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Measuring Pulse Rate
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Measuring Pulse Rate
An individual’s pulse rate is a measure of the rate at which his/her heart beats. Pulse rate is normally referred to as heart rate and is recorded as the number of times a heart beats per minute (bpm). Common factors that influence pulse rate are as follows:
  • Age (decreases with age)
  • Gender
  • Emotional status
  • Environment
  • Medication
  • Exercise (increases with exercise)
  • Heart function/conditioning
  • Illness (decreases or increases)
  • Cardiopulmonary disease (i.e., decreases with hypertension and increases with hypotension)
  • Pain (typically increases)
  • Resting or sleeping (decreases)
Common heart rate measures are as follows:
Population or disorder Beats per minute (bpm)
Infants 120-160
-Newborn 100-130
-Child 1 year old 110
-Child 5 years old 95
Children 70-120
Healthy adults 60-100
Well-conditioned athlete 40–60
Bradycardic below 55-60
Tachycardic above 100
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Section: Measuring Pulse Rate
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