recommended to examine the pulse simultaneously in both hands (of course, this is impossible to do on your own) and, if there is no difference, further research is carried out on one hand. In this case, the hand should be positioned at heart level.

Determining the exact heart rate.

To determine it, count the number of beats in 15 seconds and multiply the result by four. If the rhythm is incorrect, the number of beats (frequency) of the pulse must be counted within a minute. It should also be borne in mind that at the beginning of the study the pulse is usually faster, and then, as the person being examined calms down, the pulse rate gradually slows down and settles at a constant level.

In healthy people, it always corresponds to heart rate and is at rest:

In men, 60-80 beats per minute.
For women - 5-10 beats more.

Under the influence of various factors, the pulse rate can fluctuate within a fairly wide range. So, in a healthy adult:

The lowest heart rate is observed in the supine position.
In a sitting position, the pulse increases by 4-6 beats.
In a standing position - another 10-14 beats.

Its frequency also changes throughout the day:

From 8 to 12 o'clock it is maximum.
Until 14:00, the pulse gradually decreases.
From 15:00 it becomes somewhat more frequent again, reaching its greatest value.
By 18-20 hours, and in the middle of the night, when a person is sleeping, the pulse is slowest.

It should also be taken into account that in healthy elderly people, due to age-related characteristics of blood circulation, the pulse, as a rule, is somewhat slow and has insignificant tension.

Pulse rate fluctuations.

The pulse also increases during strong emotional experiences (fright, anger, fear, shame, etc.), as well as under some pathological conditions. For example, an increase in body temperature by one degree in most cases is accompanied by an increase in heart rate: in adults - by 8-10 beats/min, in children - by 15-20 beats/min.

The pulse increases noticeably after drinking hot liquids and food, but cold drinks, on the contrary, slow it down. It is also noticed that the higher a person’s height, the lower the pulse rate. In winter, the pulse is usually slightly lower than in summer. Fluctuations in heart rate are also associated with physical activity: the more intense the muscle work, the faster the pulse. It is important to know the maximum allowable heart rate during exercise.

The maximum permissible heart rate value during exercise.

To determine it, you must subtract your age from 220. For example, if you are 50 years old and healthy, then the maximum allowable heart rate is 170 beats/min (220-50). The optimal heart rate for you during physical activity is calculated as follows: 170 × 0.7 = 119 beats/min. (If you are over sixty and in poor physical shape, then the maximum permissible heart rate value should be multiplied by 0.6.) You must adhere to the optimal value for any physical activity.

Multiplying 170 by 0.5, we get the minimum acceptable heart rate for your age. In our example it is 85 beats/min.

Tachycardia and bradycardia.

An increase in heart rate at rest to 90 beats/min or higher is called tachycardia. It can be caused by an inflammatory process, increased thyroid function, anemia (anemia) and a number of other pathologies. If the pulse rate is less than 60 beats/min, then this is bradycardia. The cause of its occurrence may be a decrease in thyroid function, certain heart diseases, etc.

Rhythmic pulse (correct) and arrhythmic.

When studying the pulse, you can determine the rhythm, heart rate (HR), their strength, the degree of elasticity of blood vessels and other important diagnostic indicators. So, if the pulse beats follow at equal intervals of time, then the pulse is considered rhythmic (correct); otherwise, it is considered arrhythmic (irregular). Such an irregular pulse is observed in atrial fibrillation, when pulse waves arise and follow each other without any order. In healthy people, the pulse is rhythmic, although some may experience so-called respiratory arrhythmia (a slight increase in heart rate when inhaling and a decrease in exhalation).

Dicrotic (two-humped) pulse.

Sometimes the so-called dicrotic (two-humped) pulse is observed, when each pulse beat is perceived as a forked one, as well as an alternating pulse, in which strong pulse beats alternate with weak ones. Pulse alternation is a poor prognostic sign, indicating extreme depletion of the heart muscle.

You can make your pulse slower with the help of regular physical training and exercise, which is a beneficial factor for health, since the heart in this case works more economically: the stroke volume of the blood increases, and cardiac pauses increase.

The heart is the only organ of the human body that never rests. The heart muscle contracts constantly, and the frequency of these contractions depends on age, gender, general condition of the body... An abnormal pulse (weak, accelerated, or irregular) may indicate the presence of various diseases. No, we are not talking about increased heart rate after physical activity or stress - this is just normal. At certain moments in life, when our body requires additional resources, the heart increases its rhythm to stimulate the functioning of the brain, nervous and endocrine systems. However, if at rest your “motor” behaves suspiciously, this is a reason to consult a doctor. But first, let's try to determine the danger factor ourselves by measuring our pulse.

