Measuring Pulse Rate
- The contraction of the ventricles forces a large volume of blood through the arteries, which expand to accommodate this
- This can be felt as a pulse, especially in places where an artery is close to the skin surface or passes over a bone
- For this reason, the carotid artery or radial artery can be used to measure pulse rate
- The carotid artery runs down the side of the neck and a pulse can be felt just below the jaw
- The radial artery passes over the wrist bones where a pulse can be felt just below the base of the thumb
- For this reason, the carotid artery or radial artery can be used to measure pulse rate
- A pulse can be taken as follows:
- Place two fingers on the radial or carotid artery and gently compress the blood vessel
- Count the number of pulses felt for 60 seconds
- Alternatively, you could count for 30 seconds and multiply by 2
- Do not use your thumb when taking a pulse, since it also has a pulse that can lead to inaccurate results
- There are many digital devices that can also be used to determine pulse rate
- These include data loggers, smartwatches or fitness bands
- They scan the blood flow through the radial artery to measure pulse rate
Measuring pulse diagram
The radial or carotid artery can be used to measure the pulse rate
