Normal Pulse Rate for Adults and Infants
Pulse rates will vary by person, age and activity. Stress or activity will make your heart beat faster. While you sleep, it will beat slower. Certain medications may affect the heart rate as well. Infections or dehydration can cause a fast heart rate. There are acceptable age-specific heart rate ranges used in the health care field.
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Acceptable Ranges
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Heart rate, or pulse, is measured by number of beats per minute. Acceptable heart rate ranges are as follows: adults 60 to 100 beats/min, teenagers 60 to 90, school-aged children 75 to 100, preschoolers 80 to 110, toddlers 90 to 140, and infants 120 to 160.
Abnormalities
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When a pulse rate is faster than the acceptable ranges, it is called tachycardia. When it is slower than acceptable ranges, it is called bradycardia.
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Assessment
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When a pulse rate is assessed, pulse rhythm is also assessed. If the pulse is not rhythmic, it could indicate another problem and should be monitored.
Considerations
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Some people will have low pulse rates that are normal for them. For example, an athlete such as a runner will generally have a lower pulse rate than someone who does not run daily. The doctor will take fitness level into consideration when assessing a pulse rate.
Pulse Locations
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There are 10 major locations on the human body for assessing pulse rates: temporal (over temporal bone of head), carotid (in the neck), apical (left side of chest), femoral (inner top of thigh), popliteal (behind the knee), posterior tibial (inner ankle), dorsalis pedis (top of foot), ulnar (ulnar side of forearm), radial (thumb side of arm at wrist) and brachial (upper arm). The radial location is used most often because it is easy to feel.
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References
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