How to correctly measure the pulse on your hand? It is best to do this in the morning or at lunchtime, on an empty stomach. Before self-examination, refrain from alcohol, tea, coffee, baths and sexual intercourse. Examine your left wrist: a vein is usually clearly visible on it - a thin blue stripe under the skin. Touch it with the fingertips of your right hand. Press down a little. Can you hear your pulse? If yes, Time a minute on the stopwatch and start counting. If the beats are faintly felt, place three fingers on the neck just below the ear - the carotid artery passes there, and the pulse in this area is heard better.

What is a person's normal heart rate?

The normal heart rate for women is 70-80 beats per minute, for men - 60-80. In children, the heart beats faster than in adults: 70-120 beats per minute is considered normal. In athletes accustomed to significant and prolonged physical activity (for example, marathon runners or cyclists), the heart muscle is usually enlarged and therefore contracts more slowly, 40-60 times per minute. This is not a pathology; on the contrary, in one beat it distils a larger portion of blood than the heart of a person leading a sedentary lifestyle. Also in this case, it wears out less and remains young longer.

Increased heart rate: who is to blame and what to do?

A rapid pulse (tachycardia) can be a symptom of a whole list of nervous disorders and disorders of the cardiovascular system. It is especially unpleasant when this phenomenon is accompanied - then it is definitely worth visiting a cardiologist, and in the near future. If no abnormalities are detected, the doctor will simply advise you to avoid stress and excessive exercise, prescribe strengthening drugs of potassium and magnesium, advise you to refrain from taking stimulants, which include alcohol, caffeine, some medications... But if it turns out that tachycardia is the “first warning sign of more serious disorders, you will have to take a closer look at your health, including reconsidering your attitude towards life. Heart disease in most cases is the result of stress and all kinds of abuse. By tidying up your nervous system, optimizing your diet, and giving yourself enough rest, you can help your heart return to its proper rhythm.

Let's listen to your pulse again by placing your fingers on your left wrist. Which finger knocks the hardest?

If under the index finger, this may indicate intestinal problems.
Under average, the spleen or gallbladder is acting up.
Under the nameless one, there may be disturbances in the functioning of the kidneys or genitourinary system.

Now let's listen to the right hand with our left hand.

The pulse is best distinguished under the index finger - the cardiovascular system suffers.
Under average – malfunctions of the liver.
An increased pulse under the ring finger on the right hand, as well as on the left, indicates kidney or genitourinary disorders.

So-called pulse diagnosis, widely practiced in Eastern countries, allows you to monitor the functioning of the vital organs of the human body. How accurate a diagnosis can be obtained this way? The therapist will make an accurate diagnosis - and the purpose of any self-examination is only to determine the presence of a problem at the earliest stages and take timely measures to eliminate it.

Is a slow heart rate good?

When the heart beats slower than normal without any obvious reason, it means... there are reasons after all. Bradycardia is a disease characterized by a heart rate of 30-50 beats per minute, which can be a consequence of chemical poisoning, freezing, increased intracranial pressure, decreased thyroid function, and exhaustion of the body due to prolonged malnutrition. With a slow pulse, a person feels symptoms of oxygen starvation - weakness, lethargy, dizziness. If fainting occurs, there is a risk of cardiac arrest. Bradycardia is also a reason to visit a doctor: an abnormally slow pulse is even more dangerous than an accelerated one!

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Information about heart rate is important for any person, regardless of his state of health and age. The pulse is an indicator of the work of the heart muscle and the body as a whole, since it can be used to draw a conclusion about the full saturation of organs with oxygen.

During physical activity, in a stressful situation, or when taking medications, heart rate data can help you make the right decision when providing assistance, whether or not to take medications. For those who want to get rid of excess weight, they also need the ability to correctly measure their pulse, since metabolic processes slow down when it decreases.

Therefore, knowledge of how to measure your pulse yourself without special equipment or assistance is very important.

The heart muscle works continuously, contracts and pushes oxygenated blood into the blood supply every second. You can measure your heart rate yourself without the help of instruments by touching the blood vessels that tense during heart contraction. To correctly measure the pulse, it is important not only to find the right place where the vessels are as accessible as possible to touch and their sizes allow you to control the vibration of the walls without interference, but also to know how to determine the pulse.

The pulsation is well palpated (palpable) on the arteries:

elbow;
brachial;
sleepy;
temporal;
femoral;
popliteal

With a strong heartbeat, the pulsation can even be measured on a finger. When weak, only on the largest artery - the carotid artery.

Different methods of measuring pulse can be used, but in everyday life, the only accessible and objective one - palpation - is based on the vibration of the vascular walls transporting blood from the heart muscle to the internal organs. Good points on the human body to measure heart rate using this method are the arteries: the radial artery, located on the wrist, and the carotid artery, located on the neck.

In order to constantly monitor the work of the heart, you need to know how to measure your pulse at home, without turning to doctors or disturbing your family.

