One of the most important indicators of health is the pulse - the norm by age allows you to detect an imbalance in the body's work in time. Heart rate is very important. It is taken into account in the diagnosis of various diseases, including cardiac pathologies.
How to measure the pulse?
This indicator is used to characterize the fluctuations in the reduction of the heart muscle. Blood passes through the vessels and strikes against their walls. These tremors are called "pulses". The heart rate - the norm in adults - is characterized by such indicators:
- synchronism - determines whether the pulsation is the same on symmetrical parts of the body;
- regularity - indicates the uniformity of contractions;
- voltage - shows if resistance is felt when pressing on a blood vessel.
There are venous, arterial and capillary pulses - the norm varies considerably by age. The frequency of impacts can be measured in several places of the body:
- on the ulnar artery;
- at the temples;
- on the wrists;
- in the armpits;
- in the groin;
- under the knees;
- in the temporal artery above the eyebrows;
- on the feet;
- at the corners of the mouth;
- on the neck.
The pulse can be measured in two ways:
- Hardware - it involves the use of smart gadgets. Measurement is performed with special clocks, wristbands, pulse oximeters and electronic tonometers. The devices automatically count the data, process it and display the results on the dial.
- Palpatory is a classic method. Although it is possible to count the frequency of pulsations at different parts of the body, this index is often determined by the artery located on the wrist. To get reliable results, you need to correctly measure the pulse.
The palpation method includes such actions:
- Take a watch or a stopwatch. This device is necessary in order to accurately measure a certain length of time.
- Before calculating the pulse, you need to sit down and calm down.
- The left wrist should be clasped with a brush of the right hand or just fingers to attach to the artery.
- It is necessary to record the time (30 or 60 seconds) and calculate the number of beats during this time interval.
- Check the results with what the pulse rate is by age - the table helps to assess the real state.
- If necessary, repeat the measurement on the second hand.
However, there are a number of factors that affect the results. They do not provide an opportunity to identify accurate data. These factors include:
- smoking and consumption of alcoholic beverages;
- strong hunger;
- sex;
- massage;
- prolonged exposure to sunlight or frost;
- relaxing baths;
- use of hot food or drinks;
- prolonged exposure to fire;
- menstruation.
What should be the pulse?
The frequency of heartbeats even in a healthy person can vary greatly. This indicator is influenced by many factors, for example, the presence of mental and physical loads. After suffering severe stress, the pulse rate increases to 140 shocks per minute. Physical exercise, for example, sports, contributes to the fact that the heart rate reaches 90-100 strokes in 60 seconds.
The normal pulse of a person is 60-90 jerks per minute. The rhythm of the heart can change at different times of the day:
- In the morning and at night, it is 50-70 beats per minute;
- day and closer to the evening it reaches a maximum of 90 oscillations per the same unit of time.
Rate of heart rate in women by age
Throughout life, the representatives of the fair sex change the value of the pulse. Every decade lived add 5-10 beats per minute to the indicators, which are considered to be the standard. The pulse rate for women (a unit of time - 60 seconds) at different stages of life is:
- 20-30 years - 60-70 strokes;
- to 40 years - 75 pulsations;
- in the 50-year-old age - 80 fluctuations;
- to 60 years - 85 strokes;
- 70 and more years - 90 oscillations.
High Pulse - Causes
A rapid heartbeat in medicine is called tachycardia. A high pulse is provoked by various factors. These include serious diseases:
- angina pectoris ;
- hyperthyroidism;
- asthma;
- tuberculosis;
- hypertensive crisis;
- the Itenko-Cushing syndrome ;
- pheochromocytoma;
- infectious pathologies that cause a rise in body temperature.
Calling up the pulse may take certain medications:
- antidepressants (Saroten, Elivel);
- diuretics (Diakarba, Lasix);
- cardiac glycosides (digoxin);
- antiarrhythmic drugs (lidocaine, dinexan).
A similar result is provided by the use of vasoconstrictive drugs (Tizin, Naftizin). In addition, the pulse rate of such means increases:
- aphrodisiacs;
- hallucinogens;
- drugs.
The following factors can speed up the heartbeat:
- strong nervousness;
- excessive stress;
- overheat;
- shortage of vitamins;
- drinking tea and coffee.
High pulse at high pressure
Tachycardia with hypertension is very dangerous. This state causes many systems to work in the enhanced mode. Rapid pulse can testify that the following pathologies are observed in the body:
- malfunctions in the work of the respiratory system;
- thyroid disease;
- oncological diseases;
- anemia;
- diseases of the coronary vessels and the heart system.
