What is a Normal Pulse?
The pulse of the body can be defined as the heart rate of a particular person, or simply put it can be termed as the number of beats which the heart registers in a minute.
There is of course no standard normal pulse rate that applies across the board to each and every person. One’s normal pulse will often differ and this difference will change according to the physical status of the individual. By physical status, we mean age, gender, physical activity, lifestyle, just to mention a few. Therefore, what this translates to is that the normal pulse of a baby will not be the same as that of its mother whose normal pulse will also differ from that of, say, an athlete.
Invariably though, one’s pulse when in a state of rest is lower than the pulse when engaging in some form of activity. It also goes without saying that the pulse will be directly proportional to the level of exertion the body is subjected to. The more strenuous the activity, the higher the pulse rate. The reason for this proportionality is the fact that when your body is subjected to higher levels of activity, the demand for oxygen is multiplied and thus your heart has to pump blood faster to meet this demand.
It is very simple to measure your pulse rate from the comfort of your home. All you need is to have some rudimentary knowledge on how to do this. There are several points from which you can determine your pulse. One is the wrist where we find the wrist pulse and the other is the neck where the neck pulse can be gauged. Simply press your fingers lightly against an artery and you will feel a rhythmic beating. That is your pulse. Don’t forget to consult a qualified medical practitioner if you think that your pulse rate is abnormal.