Discussing heart rate vs. pulse can be a confusing when trying to decipher the two. Essentially, they are two separate measurements and indicators of health but are closely related. The heart is a muscular pump that with each heart beat pumps blood throughout the body. A pulse is what you feel over an artery as the pressure increases within it following each heartbeat.
MultiCare's Pulse Heart Institute is the Pacific Northwest's destination for heart health, offering a comprehensive range of the most advanced cardiac, thoracic and vascular services available. Aug 24, 2020 Heart rate or pulse rate is the number of times your heart beats in a minute. It is a simple measure to know how much your heart works during rest or activities. Heart rate is one of the vital signs that are checked regularly whenever you visit your doctor, or when you get admitted to the hospital. Aug 25, 2017 A pulse is what you feel over an artery as the pressure increases within it following each heartbeat. For adults, the general consensus is a normal pulse rate falls into the range of 60 to 100. Apr 11, 2019 Heart rates that are consistently above 100, even when the patient is sitting quietly, can sometimes be caused by an abnormal heart rhythm. A high heart rate can also mean the heart muscle is weakened by a virus or some other problem that forces it to beat more often to pump enough blood to the rest of the body. If you measure your heart rate (take your pulse) before, during and after physical activity, you’ll notice it will increase over the course of the exercise. The greater the intensity of the exercise, the more your heart rate will increase. When you stop exercising, your heart rate does not immediately return to your normal (resting) heart.
For adults, the general consensus is a normal pulse rate falls into the range of 60 to 100 beats per minute. Having a rate that exceeds this is known as tachycardia – a heart rate that exceeds normal resting rate. Tachycardia may be caused by hypovolemia, rises in body temperature, stress, heart disease, exercise, or even when using certain medication.
What are heart and pulse rates?
Heart rate is measured by counting the number of heart beats in one minute; beats per minute. A heart beat is the sounds of the heart valves opening and closing in response to pressure differences. During each heart beat blood is pushed throughout the body, augmenting blood pressure and therefore the pulse rate in the main arteries. Accurate heart rates can be measured from the thorax with a heart rate transmitter or by electrocardiograph (ECG/EKG).
Pulse rate is the measure palpable blood pressure increases throughout the body that occurs with each heartbeat. Pulse rate is basically the physical sensation of a heart beat felt through the arterial vascular system. Pulse can be measured from the earlobe with a pulse meter known as a Photo Reflectance or Infrared Sensor Monitor. Your pulse can vary with body movements and should, therefore, be measured while at rest. An easy way to measure pulse rate is to place your fingers at the base of the thumb at the wrist, or at the neck, just next to your windpipe.
Heart rate vs pulse rate: The difference
The cardiovascular system is a complex network of specialized muscle and tissue. They all work together to ensure that oxygen-rich blood is being supplied to the far reaches of the human body. No organ is more important than the brain, which is why when our blood pressure becomes too low we often collapse or faint so our head will be on a lower plane, horizontally on the floor with the rest of the body. This is to circumvent the effects of gravity and help the heart pump blood to the brain more easily.
Our heart rate and pulse rate are key factors to ensuring blood pressure is high enough to sustain the perfusion of blood to all organs of the human body. While both are considered similar each represents a different mechanic of how the body is responding to differences in blood pressure.
Under normal condition, both the heart rate and pulse rate tend to be the same, but in conditions that affect either only the heart or only the blood vessels, these values may differ. The heart rate is the measured value obtained per minute when listening to the sounds the heart produces. The pulse rate is the measured value per minute when palpating the arterial vessels through the sense of touch and is a good indicator of various blood pressures throughout the body.
Your pulse rate is dependent on your heart rate. For if your heart were to stop beating you will not produce a pulse as there is no blood being pumped through the arterial vascular system.
Individuals with certain heart conditions where the heart does not efficiently pump blood with each contraction, they may have a pulse that is lower than the measured heart rate. Heart rate can also be affected by other factors such as body mass, athleticism, alcohol use, and smoking cigarettes.
In normal healthy individuals, the pulse rate can be used to measure heart rate.
| Heart Rate | Pulse Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The number of times the heart contracts and expands over a period of time | Arterial pressure that can be observed in a human body |
| Instrument | Using a heart rate monitor or with an EKG machine. | Using a pulse meter or a photo-reflectance or infrared monitor. |
| Activity | Changes dynamically with any kind of physical activity | Changes dynamically with any kind of physical activity |
| Range | The rate of heart should be around 60-100 bpm to be considered normal | The level of the pulse would be at a similar range as the heart rate in a healthy individual |
How are heart rate and pulse rate related?
The source of a pulse is your heart. It can be understood as having a ripple effect throughout your vascular system much like throwing a stone into a pond. But the human body is vastly more complex as under normal operating conditions it has to maintain a certain level of homeostasis- a stable equilibrium between interdependent elements.
Health care providers have learned to use heart rate and pulse rate as two separate characteristics. While they are intrinsically bound they can differ in certain ways they may not fall in line with the current health status of the other.
