How to measure heart rate

Heart rate is a term that often appears around us. It has a fixed range to indicate normal. If it exceeds the range, it means that there is something wrong with the body. However, for many people, to measure heart rate, they either go to the hospital or use fixed instruments. However, in addition to these things that we need to pay attention to when measuring heart rate, there are many more things that we ignore. It is often these ignored things that cause the heart rate to appear not so normal when measured.

A normal heartbeat is very regular, at 60 to 100 beats per minute. If the pulse is irregular, you may have arrhythmia.

Arrhythmia can occur repeatedly, and most people will not go to the hospital for treatment every time, because the pulse rate and heartbeat rate of a normal person are the same (except for patients with arrhythmia). Therefore, by measuring the speed, rhythm, and strength of the pulse, many changes in the disease can be seen. Measuring the pulse of the elderly is an important method to observe changes in the disease.

Stop exercising, drinking coffee, drinking alcohol and smoking 1 hour before measurement, and rest for at least 5 minutes before measurement. When measuring, you can lie down or sit, relax your legs, stop talking, and gently press the second, third, and fourth fingertips of your right hand on the radial artery (on the wrist side, anterior and medial to the radial styloid process) and count for 1 minute. If it is inconvenient to touch the radial artery, you can touch the temporal artery (in front of the tragus), carotid artery (on both sides of the trachea in the front of the neck) and dorsalis pedis artery (in the middle of the dorsum of the foot) to measure the pulse.

The pulse feels discontinuous, with long intervals, and at the same time a strong heartbeat is felt, followed by a pause, which may be premature beats or atrioventricular block. In a calm state, if the pulse exceeds 100 beats/minute, it is called tachycardia. If the pulse is less than 60 beats/minute, it is called bradycardia. If the heart rate is less than 40 beats/minute, it is often accompanied by atrioventricular conduction block. The pulse beats extremely irregularly, with uncertain speed and strength, and feels upset. It may be atrial fibrillation. The pulse and heartbeat are inconsistent because the heartbeat sometimes cannot be transmitted to the pulse. The above is just my preliminary self-judgment of arrhythmia. To confirm the diagnosis, you need to go to the hospital for an electrocardiogram and other examinations to determine whether you have arrhythmia.

Heart rate refers to the number of times the heart beats per minute. I believe most people are familiar with this concept. So how do you measure your heart rate?

1. Measure the pulse and use it instead of the heart rate;

2. Electronic blood pressure monitor;

3. An instrument that can be clipped on the finger, which can measure pulse pressure and heart rate at the same time;

4. Professionally measure heart rate and do an electrocardiogram;

5. 24-hour dynamic electrocardiogram.