Our pulse: the norm and the deviations

Frequency of heartbeats is usually denoted by the term "pulse". Its rate varies considerably for different people under different circumstances. This indicator depends on quite a number of factors: age, health, air temperature, body fitness, etc.

The change in the pulse, the difference in its values for different people under the same circumstances does not always indicate any deviations. In most cases, this demonstrates the ability of the heart to help the body adapt to the characteristics of the environment and relate its capabilities to the state of its own internal environment.

Pulse, the norm of which is most significantly different for children of different ages, at the beginning of life is twice as high as that characteristic of adults. In a newborn baby, the average heart rate is 140 beats per minute. In this case, the limits of the norm are the indicators, ranging from 110 strokes to 170.

Adulthood is accompanied by a decrease in heart rate. For example, by the age of four, the baby's pulse (the norm of 85-125 strokes) is less often compared to the infancy period by 40-50%. And by 12-15 years, this indicator is already compared with the indicator of an adult.

In adulthood, when the body is in its best physical form (we limit this period to a rather large stretch from 15 to 50 years), on average, the human heart rate is equal to 70 beats per minute (normal limits are 60-80 strokes). After fifty years, the heart gradually, especially among untrained people, begins to weaken, and this leads to an increase in the pulse at the age of 60-80 years on average to 75-80 strokes (possibly up to 90).

In addition to age, the pulse of a person is very affected by the pulse. During sports or other significant physical exertion, or strong bursts of emotions, the processes in the body change their habitual pace. Similarly, they change the pulse. Its rate may increase approximately 3-3.5 times. However, the heartbeat can become more frequent at rest during fatigue and illness. This phenomenon is called tachycardia, and this is no longer the norm. In this case, you need to see a doctor.

In some cases, the pulse of a person, the norm for which in normal conditions has always been higher, may decrease. Slowing heart rate at rest to less than 60 strokes may indicate an improvement in health, for example, due to good fitness. It is known that professional athletes engaged in athletic sports, which require special endurance, the pulse does not normally exceed 40 strokes. A completely different situation is the slowing of the pulse for no apparent reason, accompanied by dizziness, a sense of fatigue and other unpleasant symptoms. In such cases, only a physician can help identify the cause of heart rate jumps.

To correctly measure the heart rate yourself, you need to follow a few simple rules. You should lightly press the pulsating artery with two fingers (index and middle) and count the beats in 15 seconds, then multiply the figure by four. To children, the pulse is usually measured by placing a palm to the chest.

It must be remembered that it is necessary to measure the pulse in the same position (sitting, lying), as the heart reacts sensitively to this. Only if this condition is met can the reliability of measurement results be achieved.

To know exactly the rate of your own pulse, it is not enough to make only one measurement of it. It will take at least three. The best time for this is the morning, immediately after awakening. It is desirable to count heart beats even in 15 seconds, but for a full minute to avoid inaccuracy. After all the measurements you need to calculate the arithmetic mean - this is the real indicator of your heart rate.