Your Pulse Can Be a Good Indicator Of Your Health

The heart rate is an important indicator of health. When the heart beats, it is pumping blood and oxygen throughout the body. When it is not functioning well, it can have devastating effects on the body. A person’s heart should not beat too fast or too slow and should have a normal rhythm. While occasionally the heart may have a palpation, if it starts to happen often or there is something going on with the pulse, a doctor will need to be seen. The heart rate is affected by many different things, from the environment to the food a person consumes. If there is an issue with the heart rate, the cause needs to be found out as soon as possible so that the issue can be corrected. Left untreated, heart rate issues can lead to heart attack and stroke.

What Affects Your Pulse

Some of the issues that can affect your pulse includes: 

• Sleep - If a person suffers from insomnia and is not getting enough sleep, the heart rate can be higher at rest. When a person gets a full night’s sleep, this can help the body to rest and recover. Getting at least seven to nine hours of sleep is imperative for heart health.
• Nutrition - If a person eats a lot of fatty foods and sugary foods, this can negatively affect the heart rate. If the arteries become clogged, this can lead to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. A person should be eating plenty of unprocessed foods to ensure that their heart is healthy.
• Weight management - If a person is overweight, it may put stress on the person’s heart. Maintaining a healthy weight will help to ensure that the pulse rate is good.
• Smoking - Smoking can cause severe issues for the cardiovascular system. If a person is smoking, they should work on quitting.
• Hydration - It is important to stay properly hydrated. Being adequately hydrated helps the blood flow well throughout the body.
• Stress and anxiety - Managing stress and anxiety is important for heart health. While managing stress is not easy, there are things people can do, like doing yoga, that can help reduce the amount of stress they are under.
• Exercise -  Three times a week, a person should do an hour of aerobic exercise. Things like walking, running, and cycling are all great options. These will help to maintain a healthy resting heart rate.

Healthy Pulse Rates

A healthy pulse rate for an adult is between 60 to 100 beats a minute during rest. When a person has a lower heart rate, this indicates great cardiac fitness. Some athletes that have trained well may have a resting heart rate of around 40 beats per minute.

There are several things that can play into the heart rate. Body position, age, fitness activity, emotions, body size, and more can determine what the heart rate is.

Heart rates will vary widely from person to person. A person that has a resting heart rate of over 100 beats per minute may have tachycardia, which needs to be corrected. If a person who is not an athlete has a heart rate of under 60 beats a minute, this is known as bradycardia. If either of these happens, the person needs to see the doctor. This is especially true if they have other issues like shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting.

Measuring Your Own Pulse

When a person wants to measure their resting heart rate, they should do so first thing in the morning before they get up and do anything. A person should never take their resting heart rate after moving around as the heart will be more active. The heart rate should be somewhere between 60-80 beats per minute. To do this, a person will need to find an artery and touch the pulse. They should measure how many beats there are per minute. If a person is unsure if they are doing it correctly, a heart rate monitor can be purchased, and it can be read with that. If the heart rate is too low or too high, the person should make an appointment with their doctor to ensure that there is nothing going on with the cardiovascular system.