How to measure on the carotid artery?

The carotid artery is one of the large vessels that supplies blood to the brain. Therefore, even with insignificant heart rate indicators, it will be easy to feel the vibrations of the walls on the carotid artery and measure the pulsation. On the carotid artery vessel, the pulse measurement technique is effective due to:

size;
pairings;
availability of a place for examination.

Finding the carotid arteries is easy as follows:

Place two fingers of your right hand tightly together: index and middle.
Place your fingers on the thyroid cartilage (Adam's apple).
Slide to the side until it reaches the indentation on the neck.
Feel the point of the most obvious pulsation of the vessel.

To measure the pulse in this place yourself, you need to:

Sit on a chair and lean back.
Prepare a stopwatch, a watch with a second hand, you can also use the functions of your mobile device.
With the relaxed fingertips of the right hand (for left-handed people - the left), folded together, feel the pulsation of the carotid artery.
Record the time and count out loud the pulses of blood against the walls of the artery.

Heart rates less than 60 beats per minute and more than 100 beats per minute require medical attention.

Heart rate can be measured on both paired arteries: right and left, but this should not be done simultaneously. Do not press too hard on the vessel, so as not to stop the blood flow, causing dizziness or loss of consciousness.

Pulse measurement locations

How to count correctly in the area of the left half of the chest?

Heart rate can be measured by touching the palm of your hand to the left side of your chest:

in men - under the left nipple;
in women - under the left breast.

Counting on the left side of the chest with an increased pulse is considered reliable.

To measure and get correct data, you need to know how to count your pulse. To do this you need:

Strip to the waist.
Take a lying position.
Record the time on a stopwatch, timer or watch.
Place the palm of your right hand on the left side of your chest.
Count the number of heart beats in 60 seconds.

How to determine on the radial artery yourself?

Despite the availability of the method, not everyone knows how to count the pulse on the hand correctly. Knowing how to measure the pulse by palpating the radial artery, which is located on the wrist, you can obtain objective information about the state of your health. The radial artery is released through the skin so that its pulsation is noticeable even to a non-specialist.

To understand how to measure the pulse on your hand yourself, you should find this place:

Sit on a chair.
Relax your left hand.
Place your hand palm up.
Place the 2nd, 3rd, 4th fingers of your right hand on the inside of your wrist.
Press the radial artery and feel the pulsation.
Using the algorithm for measuring the pulse on the radial artery, calculate the number of pulse oscillations:

put a stopwatch in front of you;
Count your heart rate for 1 minute.

The heart rate of a healthy person should normally be from 60 to 80 beats per minute.

On the right or left hand?

Having understood how to calculate the pulse manually, you need to decide on which hand it is preferable to measure it.

You can measure it on your hands: right and left, normally the measurement result should be the same. But practice shows that more correct results are obtained on the left hand, located closer to the heart.

Knowing how to take your pulse on your arm can help save your life.

Algorithm of actions

The algorithm of actions for measuring pulse is not complicated, but for the reliability of the results, it requires precision execution. A step-by-step execution of the algorithm will allow you to understand how to correctly measure the pulse on your hand:

Prepare a stopwatch and place it in a position convenient for monitoring.
Remove items of clothing, wristwatches and rings that constrict and prevent access to blood vessels, so that nothing impedes blood circulation.
Sit comfortably, leaning back in a chair, or take a horizontal position.
Turn the palm of your left hand up.
It is acceptable to lightly press your hand to your chest.
Using three fingers of your right hand: index, middle and ring, simultaneously press on the artery.
Feel for clear pulses of blood inside the vessel.
Start the stopwatch and count the contraction frequency for 60 seconds.
Measure the pulse on your right hand in a similar way.
Record the result.

Systematic measurement of pulse should be carried out under the same conditions: in the same position, at the same time of day, for a certain amount of time.

Method of counting in 10 seconds

Speaking about how to calculate the pulse in 10 seconds, it must be said that this technique is used by athletes during active sports.

Using a heart rate count of 10 seconds multiplied by 6 allows them to quickly measure the number of heart beats per minute and determine physical activity.

It is not recommended to use this technique in all other cases, since this calculation has a very high error - up to 18 beats per minute! This is explained by the fact that a person cannot correctly take into account the first and last heart sounds in an exact 10-second period.

More accurate data can be obtained by recording the time spent on 10 pulsations. How to calculate the pulse per minute when measuring 10 beats:

Feel for clear vibrations of the artery walls in a convenient place.
Start the stopwatch.
Count the vibrations of the artery from the second beat.
Stop counting after 10 heartbeats.
Record the time.

The counting method is as follows: 10 beats x (60 seconds / fixed time). For example, if 4 seconds have passed in 10 beats, then the pulse at the moment will be equal to 150 beats per second = 10 x (60 / 4).

