What is heart rate? Let's take a closer look at this issue. He alth is by far the most important part of any person's life. That is why the task of everyone is to control their condition and maintain good he alth. The heart plays a very important role in blood circulation, since the heart muscle enriches the blood with oxygen and pumps it. In order for this system to work properly, constant monitoring of the state of the heart is required, including pulse rate and contractions, which are integral indicators that are responsible for the functioning of the heart. How to measure heart rate?
Basic concepts of heart beats
Heart rate is a physiological characteristic that reflects the normal rhythm of the heartbeat, widely used both in the field ofmedicine, and in professional sports. Heart rate is determined by a number of many factors and can fluctuate significantly due to the influence of various reasons, however, it is important that these indicators do not exceed the established limits. A decrease or increase in the frequency of heart oscillations in a pathological form often leads to aggravation of diseases of the endocrine, nervous and cardiovascular systems, and can also cause serious he alth consequences.
What is the difference between heart rate and pulse?
Most people think they are the same thing. But it is not so. Heart rate reflects the number of contractions made by the heart, and specifically by the ventricles (lower sections), in one minute. The pulse rate, or pulse, is the number of arterial expansions during the ejection of blood by the heart, also in one minute. When passing through the vessels, blood during heart contractions creates a bulge in the arteries, which can be determined by touch. Heart rate and pulse may be equal, but this is typical only for a he althy person. For example, with rhythmic disturbances, the heart begins to randomly contract. When it is reduced twice in a row, the left ventricle does not have time to fill with blood. The second contraction, therefore, occurs already with an empty ventricle, and the blood is not ejected from it into the peripheral vessels and into the aorta. In this regard, the pulse will not be felt in the arteries, although cardiac contraction occurs. During atrial fibrillation and a number of other pathologies, there is a discrepancy between the pulse rate and heart rate. This phenomenon is called pulse deficit. In such casesit becomes impossible to determine the heart rate by measuring the pulse. This can only be done by listening to heart beats, for example, using a phonendoscope. It is important to know how to measure heart rate correctly.
Normal indicators
In adults, normal heart rate ranges from 60 to 80 beats per minute. At a frequency of less than 60, this phenomenon is called bradycardia, more than 80 - tachycardia. The rate of heart rate by age is shown below.
At rest, the indicator will differ depending on the following factors:
- age;
- person's gender;
- training;
- body measurements.
In newborns, this indicator is most often in the range from 120 to 140 beats per minute. In a premature baby, the value is higher - from 140 to 160. By the year it decreases and reaches 110-120, at five years old - up to 100, by ten - up to 90, by thirteen - up to 80. The norm of heart rate by age will help to figure this out.
A trained person
If a person constantly trains, then he is characterized by a heart rate below the norm and averages about 50. If a sedentary lifestyle is maintained, then up to 100 beats can be achieved at rest. The heart rate of women is approximately six beats higher than that of men, and increases even more before the onset of menstruation. The normal heart rate in a he althy older person is most often 80 beats. When this figure is increased to 160, one can judge the presence of a seriouspathology.
Many people are interested in the technique of measuring heart rate.
When do changes occur?
At different times of the day, the value is not the same. The change in the indicator can be traced throughout the day due to the influence of various factors:
- in moments of fear, excitement, anger and other emotions;
- when physical activity;
- after eating;
- depending on body position (standing, sitting or lying down);
- after taking some medicines.
Heart rate increases after eating, especially protein and hot meals. If the body temperature rises to 37 degrees, the frequency increases by twenty beats. When a person sleeps, it decreases by about five to seven strokes. An increase in heart rate of approximately ten percent is observed in the sitting position and twenty percent when standing.
Beating frequency also increases:
- in stressful situations;
- when exercising;
- when in a hot and stuffy room.
Let's see how to measure heart rate.
How are measurements taken?
This should be done in a warm and quiet room at rest. To carry out the procedure, you will need an assistant and a stopwatch. Approximately one hour before the measurement, it is necessary to give up emotional and physical stress, as well as smoking. It is undesirable to take medications and drink alcoholic beverages. The one who is going to be measuredHeart rate, can sit or lie down. After a person has taken the necessary position, you need to sit or lie down quietly for five minutes. At this time, the assistant applies a dry clean palm to the chest to a certain area, which depends on gender: for a man - below the left nipple, for a woman - under the mammary gland. How to determine the heart rate?
