What can the patient’s pulse say? By measuring it, doctors can judge the presence of various heart diseases. Today we will find out what the heart rate measurement algorithm is and what methods are available for determining it. In addition to being accurately calculated in a hospital, a person can also check it at home without any problems. To do this, use the recommendations and rules that are described in this article.
Places on the body where you can check your pulse
A person can feel jerky vibrations independently by palpation, that is, with the help of tactile sensations. You can find the pulse on your body in such places:
- On the wrist - the most common way.
- On the brachial artery.
- In the armpit.
- At the temples.
- On the neck.
- On the lower jaw: between its edge and the corner of the mouth.
- In the groin.
- Under the knee: in a hole in the bend of the leg.
- On the feet: above the arch, in the middle of the rise or behind, just below the ankle.
The preparatory phase for determining the pulse in a child
In order to perform the manipulation, the nurse must inform her parents (or one of them) about it and get their consent to measure the pulse in children. The algorithm of the paramedic’s actions is simple:
- After receiving the “green light” from the side of mom or dad, the specialist must wash and dry his hands.
- Then the nurse conveniently puts or seats the child (depending on his age), while the hands and forearms of the boy or girl should not hang in the air.
The main stage of the event
What is the technique for measuring heart rate? The algorithm for conducting its main part is as follows:
- With your right hand you need to cover the child’s wrist in the area of the wrist joint. The thumb should be identified on the back of the forearm, and the rest should feel for the radial artery, which pulsates, and then press it to the radius.
- Then the nurse should take a watch or a stopwatch and calculate the number of oscillations strictly in 1 minute.
- Then the specialist estimates the gaps between the pulse waves. If the intervals are equal, then the fluctuations are rhythmic. If the intervals are not the same in time, then the pulse is arrhythmic, that is, incorrect.
- Then the pulse filling is determined using the volume of arterial blood, forming a rhythmic wave. If it feels great, it means that the pulse is full. If the volume of circulating blood decreases, then the oscillations of the arteries are empty.
- Final heart rate measurement algorithm: a specialist evaluates stress. To do this, he squeezes the radial artery until the pulse disappears. If it disappears with moderate compression, then the pulse is satisfactory. If the artery disappears with strong compression, then the blood pulses are enhanced.
- In terms of filling and tension, we can talk about the magnitude of jerky vibrations. A pulse of good saturation and intensity is called large, and a weak pulse is called small. If the number of such waves is barely determined, then such oscillations are called filiform.
The final stage of the event
- The nurse records the heart rate in a special temperature sheet.
- The specialist informs the parents of the child about the results of the study.
- A nurse washes her hands with soap under running water, and then treats them with an antiseptic.
The algorithm for measuring pulse on the radial artery is thoroughly laid out. Now it’s worth to find out how else you can determine the rate of blood pulses.
Note
The algorithm for measuring the pulse of a child is not carried out in the same way as an adult. It is necessary to count jerky fluctuations strictly in 1 minute, since the pulse of the children is arrhythmic.
In adults, the radial artery verification method is mainly used.
In babies, the pulse can also be examined on the brachial, carotid, temporal, femoral arteries, as well as on the beating of a large fontanel.
Determination of the norm of the pulse of blood on the femoral artery
The pulse measurement algorithm in this case is quite simple:
- The patient is asked to lie down or sit comfortably.
- The nurse begins to manipulate with two fingers (index and middle) in the region of the middle of the inguinal fold.
- After that, the specialist assesses the presence of a blood pulse and its frequency.
Heart rate measurement: the algorithm of the popular method
A well-known method for determining the blood impulse is to study the pulsation of the radial artery. A person independently at home can carry out such a procedure.
- Turn your left hand palm up. "Why not right?" - you ask. The fact is that on the right limb, the pulse can be traced worse, since the left hand is closer to the heart, and the right hand is farther from it.
- The index finger and middle finger of the right hand should be easily applied to the wrist of the left hand, slightly below the base of the thumb. In this case, a hand closer to the heart should lie on a horizontal surface (on the table, for example).
- Now you should feel the artery under the fingertips: it should feel like a thin tube under the skin.
- Then you need to slightly press on it and feel the tremors of blood.
- Now the most important thing: a person must calculate the number of strokes that will occur within 1 minute. The algorithm for measuring the patient’s heart rate may be slightly disturbed, that is, instead of 60 seconds, you can take 30 seconds, and then simply multiply the resulting number by 2.
Important notes
- It is wrong to determine heart vibrations with the thumb of the second hand, because then the pulsation is felt very strongly. A person in this case can easily be mistaken. Therefore, manipulation should be carried out using the index and middle finger.
- Sure, you can also find the pulse on the second hand. However, then it will be weaker than on the left, or felt not synchronously, with a delay. But a different pulse on both hands indicates that the patient has problems in the cardiovascular system.
Determination of the norm of the pulse of blood on the carotid artery
Measurement of heart fluctuations in this case is justified if, for example, a person has lost consciousness. The radial artery on the wrist may not be felt. Therefore, it is important to check the pulse precisely on the carotid artery. And this is done like this:
1. The patient is laid on his back, and then the person who was allowed to carry out this manipulation, with his fingers (index and middle), folded in parallel, slowly leads down the patient’s neck. It should move from the base of the lower jaw to the place where the throat is located.
2. If a person does everything correctly, then the patient’s pulse should be felt in a small hole.
3. It is forbidden to press on the area being checked too much during the event, as this can lead to circulatory disorders and even fainting.
Heart rate measurement with a special device
In addition to palpation of the above areas of the human body, doctors determine blood pulses using a heart rate monitor called a heart rate monitor. The sensors of this device are attached to the patient’s chest, finger or earlobe. Finding a pulse with this device is easy. It is enough to fasten it with a belt of a special design, after which the meter itself will determine the norm of the patient's blood pulse.
Heart rate
- For an adult healthy person - 60–90 beats per minute.
- For athletes, athletes - 40-60 vibrations in 60 seconds.
- For newborn babies - 120-160 beats per minute.
- For babies from 2 to 7 years - 75-120 fluctuations.
- For children over 7 years old - 75-110 strokes in 60 seconds.
Now you know that you can measure the pulse not only in the walls of the clinic, but also at home. Moreover, there are several diagnostic methods. But the most popular method is to measure the pulse on the radial artery. It is also important to know the fluctuation rate for different categories of the population, since in children and adults these parameters are different.