The German Heart Foundation has stated that the pulse is the speed of heartbeats, i.e., the number of times the heart beats per minute.
While the ideal heart rate is between 60 and 80 beats per minute, women’s hearts beat slightly faster by around 3 beats per minute.
On the other hand, the hearts of older individuals beat less by approximately 3 to 4 beats compared to adults in their midlife.
Measuring pulse during rest
To get an accurate measurement of your heart rate, you should be resting when the measurement is taken, as opposed to getting a measurement after climbing stairs or exercising.
For precise results, you should sit quietly for 5 minutes before measuring. The pulse can be felt on either the inner right or left wrist using the index and middle fingers.
Once the pulse is found, the observer should count the beats for exactly 15 seconds and multiply the value by 4 to calculate the beats per minute.
When to consult a Doctor?
According to the foundation, you need to consult a doctor if the measured value is below 40 or above 100 beats per minute, as it indicates potential heart rhythm disorders.
This is especially crucial if you notice symptoms such as nervousness, internal turmoil, continuous fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vision disturbances, fainting, sweating, shortness of breath, or chest pain.
Causes and Treatment
Heart rhythm disorders may result from high blood pressure, overactive thyroid, or heart diseases. Diagnosis is typically done through electrocardiography and echocardiography, possibly with heart catheterization.
While irregular heartbeats are often not harmful, they can be serious and lead to heart muscle damage, stroke, or pulmonary embolism in some cases.
Treatment involves medications, pacemaker implantation, or catheter ablation, where the doctor destroys abnormal cells in the heart muscle.
Prevention
Preventing irregular heartbeats involves adopting a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition, regular exercise, quitting smoking and managing stress.
