The Pulse (Heart Beat)

The pulse is a pressure wave of the heart that travels along the arteries and arterioles when the left ventricle contracts and forces blood out. It can be felt where an artery can be pressed against a bone. You can do this most easily by feeling the big artery on the left or right side of the neck, or the artery in the wrist (see Figure 3.5). The normal pulse rate for a healthy adult is in a range of 60 - 80 beats per minute but it is slightly higher in children. If the pulse rate is less than 60 beats/minute, the pulse is considered to be "slow" (bradycardia), and if it is more than 80 beats/minutes it is considered to be a fast pulse (Tachycardia).


Figure 3.5 Pressure points where you can feel the pulse.


Blood Pressure (BP)

Blood pressure (BP) refers to the force that is exerted by the blood against the blood vessels wall. It is measured in millimetre of mercury (mm Hg).


Figure 3.6 . Steps and techniques of measuring / taking / blood pressure.


The pressure in the cuff is increased until the blood flow stops, and then the flow gradually returns as the cuff is slowly deflated. This enables you to measure the blood pressure when the artery is closed by pressure from the cuff, and when the artery is fully open.

A blood pressure measurement is two numbers written one above the other. The top number tells you the systolic pressure, which is the pressure at the moment the heart beats and pushes blood into the body. The bottom number tells you the diastolic pressure when the heart relaxes between each beat so it can refill with blood. The average normal adult BP ranges from 90/60 - 140/90 mmHg,

Last modified: Tuesday, 28 February 2017, 7:02 PM