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Pulse

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Definition:

The pulse is the number of heartbeats per minute.

Alternative Names:

Heart rate; Heart beat

How the test is performed:

The pulse is measured at the wrist, neck, temple, groin, behind the knees, or on top of the foot. In these areas, an artery passes close to the skin.

To measure the pulse at the wrist, place the index and middle finger over the underside of the opposite wrist, below the base of the thumb. Press firmly with flat fingers until you feel the pulse. To measure the pulse on the neck, place the index and middle finger just to the side of the Adam's apple, in the soft, hollow area. Press firmly until the pulse is located.

Once you find the pulse, count the beats for 1 full minute, or for 30 seconds and multiply by 2. This will give the beats per minute.

How to prepare for the test:

If the resting heart rate is to be determined, you must have been resting for at least 10 minutes. The exercise heart rate is obtained while you are exercising.

How the test will feel:

There is a slight pressure from the fingers.

Why the test is performed:

Measuring the pulse can give very important information about the health of a person. Any deviation from normal heart rate can indicate a medical condition. Fast pulse may signal the presence of an infection or dehydration. In emergency situations, the pulse rate can help determine if the patient's heart is pumping.

The pulse measurement has other uses as well. During exercise or immediately after exercise, the pulse rate can give information about the fitness level and the health of a person.

• Review Date: 2/9/2006
• Reviewed By: Frederic F. Little, M.D., Department of Allergy and Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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