What should be the pulse rate in an adult - normal heart rate by age
Kyiv • UNN
The normal pulse rate for adults is 60-100 beats per minute, but it depends on gender and age. Deviations may indicate serious heart diseases.
Pulse is the rhythmic oscillation of blood vessel walls that occurs as a result of heart muscle contraction and blood ejection into the arterial system. When the heart beats, it pushes out a portion of blood, creating a pressure wave that spreads throughout all arteries of the body. This is the wave we feel when we press a vessel against a bone. Pulse is one of the most important indicators that allows us to assess the state of the cardiovascular system and the overall health of the body, writes UNN.
Details
Pulse readings are not static. They constantly change and depend on a huge number of factors:
- Physical activity: during movement or exercise, muscles need more oxygen, so the heart starts beating faster to ensure its delivery;
- Emotional state: stress, fear, joy, or anxiety cause the release of adrenaline and cortisol, which stimulate the nervous system and accelerate the pulse;
- Age and gender: metabolism and heart size differ in children, adults, men, and women;
- Ambient and body temperature: during heat or fever, the heart works more intensely;
- Level of physical fitness: in trained people, the heart muscle is stronger and pumps more blood per contraction, so their resting pulse is lower;
- Consumption of stimulants and medications: caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, as well as certain medical preparations can significantly both increase and decrease heart rate.
Normal human pulse
In modern medicine, the generally accepted normal pulse for a healthy adult at complete rest is considered to be in the range of 60 to 100 beats per minute. However, many modern cardiologists tend to believe that the ideal resting pulse should be between 50 and 70 beats per minute. If the indicator consistently stays closer to 90-100 beats, it may indicate a constant load on the cardiovascular system.
It is important to understand that the norm is calculated specifically for a state of rest. That is, measurements should be taken when a person is sitting or lying down and has not experienced physical or emotional stress for the last 10-15 minutes.
Normal heart rate by age
With age, the elasticity of blood vessels, metabolism, and the body's overall needs change, which directly affects heart rate. The younger a person is, the faster their heart beats. Over the years, the pulse gradually slows down, stabilizing in adolescence, and in old age, it may change somewhat again due to the physiological aging of the heart muscle and blood vessels.
Approximate pulse norms by age categories are as follows:
- Newborns: 110 – 160 beats per minute (bpm);
- Infants: 100 – 150 bpm;
- Children 1 – 2 years: 90 – 130 bpm;
- Children 3 – 4 years: 80 – 120 bpm;
- Children 5 – 6 years: 75 – 115 bpm;
- Children 7 – 9 years: 70 – 110 bpm;
- Adolescents: 60 – 100 bpm;
- Adults: 60 – 100 bpm;
- Elderly people, over 65 years: 60 – 90 bpm.
Normal heart rate in children
In children, the pulse is significantly higher than in adults, and this is an absolute physiological norm. The reason lies in the intense metabolism and rapid growth of the body. A child's body needs a continuous and rapid supply of oxygen and nutrients for the development of tissues and organs. In addition, a child's heart is smaller in size and volume, so to ensure adequate blood circulation, it must contract much more frequently.
In children, the pulse is also more variable. Even the slightest activity – crying, laughing, fast walking, fright, or simply an emotional conversation – can cause a sharp jump in heart rate. For example, during a tantrum or active play, a child's pulse can reach 180-200 beats per minute, which is not a pathology if it quickly returns to the age norm after calming down.
What is the normal pulse for women
In women, the resting pulse is on average 5-10 beats per minute higher than in men, and usually ranges from 70 to 80 beats per minute. This is explained by anatomical features: a woman's heart is usually smaller in size and weight. Accordingly, the volume of blood it can eject per contraction (stroke volume) is smaller. To pump the necessary amount of blood throughout the body in one minute, a woman's heart has to make more contractions.
Also, a woman's hormonal background significantly affects her pulse. Heart rate can change depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle. During pregnancy, the volume of circulating blood in a woman's body increases by almost 40-50%, so the heart works with increased load, and the normal pulse can rise to 85-95 beats per minute. During menopause, due to a decrease in estrogen levels, women may also experience episodes of accelerated heart rate.
What is the normal pulse for men
For adult men, a resting pulse of 60 to 70 beats per minute is considered normal. The male heart is on average larger and more massive, and the heart muscle is stronger. Thanks to a larger stroke volume, the male heart can work more economically: with one contraction, it supplies a sufficient amount of blood to the vessels, so it does not need to beat as often as a woman's.
