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Pulse

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Alternative Names:

Heart rate; Heart beat

Normal Values:

For resting heart rate:

• newborn infants; 100 to 160 beats per minute
• children 1 to 10 years; 70 to 120 beats per minute
• children over 10 and adults (including seniors); 60 to 100 beats per minute
• well-trained athletes; 40 to 60 beats per minute

What abnormal results mean:

Resting heart rates that are consistently high ( tachycardia ) may indicate a problem, and you should consult a health care provider. Discuss resting heart rates that are below the normal values (bradycardia) with a health care provider.

Also, discuss a pulse that is very firm ( bounding pulse ) and that lasts for more than a few minutes with the health care provider. An irregular pulse can also indicate a problem. (See heartbeat sensations .)

• 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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