The question of what your pulse rate should be is one we all frequently research throughout the day. As is well known, pulse is the pounding sensation felt when you press your finger on an artery in your wrist or neck, caused by the blood pressure generated by your heartbeat. In other words, it's the pressure exerted on your arteries by the blood pumping from your heart with each beat. You can easily feel this pressure by placing your finger on the arteries in certain areas.

In adults, the pulse rate should be between 60 and 100 beats per minute when the individual is physically rested and mentally calm. This is considered normal. Athletes may also have a lower heart rate, with a range of 40 to 60 beats per minute considered normal. Even exercise and inactivity can affect heart rate.

You can continue reading our article to find an answer to the question "What should your pulse be?" The best places to measure your pulse  are divided into different areas, including your wrists and the carotid artery in your neck. These areas include the inside of your elbow, your groin, your temple, and the top of your foot.

Based on the information above, you should place your pulse where you feel it best and count the number of beats you feel for one minute. This number gives you your heart rate, or pulse rate. We discussed the question of what your pulse rate should be above. However, measuring your pulse after exertion without resting can cause it to appear higher than it actually is. A person under stress will also have a higher pulse rate. In this situation, a higher pulse rate is natural.

You can read our article to find the answer to the question of what your pulse rate should be.

Symptoms of High Heart Rate

A high heart rate, also known as tachycardia, is a higher-than-normal pulse rate at rest.  Symptoms of a high heart rate  include:

• Palpitations
• dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Chest discomfort
• Chest pain
• Fainting

A high heart rate can manifest as the symptoms listed above. The causes of tachycardia should be considered in three groups.

1-  The heart, one of the most important organs in the human body, can sometimes beat rapidly to meet the body's oxygen needs. This condition is not considered pathological (disease-related) and does not require treatment. Generally, exertion, stress (excitement, fear, anger, etc.), or pain in a specific area are the best examples.

2-  In some cases, the heart can beat faster due to a disease or an external factor. The main diseases that can cause this increased pulse rate are:

• Heart failure,
• Congenital heart diseases,
• Increased fever due to infection,
• Anemia,
• It is the overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).

Smoking is one of the main external factors that can increase your pulse rate. At the same time;

• Excessive caffeine consumption
• Alcohol consumption,
• Drug use
• Side effects of the medications used may be included.

3-  In addition to the conditions listed above, the pulse rate may be elevated due to disturbances in the heart's electrical system. These conditions are true rhythm disturbances and  are classified as arrhythmias  . Some of these conditions can be life-threatening and require immediate treatment. Some of the conditions listed above are relatively benign rhythm disturbances and should be handled with caution.

Stay tuned for your questions such as what should be your pulse rate and what should be a high pulse rate.

Tachycardia Treatment

Before starting treatment for tachycardia, the cause of the high heart rate must be identified. It's important to note that treating the disease or condition that caused the tachycardia will also treat the tachycardia. For example, treating an infection in a patient with fever with antibiotics or normalizing thyroid hormone levels in someone with hyperthyroidism will also normalize the heart rate.

If a high heart rate, or tachycardia, is caused by a disorder in the conduction system, it can be corrected with appropriate medications or by administering an electric shock to the chest while the patient is asleep, which we call "cardioversion." It's important to note that in some cases, the patient may require treatment with an interventional procedure called "ablation."

What should your pulse be, what would be a problem, or for other questions, you can contact Magnet Hospital.

Low Heart Rate Symptoms

The opposite of the aforementioned tachycardia, a low heart rate is a condition in which a person's pulse rate is lower than normal. This condition is also called "bradycardia." We recommend reading our article carefully to find the answer to your heart rate question.

So, what are the symptoms of bradycardia? We'll discuss some points to give you the most accurate answer. These are:

• dizziness
• Blackout
• Weakness/fatigue
• Don't get tired easily
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Fainting

A low pulse rate, which manifests as the symptoms mentioned above, can be due to a disease or condition, or sometimes due to a disorder in the heart's conduction system. It would be extremely beneficial to proceed with caution. A low pulse rate can also increase the risk in some cases.

We can give examples of diseases and conditions that cause low pulse rate, or bradycardia, as follows:

• Underactivity of the thyroid gland (hypothyroidism),
• Sleep apnea (OSAS),
• Low or high levels of some minerals in the blood,
• Poisoning by some drugs and honey (mad honey)

The conditions listed above are common causes of a low pulse rate. It's important to note that disorders in the heart's conduction system are more common in older adults, due to the aging of the conduction system. Furthermore, conduction system disorders can occur at any age. These conditions can be caused by blockages in the coronary arteries, congenital heart disease, or intracardiac infections.

We offer a well-equipped answer to questions about what your pulse rate should be.

How is bradycardia (low heart rate) treated?

Bradycardia is a condition that requires treatment. Before treating this condition, the cause of bradycardia must be determined. If the individual, or rather the patient, has conditions such as hypothyroidism or sleep apnea, these conditions should be treated. If the low heart rate, or bradycardia, is caused by medications, these medications should be discontinued or their dosage adjusted.

In addition to the information above, if a low heart rate is life-threatening and the cause cannot be eliminated, a pacemaker may be necessary. This pacemaker will allow the person to return to normal function.

You can get detailed treatment for bradycardia and low pulse by applying to Magnet Hospital.

All the information we have gathered demonstrates the importance of maintaining a normal heartbeat. In addition to these conditions, heartbeat abnormalities, other than those related to abnormalities in the heart's conduction system, are generally due to non-cardiac causes. These conditions are treated by the attending physician. The primary responsibility for managing heart rate abnormalities not related to a specific disease lies with the individual. The patient should implement appropriate lifestyle changes.

What the patient should do to regulate their heart rate is generally determined as quitting smoking if they are a smoker, staying away from caffeinated beverages, staying away from stress or seeking professional support, using medication prescribed by their doctor if necessary, exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet.

Professional support from a physician is essential, especially for arrhythmias. The patient should be evaluated by a cardiologist. Depending on the type of arrhythmia, the following may be considered:

• Drug therapy,
• Cardioversion,
• Treatment with ablation or pacemaker implantation should be performed.

Based on the information above, we've attempted to answer the question of what your heart rate should be. To reiterate, the most definitive answer is that an adult's heart rate should be between 60 and 100 beats per minute when the individual is physically rested and mentally calm.

As Magnet Hospital, we offer solutions to all heart rate problems. For answers to your questions about your heart rate, please contact us.