It is necessary to feel a blow in the upper part of the heart against the chest, that is, an apex beat. It is heard in half of he althy people in a standing position in the fifth intercostal space. If it is impossible to determine, it can be judged that the blow falls on the edge. Then a stopwatch is taken and the counting of the person's heartbeats for a minute begins. If the rhythm is wrong, then this is done for three minutes, after which the resulting number is divided by three.
However, not everyone knows what heart rate is.
Other places to measure the number of heart beats
The indicator can also be measured in other places where the arteries are located close to the surface. Pulsation is well felt:
- on the neck;
- at the temple;
- under the collarbone;
- on the hip;
- on the shoulders.
Measure the pulse on both sides of the body to get more accurate results. What is the difference between heart rate and pulse, we explained.
Max score
Maximum heart rate reflects the highest number of beats per minute that can be made by the heart. This indicator is usedathletes in order to determine what maximum load can be given to the heart. It is best to determine the heart rate clinically, this should be done by a cardiologist using an electrocardiograph or using a treadmill. Another simple way to determine the capabilities of your own heart is to calculate the maximum value of the heart rate using the following formula (the result in this case is approximate):
- for men, age is subtracted from 220;
- women need to subtract age from 226.
Now we know what is the maximum heart rate for a he althy person. Let's move on.
What causes tachycardia and bradycardia?
If the heart rate does not correspond to the norm in a calm state, one can judge the presence of a certain disease. Most often, other pathological manifestations are noted.
When accompanied by tachycardia symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, weakness, cannot be ruled out:
- heart disease;
- infectious disease;
- start stroke;
- endocrine system disorders;
- diseases of the nervous system;
- anemia;
- tumor processes.
Bradycardia may be normal in the following cases:
- 40 strokes - athletes;
- for people who do hard physical labor;
- when using certain medicines.
It can also indicate the following diseases:
- heart attack;
- poisoning;
- hypothyroidism;
- gastric ulcer;
- myocardial inflammation.
It would be correct to measure heart rate during exercise.
Tachycardia
This kind of arrhythmia is characterized by rapid heartbeat. There are two types of tachycardia:
- sinus, which occurs due to excessive activity of the SA node, which sends electrical impulses that cause the heart to contract;
- paroxysmal or ectopic - appears when impulses are not coming from the SA node, but from the ventricles or atria.
Paroxysmal tachycardia, depending on the source of the impulse, can be ventricular and supraventricular. If the arrhythmia is supraventricular, then the heart muscle begins to contract in the atria, that is, above the ventricles. Tachycardias of this type have the following varieties:
- physiological - increased heart rate during physical exertion (they are the norm and do not require treatment);
- reciprocal, when the annular passage of the contractile impulse is accelerated;
- focal - the contractile impulse does not come from the sinus node, but from a stronger source;
- fibrillation and flutter - strong and erratic atrial contraction.
When gastric tachycardia contractile impulse occurs in the ventricles. This type is often more dangerous. The following types exist:
- extrasystoles - an extraordinary contraction of a greater force than usual, with repeated repetition leads to tachycardia, although in itselfposes no threat;
- long QT interval syndrome – detection is possible only through an electrocardiogram (if the indicator is high, various kinds of arrhythmias develop);
- flutter and ventricular fibrillation - a strong and chaotic contraction.
In general, tachycardia has such main symptoms as a strong and rapid heartbeat, general weakness and difficulty breathing.
In order to determine it, you need to know how to calculate heart rate from an ECG.
Bradycardia
This type of arrhythmia is characterized by a reduced frequency of contractions of the heart muscle. The following types of bradycardia are distinguished:
- physiological, which is observed at complete rest or at night, the pulse does not drop too much, and such an arrhythmia is not considered a pathology, does not require treatment;
- parasympathetic - bradycardia, which is associated with the vagus nerve; Most often, attacks are disturbed at night, in some cases after meals or intense physical activity;
- SA-node weakness syndrome - when the sinoatrial node slowly transmits signals to the heart muscle, due to which the rhythm slows down;
- atrioventricular blocks, which appear due to defects in the synchrony of the contractile rhythm, if the atria contract more than the ventricles.
It is worth noting that bradycardia can sometimes occur without any symptoms at all, and can cause significant ailments. In some cases, it can cause arrhythmic shock and lead to death. Very rarelythere is a syndrome in which tachycardia and bradycardia occur simultaneously, and slow and rapid heartbeat follow each other.
We looked at how to measure heart rate.
