Determination Of Heart Rate & Pulse Rate

 

 

Aim: To record the heart and pulse rate

Requirements : Stethoscope, Chair, Stopwatch

Principle: The heart acts like a pump, and each heartbeat has two phases, a resting phase ( diastole) and a pumping phase ( systole). During diastole, the chambers of the heart fill with oxygenated blood. During systole, the walls of these chamber contract and send out a "wave" of blood to the  lungs, brain, kidneys, muscles, etc. Taken together , systole and diastole and diastole make up the heartbeat. The pulse is a measurement of the number of times the heart beats in one  minute. In certain areas of the body, the blood vessels are close to the surface of the skin and this wave that represents a heartbeat can be felt. The pulse can also be measured by listening to heart with a stethoscope. Measuring the pulse rate is like measuring the body temperature; it is a quick, reliable, and easy way to determine someone's basic state of health or to determine if he/she is sick. The heart rate speeds up or slows down in response to stress, injury, infection, activity level, changes in the environment, drugs, etc.

As with the other vital signs there is a range of pulse are that is considered to be normal.

• Infants: 100- 160 beats per minute
• Children: 60 to 120 beats per minute
• Adults: 60 to 100 beats per minute.

These values are considered to be  normal for the given ages. But just as important as the rate, however, is the rhythm, A normal heartbeat will be regular like the ticking of a clock. The amount of time  between each  beats will be the same and if it is not, this is considered abnormal. Measuring and recording the pulse is simple. It can b e done in  many places in the body, but the two most common sites used to check the pulse are a ) the chest, directly over the heart, using a stethoscope, and b) on the side of the wrist using the radial artery. The pulse can be increased or slowed down by illness, injury, infection, drugs, the environment, or activity level. The normal pulse for an adult should be regular and between 60 and 100 beats per minute. A pulse rate that is abnormally slow is called bradycardia. A pulse rate that is abnormally fast is called tachycardia. The two most accurate places to measure the pulse are the radial artery and the chest.

Procedure: 

1. Radial artery: The radial artery is located on the wrist ( on the side opposite the back of the hand) just below the base of the thumb. You can find it taking two fingers and placing them in this area: you should easily feel a rhythmic pulse. Count the pulse for 60 seconds and then multiply times by two; the result will be the heart rate. Do not use your thumb to count the pulse. Many people have a strong pulse in their thumbs and this can interfere with accurately feeling someone's pulse.
2. The chest: The heart is located on the left side of the chest, approximately midway between the waist and the shoulder. Place your stethoscope in that area and listen for the heartbeat. Count for 60 second and then multiply times two; the result will be pulse rate.

Report: Heart rate and pulse rate recorder.