Heart rates vary by age, with ranges for newborns and older adults differing vastly. Yet these are all still considered normal heart rate values. A normal newborn heart rate falls between 70-190 beats per min, while an adults heart rate falls between 60-100 beats per minute. This reference for adults can be more variable as seen in an athletic individual who’s normal resting heart rate has reached a level that is below normal owing to their greater level of fitness.
Effects of various health conditions and exercises on heart and pulse rate
Our cardiovascular system is a dynamic and resilient structure capable of overcoming several short comings. We see this first hand in those who live unhealthy lifestyles, eating foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol and not getting enough exercise. These individuals have weakened their vascular system by clogging their blood vessels with plaque and degrading blood vessel integrity leading to diagnosis such as hypertension (high blood pressure). In cases such as these, the heart has to work extra hard to pass blood through narrow blood vessels. it achieves this by increasing the force it has to push, which leads to a rise in blood pressure. This rise occurs over years of neglect of good health habits.
The dynamic nature of the cardiovascular system works in the immediate as well. This can be appreciated as temporary rises in blood pressure while we exercise to help improve blood flow or during the time of anxiety were our body feels it needs to get ready to either fight or run away. Variations in temperature also have a distinct effect on heart rate as one UK study found that a one-degree change in body temperature could increase or lower the pulse as much as 10 beats per minute.
The things we consume such as cigarette smoke, alcohol, and various drugs can also affect your heart rate on a chemical level. Sometimes this can be dangerously so. Much like other muscles in the body, the heart is also connected to the central nervous system which can be influenced by chemical augmentation.
While heart rate and pulse rate is seen as two sides of the same coin, they could be thought of as different values that are related but can vary depending on the circumstance. Our body is a complex organism composed of a rich network of interconnecting organs and tissue all working together to help keep you alive.
Heart rate, also knows as pulse rate refers to the number of heartbeats per minute (bpm). The heart can pump oxygen-rich blood to the tissues of the body through regular contractions. Your heart rate varies due to many factors. It is usually at its lowest during sleep and at its highest during periods of exercise. Age, gender, or physical condition can also cause different heart rates.
Heart rate is the basic indicator of overall heart health and fitness. For those who love fitness or care about health, it is especially important to pay attention to heart rate. In order to take full advantage of workouts, it is best to keep your heart rate between 60% and 85% of your maximum heart rate, which is called aerobic heart rate.
However, how to track the heart rate when working out? How to know whether the heart rate is in the normal range? This article provides you with a variety of heart rate charts that can help find out the normal resting and maximum heart rates.
5 Heart Rate Charts Help Monitor Your Pulse Rate
How to know what is resting heart rate and maximum heart rate?How to determine the target heart rate?Let’s discuss it below.
1. Normal Heart Rate Chart When Resting By age
Resting heart rate refers to the number of heartbeats per minute when your body is calm or at complete rest. It represents the work that your heart must do when your body is not active. This indicator can well measure the health level of your heart.
The best time to measure your resting heart rate is before any activity in the early morning. Generally speaking, fewer heartbeats per minute and lower resting heart rate indicate a better health level of the heart. This means that the heart does not have to work hard to pump blood throughout the body.
| Age | 18-25 years | 26-35 years | 36-45 years | 46-55 years | 56-65 years | 65+years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Well-conditioned Athlete | 49-55 | 49-54 | 50-56 | 50-57 | 51-56 | 50-55 |
| Good | 56-65 | 55-65 | 57-66 | 58-67 | 57-67 | 56-65 |
| Normal | 70-73 | 71-74 | 71-75 | 72-76 | 72-75 | 70-73 |
| Bad | 82+ | 82+ | 83+ | 84+ | 82+ | 80+ |
2. Resting Heart Rate Chart For Children
The resting heart rate of children is very different from adults, and the heart rate is often faster than adults. This is a child’s resting heart rate chart.
| Age | Heart Rate |
|---|---|
| Newborn(0-3months) | 100-150 bpm |
| Infants(3-12months) | 90-150 bpm |
| Childeren(ages 1-10) | 70-130 bpm |
| Childeren(Over ages 10) | 60-90 bpm |
Cause Of Pulse Over 100
3. Maximum Heart Rate Chart
Maximum heart rate refers to the maximum number of heartbeats in one minute during strenuous exercise. It can be used to measure training intensity and fitness level.
You can measure your maximum heart rate to assess whether physical exercise is sufficient to increase your heart rate. And to ensure that the heart rate remains within an acceptable range during exercise.
The maximum heart rate can be measured after completing the exercise test. It can also be determined by standard formulas based on age and gender. The common formula for calculating the maximum heart rate is as follows:
- Maximum HR for men = 220-your current age
- Maximum HR for women = 226-your current age
For example, the maximum heart rate of a 32-year-old man is 220-32 = 188 beats per minute.
