The heart is the most important human organ, on the normal functioning of which not only health depends, but also the whole life. The state of work of the heart muscle and the pulse should be monitored by all people, and especially those who are involved in sports.
How to measure the pulse correctly?
For correct heart rate measurement, a number of conditions must be met:
- If a person is experiencing physical activity, then the measurement is carried out only at rest.
- A few hours before the measurement, the person should not experience a nervous or emotional shock.
- Do not smoke, drink alcohol, tea or coffee before measuring.
- After taking a hot shower or bath, you should refrain from measuring the pulse.
- Measurement of pulsation should not be carried out after a hearty lunch or dinner, but also incorrect readings can be with a completely empty stomach.
- The pulsation measurement will be absolutely accurate a few hours after waking up from sleep.
- Areas on the body where the arteries pass should be completely free of tight clothing.
It is best to measure the pulsation rate when a person is in a horizontal position and, preferably, in the morning.
In children, the best place to check the pulse is in the area of the temporal artery, while in an adult, it is possible to detect pulsation in different places:
- radial artery (wrist);
- ulnar artery (inner side of the elbow bend);
- carotid artery (neck);
- Femoral artery (knee flexion or top of the foot)
- temporal artery.
There are two methods for measuring the ripple frequency:
- Palpation. Using your own fingers, you can take an independent heart rate measurement. It is best to do this with your left hand - the forefinger and middle finger lightly press down on the artery of the right wrist. A stopwatch or a watch with a second hand will be an obligatory device for such a measurement.
- Heart rate monitor. Even a child can take measurements with the help of a sensor - it must be placed on a finger or wrist, turned on, reset and carefully examine the numbers on the display.
Normal heart beats per minute
The normal number of heart beats in 60 seconds can vary:
- based on age indicators;
- depending on gender characteristics;
- depending on the state and actions - rest, running, walking.
Each of these signs is worth considering in more detail.
Heart rate table by age for women and men
You can clearly consider the indicators of the rate of the pulsation frequency, depending on age and gender, in the tables.
Indicators of the norm in children:
Age | Minimum rate, beats / minute | Maximum rate, beats / minute |
0 to 3 months | 100 | 150 |
3 to 5 months | 90 | 120 |
5 to 12 months | 80 | 120 |
1 to 10 years old | 70 | 120 |
10 to 12 years old | 70 | 130 |
13 to 17 years old | 60 | 110 |
In adults, a slightly different picture is observed. In this case, the heart rate indicators differ and are depending on age and gender:
Age | Heart rate of women, beats / minute | Pulse rate for men, beats / minute | ||
minimum | maximum | minimum | maximum | |
18 to 20 years old | 60 | 100 | 60 | 100 |
20 to 30 years old | 60 | 70 | 50 | 90 |
30 to 40 years old | 70 | 60 | 90 | |
40 to 50 years old | 75 | 80 | 60 | 80 |
50 to 60 years old | 80 | 83 | 65 | 85 |
60 and older | 80 | 85 | 70 | 90 |
The measurements shown in the tables correspond to the heart rate in healthy people at rest. With physical activity and sports, the indicators will be completely different.
Resting heartbeat
To a greater extent, a pulse of sixty to eighty beats per minute is considered the norm for a person who is completely calm. Very often, with complete calmness, heart rate indicators can be higher or lower than normal.
There is a scientific explanation for these facts:
- with increased heart rate, tachycardia occurs;
- reduced rates indicate the manifestation of bradycardia.
If you experience any of these abnormalities, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Heart rate when walking
The walking heart rate reading should not exceed one hundred beats in sixty seconds. This figure is the established norm for an adult.
But the maximum value of the pulsation rate can be calculated individually for each person. For the calculation, it is necessary to subtract the age indicator from the figure one hundred and eighty.
For a reference point, the allowable heart rate rates at different ages will be indicated below (the maximum allowable value of beats in sixty seconds):
- at twenty-five years old - no more than one hundred and forty;
- at forty-five years old - no more than one hundred and thirty-eight;
- at seventy years - no more than one hundred and ten.
Palpitations while running
Since running can be different, then the pulsation frequency has different indicators for each (the maximum permissible limit of blows in sixty seconds is indicated):
- interval running with maximum load - one hundred and ninety;
- long distance running - one hundred seventy one;
- jogging - one hundred fifty two;
- running step (Scandinavian walking) - one hundred thirty three.
You can calculate the heart rate indicator based on the individual characteristics of the athlete. To do this, subtract the age indicator from two hundred and twenty. The resulting figure will be the individual size of the maximum permissible ripple for an athlete during exercise or running.
When is the heart rate high?
In addition to the fact that the pulsation increases with physical loads and sports, in people who do not complain about health, the heart rate can be affected by:
- emotional and stressful shock;
- physical and mental overwork;
- stuffiness and heat indoors and outdoors;
- severe pain (muscle, headache).
If within ten minutes the pulsation does not return to normal, then this may indicate the appearance of some health problems:
- vascular pathology;
- arrhythmia;
- pathological abnormalities in the nerve endings;
- hormonal disbalance;
- leukemia;
- menorrhagia (heavy menstrual flow).
Any deviation of the quantitative indicator of heart rate from the established norm should immediately lead a person to the idea of visiting a qualified medical worker.
After all, the state of the main organ of life support - the heart - will depend, first of all, on the indicators of frequency pulsations. And it, in turn, will extend the years of life.