For many people, heart pulse is nothing more than the regular “thumping of the heart”. At best, it just signifies that you are still alive. Not many realize that your pulse rate actually says a lot about your current state of health.
What Your Pulse Means?
Pulse is the term used to define the number of times your heart beats in a minute. It generally differs from one person to another, and could change over time. These changes play a significant role in determining your current state of health.
Defining the Normal Heart Rate
In most cases, the heart rate being measured when you undergo a physical checkup is what is known as the resting heart rate. This is when your heart pumps the lowest amount of blood, typically because you are sitting down or not doing anything. In most cases, a pulse can be felt on the wrists, on the inside of your elbow, the side of your neck, and the top of your foot. You, then, count the number of pulses over a 60-minute period. Generally, your resting heart rate does not change much wit moderate physical activities.
Now, you have to keep in mind that, the lower your blood pressure is, the better BUT there are certain limits. If you are already feeling dizzy, nauseous, dehydrated, and with clammy, pale skin as well as blurred vision, you might already be suffering from hypotension. Both hypertension and hypotension can lead to a heart attack since, in both cases, not enough oxygen is reaching the heart and the brain.
Factors That Affect Pulse Rate
There are a number of factors that can affect your pulse rate. Some of these would include the following:
- Air temperature
- Body position
- Body size
- Medication
That being the case, you have to keep in mind that a single occurrence of an elevated or very low blood pressure is not enough to diagnose someone as having hypertension or hypotension. This is because, the condition could have been brought about by the factors indicated above.
Your Blood Pressure and Your Heart Rate
While most people think that an increased heart rate or pulse results to a higher blood pressure, that is not the case. You have to remember that your blood vessels have the ability to dilate in order to allow more blood to flow. This means that the pressure needed in order to get your blood circulating remains the same. This is typically what happens when you are exercising – your heart rate doubles, but there is very minimal increase in your blood pressure.
So, When Should I Call A Doctor?
Most medical professionals recommend calling your doctor if you have unexplained and recurring fast pulse rate. It is also a good idea to make sure that you regularly monitor your pulse rate along with your blood pressure. This is particularly important if you are on beta blockers as your doctor can adjust the dosage of your medication or even change it based on your pulse rate. At the same time, it is also recommended that you keep an AED unit in your place just in case you or someone suffers from heart attack.