High pulse at low pressure
No less dangerous to health tandem tachycardia with hypotension. Increased pulse is provoked by such factors:
- vegetative vascular dystonia;
- abuse of alcoholic beverages;
- atherosclerosis;
- pregnancy;
- diabetes mellitus;
- beriberi;
- defeat of myocardial contractility.
High pulse at normal pressure
There are the following types of tachycardia:
- pathological - this state occurs against the background of failures in the work of individual organs and systems;
- Physiological - is observed with increased stress.
The maximum heart rate often occurs for the following reasons:
- infectious pathologies, provoking strong intoxication of the body;
- pulmonary insufficiency, asthma and other diseases of the respiratory system;
- endocrine pathologies;
- anemia.
High pulse - what to do?
With a sharp increase in heart rate, you should try to calm down as much as possible. To do this, you can drink a glass of water and lie down. After 10-15 minutes it is necessary to measure the pulse again - the norm at ages will allow an objective assessment of the situation and determine if it has been corrected. If the heart rate has returned to normal, you can continue your daily activities.
When you can not bring the pulse through the age to the proper state, the following soothing agents can be used:
- Magnesium B6;
- Corvalol ;
- Validol;
- motherwort tincture;
- Valocordin.
In addition, to achieve the rate of heart rate, you can take the following measures:
- Open the window so that fresh air enters the room.
- Lightly press on the eyeballs.
- A little cough (this will contribute to atrial fibrillation).
- You can wash your face or face it in cold water.
You can not be frivolous about tachycardia. If the pulse varies greatly - the norm at ages and the actual value, you need to go to the doctor without delay. The specialist will assign a diagnosis to identify the causes that provoke such a condition. He knows better how to lower the heart rate, so he will prescribe the optimal course of therapy.
It is important to follow the doctor's instructions exactly. If untimely treatment starts or does not undergo a complete therapeutic course, serious problems can arise:
- stroke;
- cardiac asthma;
- a sharp arrhythmic shock.
Low heart rate - reasons
Reduction of heart rate is called bradycardia. A low pulse is caused by causes that can be attributed to one of three groups:
- cardiac pathological conditions;
- physiological factors;
- non-cardiac pathological provocateurs.
For physiological reasons include the following:
- supercooling;
- heredity;
- body training (in athletes, the heart muscle relaxed in a relaxed state).
Cardiac pathologies that cause bradycardia:
- hypertrophy and cardiomyopathy;
- heart attack;
- disturbance of conduction of nerve impulses in the cardiac muscle.
Causes that are attributed to non-cardiac pathologies that provoke a bradycardia are as follows:
- poisoning of the body with lead or nicotine;
- hypothyroidism;
- rigid diets;
- imbalance of potassium and calcium;
- infectious diseases;
- taking certain medications (beta-blockers, calcium antagonists).
Low pulse at high pressure
Bradycardia in hypertensive patients is more often observed with a sharp change in the temperature of the environment. The heart rate decreases rapidly when you leave the warm room on the street in frost and vice versa. In addition, a sharp drop in the pulse is caused by the following reasons:
- hormonal failure ;
- endocarditis ;
- blockade of the heart muscle;
- endocrine diseases.
Low pulse at low pressure
Such a tandem is very dangerous. It can cause dizziness, fainting and even death. The low heart rate with hypotension can be caused by the following reasons:
- exhaustion of the body;
- severe hypothermia;
- trauma in the neck or thoracic region;
- allergic reaction;
- severe blood loss;
- acute poisoning.
Low pulse at normal pressure
This condition indicates the dysfunction of certain organs and systems. More often the pulse in an adult is reduced for the following reasons:
- for a long time he stayed in cold water or in a medium with a low air temperature;
- a person experiences oxygen starvation;
- the body is severely depleted due to lack of sleep or excessive physical exertion.
Low heart rate - what to do?
The situation can not be neglected. If the pulse is reduced (the actual data and the norm do not coincide in ages), medical care is needed. Correctly to cope with this problem through their efforts will not work. It is necessary to consult a cardiologist. He will appoint a full survey to identify the factors that provoke the problem. Then, taking into account the results obtained, and what is the rate of heart rate in women, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment. Such therapy may include the administration of Ascoffen, Coguitum, Alupent and Cordarone.
Increase the pulse in women will help the following manipulations:
- Reception of tonic means - preparations based on lemongrass, eleutherococcus, radiola rosea. However, along with the pulse, these medications increase blood pressure.
- Presence in the diet of sweets. Especially good with this task is coping with black chocolate.
- Drinking coffee or tea.
- Moderate physical exercises.
- Hot baths with the addition of tonic aromatic oils.
- Mustard compresses on the occipital zone.
- The presence of spicy food in the diet. It improves the blood flow of chili.