Heart Pulse Rate
| Age | Maximum Heart Rate For Men | Maximum Heart Rate For Women |
|---|---|---|
| 20 years | 200 bpm | 206 bpm |
| 25 years | 195 bpm | 201 bpm |
| 30 years | 190 bpm | 196 bpm |
| 35 years | 185 bpm | 191 bpm |
| 40 years | 180 bpm | 186 bpm |
| 45 years | 175 bpm | 181 bpm |
| 50 years | 170 bpm | 176 bpm |
| 55 years | 165 bpm | 171 bpm |
| 60 years | 160 bpm | 166 bpm |
| 65 years | 155 bpm | 161 bpm |
| 70 years | 150 bpm | 156 bpm |
4. Target Heart Rate Chart
What is the target heart rate? The target heart rate refers to the heart rate zone that can maximize the benefit and reduce the risk. The ideal target heart rate during exercise is usually 50-85% of the maximum heart rate.
The ideal target heart rate for moderately strenuous exercise is usually about 50-69% of the maximum heart rate. The target heart rate for vigorous physical exercise should be controlled at 70% to 85% of the maximum heart rate. It is recommended not to exceed 85% of the maximum heart rate, which will increase the risk of cardiovascular and orthopedic injuries.
With the target heart rate Chart, you can determine whether you should increase or decrease your exercise intensity. An exercise that exceeds the target heart rate is often not beneficial to the body.
In addition, you need to know that the target heart rate varies from person to person, and this value may increase or decrease depending on your health. Moreover, the target heart rate is only one factor, and you also need to consider your feelings during exercises such as muscle fatigue and difficulty breathing.
| Age | Heart Rate Zone For Men | Heart Rate Zone For women |
|---|---|---|
| 20 years | 100-170 bpm | 103-175 bpm |
| 25 years | 98-166 bpm | 100-171 bpm |
| 30 years | 95-162 bpm | 98-167 bpm |
| 35 years | 93-157 bpm | 95-162 bpm |
| 40 years | 90-153 bpm | 93-158 bpm |
| 45 years | 88-149 bpm | 90-154 bpm |
| 50 years | 85-145 bpm | 88-150 bpm |
| 55 years | 83-140 bpm | 85-145 bpm |
| 60 years | 80-136 bpm | 83-141 bpm |
| 65 years | 78-132 bpm | 80-137 bpm |
| 70 years | 75-128 bpm | 78-133 bpm |
5. Heart Rate Chart by Training Intensity
You can use this chart to determine your heart rate in different exercise intensity zones. This chart includes age, low intensity, moderate intensity, vigorous intensity, and the aerobic zone.
| Age | Low Intensity (57-63%) | Moderate Intensity (64-76%) | Aerobic Zone (70-80%) | Vigorous Intensity (77-95%) | Maximum Intensity (96-100%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Years | 97-116 | 116-135 | 135-155 | 145-164 | 194 |
| 25 Years | 95-114 | 114-134 | 133-152 | 143-162 | 190 |
| 30 Years | 93-112 | 112-131 | 131-149 | 140-159 | 187 |
| 35 Years | 92-110 | 110-128 | 128-147 | 138-156 | 183 |
| 40 Years | 90-108 | 108-126 | 126-144 | 135-153 | 180 |
| 45 Years | 88-106 | 106-124 | 124-141 | 133-150 | 177 |
| 50 Years | 87-104 | 104-121 | 121-139 | 130-147 | 173 |
| 55 Years | 95-102 | 102-119 | 119-136 | 128-145 | 170 |
| 60 Years | 83-100 | 100-117 | 117-133 | 125-142 | 167 |
| 65 Years | 82-98 | 98-114 | 114-131 | 123-139 | 163 |
| 70 Years | 80-96 | 96-112 | 112-128 | 120-136 | 160 |
How to Take Your Heart Rate or Pulse Rate?
Pulse is the heartbeat felt through the arterial wall of the wrist. It is commonly used to measure heart rate, expressed as beats per minute (BPM).
How to take your pulse with a radial pulse? You need to place your middle fingers on the inside of your opposite wrist. Once you feel the pulse, you can calculate the pulse within one minute.
You can also measure the pulse at the carotid artery on the side of the neck, the femoral artery on the front of the hip joint, or the temporal artery at the temple.
In addition, you can use a home sphygmomanometer or a digital fitness tracker on a smartphone for measurement. However, they are not as accurate as checking your heart rate manually.
Factors That May Affect Your Heart Rate
Normally, your heart rate is relatively stable, but there are some factors that may disturb your heart rate. This will make the number you measured differ from the range in the normal heart rate chart above. These factors include:
Fast heart rate:
Heart Pulse Rate
- Exercise or workout
- Certain medication
- Caffeine or alcohol intake
- Taking stimulants or smoking
- Anemia, thyroid or heart disease
- Fever caused by a cold
- Nervousness or excitement
Slow heart rate:
- Take certain medication
- Chronic heart disease or Hypothyroidism
- The body is at rest, such as sleeping
- Certain quiet activities such as meditation
- High-level fitness
- Peripheral arterial disease
Conclusion
Heart Pulse
Through the above heart rate charts, you can get an insight into the health level of your heart.By comparing the maximum rate with the target heart rate, you can effectively determine your exercise intensity.If your heart rate is out of the normal range during exercise, you should stop immediately.If the condition does not improve after a period of time, seek medical help as soon as possible.