Heart rate, or pulse, is an individual indicator of the number of heart beats per minute. The value is not constant and depends on human activity. So, while running, heart rate is much higher than during sleep. The pulse in an adult is primarily a control of his state of health.
Normal heart rate
The rate of heart rate is different for all ages:
- Newborn - 120-160.
- From 1 month to 1 year - 80-140.
- From 2 to 6 years old - 75-120.
- From 7 to 12 years old - 75-110.
- The pulse in an adult (from 18 years) is 60-100.
- For athletes - 40-60 beats per minute.
What factors influence the heart rate?
The following factors affect the heart rate:
- Ambient temperature.
- Body position.
- Training.
- Emotional state (with excitement, stress, fear, anger, an increase in heart rate is observed).
- Obesity.
- Taking medications.
- Smoking.
- Alcohol intake.
If an adult untrained patient has a heart rate of less than 60 beats / min, then they talk about bradycardia. Tachycardia is the opposite of bradycardia disease, in which the heart beats more often than 100 beats / min.
How to measure the pulse on the arm?
The pulse can easily be measured on the wrist, namely on the radial artery. To do this, place your hand upside down, fixing two fingers of the other hand on the wrist. The jolts of blood felt by the fingertips are heart contractions, or pulse. Using the clock or stopwatch and counting the number of shocks in a minute, you can set the heart rate.
How to measure the pulse on the hand should be known to everyone, because this simple knowledge can come in handy at any time.
Paradoxical pulse - what is it?
This term in medicine is called an excessive decrease during a calm breath of systolic blood pressure. A paradoxical pulse, as a rule, is a consequence of other diseases.
What diseases does it cause?
The appearance in the patient of a similar phenomenon of pulse disturbance is a consequence of such diseases:
- Cardiac tamponade is a violation of the filling of the ventricles that occurs due to the accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity. As a result, intrapericardial pressure rises, and the patient has a paradoxical pulse (found in 100% of patients with cardiac tamponade).
- Constrictive pericarditis is a complication of acute pericarditis that occurs due to irradiation of the mediastinum. The disease leads to the fact that the ventricle of the heart is not filled, which, in turn, is the impetus for the inevitable increase in venous pressure. The person suffering from the disease observes rapid fatigue, decreased performance, as well as signs of stagnation of the veins. Paradoxical pulse with pericarditis is a massive phenomenon, occurs in 30-45% of patients.
- Diseases of the lungs (emphysema, bronchial asthma, hyperventilation). Such diseases of the respiratory system lead to the deposition of blood during inspiration, resulting in a decrease in systolic pressure. So, in 80% of patients with bronchial asthma, a paradoxical pulse was detected.
- Obesity - impaired heart rate in this case occurs as a result of large, excessive fluctuations in intrathoracic pressure.
Other causes of paradoxical pulse
In addition to the above, there are other reasons for this phenomenon:
- State of shock.
- Right ventricular infarction.
- Right ventricular failure.
- Severe heart failure.
What is a reverse paradoxical pulse?
The reverse paradoxical pulse is the exact opposite phenomenon, which consists in an increase in systolic pressure. Symptoms are mainly observed on inspiration.
The reasons for the reverse paradoxical pulse are:
- Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy is a dangerous disease that often causes sudden cardiac arrest in adolescents and young people. The disease can be detected only by electrocardiographic examination. Symptoms are shortness of breath, fluid retention, tachycardia. As a rule, the disease has a family nature and is inherited.
- Left ventricular failure is characterized by hemodynamic disturbances in patients at rest (in the initial stages). That is why the disease is often detected much later, when everything develops into a serious condition. At the critical stage of the process, the needs of the body are not fully provided, which leads to serious consequences: to stagnation of blood in the lungs and left atrium.
- Violation of lung ventilation (the occurrence of positive expiratory pressure).
How to identify a paradoxical pulse
The presence of a phenomenon in an adult can be said if the pulse pressure during each breath is reduced by more than 10 mmHg. The mechanism of the appearance of a paradoxical pulse is complex and not fully understood. You should immediately consult a doctor with symptoms such as severe shortness of breath, asthma, as well as with frequent, pronounced drops in intrathoracic pressure.
How to measure a paradoxical pulse
Measurement of a paradoxical pulse is possible using a sphygmomanometer, while self-fixation is unacceptable. The doctor should sit at the patient’s bed in such a way as to simultaneously monitor the breathing of his ward and a column of mercury on the device. Pump the pneumatic cuff as far as possible until all extraneous auscultatory sounds disappear, and then slowly blow it away. When lowering the cuff, it is imperative to monitor the movements of the chest and abdominal walls of the patient, recording the amount of pressure as soon as Korotkov’s tones are heard. The second value of blood pressure is recorded as soon as Korotkov’s tones become distinguishable not only on exhalation, but also on inspiration. The difference between the values found is the desired paradoxical pulse, measured in millimeters of mercury.
It is worth remembering that our health is in our hands. A timely visit to a doctor can prevent the development of many serious diseases. Even minor symptoms, sometimes seeming trifling, can signal the progression of the disease. Take care of yourself, your family and friends. Do not ignore your own well-being and do not be afraid to seek qualified help!