Knowledge of how to measure your pulse in 10 seconds can be important in a force majeure situation.

Which measurement option is most accurate?

The most accurate and functional option is to determine the pulse by palpation within 1 minute. Places available for self-examination are the arteries: radial and carotid.

The method of determination on the wrist is suitable when the subject is in a calm state. After physical activity, it is convenient to measure your pulse by placing your fingers on the carotid artery. Other methods are complex in terms of finding the ripple and the reliability of the information obtained.

Useful video

For more information on how to measure your pulse yourself, watch the following video:

Conclusion

- one of the important indicators of human health. It is important to be able to measure it in a healthy person during physical activity in order to avoid harm to the body. If you feel unwell, its frequency is an indicator of problems with the heart and nervous system. Even proper nutrition for the purpose of losing weight should be carried out while monitoring heart rate.
It is important to learn how to find and measure your pulse on your own, using a minimum of equipment. The information presented in the article will help you quickly find the location of arterial pulsation and explain how to correctly measure your pulse within 1 minute and 10 seconds on your wrist.
Knowledge of how to calculate the pulse, methods and techniques that explain how to measure the heart rate will help you effectively examine your own body and come to the aid of others at the right time.

Arterial pulse is an important indicator of blood circulation. It can change during physical activity and mental stimulation, under the influence of medications, with vascular and cardiac pathology, etc. Its normative values differ significantly in children and adults. In order not to distort the results, you must be able to measure your pulse correctly, taking into account all physiological characteristics.

What is arterial pulse?

The pulse is a jerky beat in the walls of the arteries that occurs due to the movement of blood through the vessels and changes in pressure when the heart contracts. Normally, this indicator corresponds to the number of heartbeats. By calculating it, you can get information about your heart rate (HR).

There is a condition when the pulse wave after a heartbeat does not spread to the arteries. In this case, the pulse indicators become less than the heart rate. This phenomenon is called “pulse deficiency.” ". This is most often encountered with atrial fibrillation and extrasystole.

Rules for measuring the indicator

At home, this procedure is most easily performed on the radial artery in the wrist area. You need to determine your pulse yourself as follows:

1. The fundamental condition is complete physical and emotional calm for 15 minutes.
2. The hand must be placed in a horizontal position, palm up.
3. Using the index and middle finger, slightly above the wrist joint on the outside, you need to feel the maximum pulsation of the artery, pressing it slightly.
4. If the vibrations occur rhythmically, then you can measure 15 or 20 seconds in time and then multiply the results by 4 or 3, respectively. In the event that pulsation is observed at unequal time intervals, it is worth counting for a whole minute.

The pulse can be determined in the neck in the area of the carotid artery, temple, popliteal fossa, and on top of the foot. But it is more difficult to independently detect the best place for pulsation at these points, which can lead to distorted results.

Special devices - heart rate monitors - will allow you to find out your heart rate during training. This device helps to control the load of exercise on the human body and, if necessary, adjust it.

Pulse measurement in children

To check the value of the indicator in children, it is recommended to measure it in the morning after waking up and on an empty stomach. The measurement is carried out as follows: the thumb covers the back of the forearm, and the middle and index fingers are placed on its inner surface. After that, you need to bend them slightly and find the best place for pulsation.

To assess synchrony, measurements should be taken on both hands. If the indicators are the same on the right and left, then subsequent measurements are taken only on the right. Counting the number of oscillations in 60 seconds occurs similarly to adults. But in children, due to high heart rates, it is sometimes difficult to make calculations. To do this, you need to take two or three hits as one, count the number of such “twos” or “threes” and multiply.

Features of the norm in children and adults

Heart rate in adults is 60-80 beats per minute. In children, the normative values differ: over the years, they experience a decrease in these values, which soon becomes equal to those in adults.

An increase in the indicator is called tachycardia, and a decrease is called bradycardia.

Heart rate indicators in children:

If it is necessary to measure the pulse in children, the following physiological characteristics must be taken into account:

Average values can vary in the range of 10-15%.
Boys' heart rate in 60 seconds is 3-5 beats less than girls.
During the puberty period in adolescents, indicators increase by 10-12 from the expected figures.
Tachycardia can occur during physical and emotional stress. At rest, the heart rate should normalize within 2-3 minutes.
During sleep, heart rate decreases.
With hyperthermia, an increase in the indicator is observed, since this represents an adequate reaction of the body. When the temperature increases by 1 degree, the pulse increases by 10-15 beats per minute
Respiratory arrhythmia may occur - this is an increase in the pulse during inspiration and a decrease in it during exhalation. From 2 to 11 years old this is the norm. But definitely nYou need to verify its origin. If atit does not disappear when breathing stops, then in this case it is a sign of a pathological process.