In addition, men usually have a larger muscle mass, which requires an efficient blood supply system, to which the male cardiovascular system adapts by increasing the power of contractions. In men who regularly engage in heavy physical labor or endurance sports, the pulse can be even lower - from 50 to 60 beats per minute, which indicates a high level of heart training.
Pulse readings: what pulse is considered high or critical
A deviation of heart rate upwards is called tachycardia, downwards - bradycardia.
A high pulse for an adult at rest is considered to be a reading that consistently exceeds 100 beats per minute. If such a pulse occurs after a run or during stress, this is a normal reaction. But if a person is calmly sitting on the couch and their heart is beating at a rate of 110-120 bpm, this is cause for concern.
A critical pulse is considered to be a reading above 140-150 beats per minute at rest. Such a condition can lead to oxygen starvation of the heart muscle itself and impaired blood circulation in the brain. Immediate medical attention is required in situations where a high pulse is accompanied by:
- severe pain or pressure in the chest;
- sudden shortness of breath and lack of air;
- dizziness, darkening of the eyes;
- pre-syncopal state or loss of consciousness;
- the appearance of cold clammy sweat.
On the other hand, a critically low pulse is considered a drop in frequency below 40-50 beats per minute, especially if it is accompanied by weakness and nausea.
How to measure your pulse correctly
To get reliable data, you need to prepare for the measurement. Measure your pulse in a calm state: sit relaxed for 5-10 minutes. Do not measure your pulse immediately after eating, physical exertion, smoking, drinking coffee, strong tea, or energy drinks. Take a comfortable position.
Important rule: never measure your pulse with your thumb! The thumb has its own large blood vessel with pronounced pulsation, so you may mistakenly count your pulse in your finger, not the pulse on the artery you are checking. Use the pads of your index and middle fingers (and sometimes your ring finger).
How to measure pulse on the arm
The most common method is measurement on the radial artery.
- Turn your left or right hand palm up;
- Slightly bend your wrist;
- Place the pads of your index and middle fingers
of the other hand on the inside of your wrist, slightly below the base of your thumb (in the small hollow between the bone and the tendon);
- Press gently until you feel a clear rhythmic
pulsation;
- Set a timer on a watch with a second hand or a stopwatch. Count the beats for 60 seconds (this is the most accurate method for arrhythmia). Or count the beats for 30 seconds and multiply the result by 2.
How to measure pulse on the neck
Measurement on the carotid artery is very clear, as this artery is large.
- Sit or lie down;
- Find your Adam's apple (larynx) with your fingers on the front
of your neck;
- Move your index and middle fingers 2-3 centimeters to the side into the soft hollow between your windpipe (trachea) and the large neck muscle;
- Press very gently. Never press on both carotid arteries at the same time. This can cut off blood flow to the brain and cause instantaneous loss of consciousness (carotid sinus reflex);
- Once you feel the beats, count them for 60 seconds or
for 15 seconds and multiply by 4.
What does a deviation from the normal pulse mean?
A deviation of the pulse from the norm at rest is most often a symptom, a kind of indicator that something is wrong in the body.
Causes of pathological tachycardia
- Endocrine disorders: hyperthyroidism accelerates the entire metabolism, forcing the heart to work to its limits;
- Anemia: due to a lack of hemoglobin, the blood carries less oxygen. To compensate for oxygen starvation of organs, the heart begins to beat faster, pumping larger volumes of blood;
- Dehydration and blood loss: a decrease in the volume of fluid in the vessels forces the heart to accelerate its pace;
- Infections and inflammation: any intoxication and increase in body temperature stimulate heart rate;
- Cardiovascular diseases: ischemic heart disease, heart failure, heart valve defects;
- Psycho-emotional disorders: chronic stress, panic attacks, anxiety disorders, depression.
Causes of pathological bradycardia
- Heart pathologies: sick sinus syndrome (the main "pacemaker" of the heart), conduction blockades of electrical impulses in the heart muscle;
- Hypothyroidism: reduced thyroid function, which slows down metabolism;
- Side effects of medications: overdose or improper use of beta-blockers, cardiac glycosides, or blood pressure medications;
- Electrolyte problems: lack of potassium or calcium in the blood.
In addition to frequency, it is important to pay attention to the rhythm of the pulse. If the beats occur at unequal intervals, the heart seems to "stop", flip, or beat chaotically - this is a sign of arrhythmia. Any regular deviations from the norm require mandatory consultation with a cardiologist, electrocardiography (ECG), and a comprehensive examination of the body to identify and eliminate the root cause.