Ethan Rhodes
Heart rate, or pulse rate, is a vital sign that can be measured in a hospital or at home. It is the number of times the heart beats per minute. A healthy heart rate for adults is usually between 60 and 100 beats per minute, but this can vary depending on age, gender, recent activity, and other factors. Heart rate can be measured manually by pressing on the arteries close to the skin at the wrist or neck to feel the pulse, then counting the number of beats for 15 seconds and multiplying by four. In hospitals, heart rate can be measured using digital monitors, which are popular due to their ease of use and automatic timing capabilities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Heart rate measurement | Counting the number of heartbeats in 60 seconds |
| Pulse rate | The number of times the heart beats per minute |
| Normal pulse rate for healthy adults | 60-100 beats per minute |
| Heart rate monitors | Smart rings, pulse oximeters, smartphone apps, smartwatches, fitness trackers, wrist-worn monitors |
| Resting heart rate | The number of heartbeats per minute while at rest |
| Recommended time to measure resting heart rate | Just after waking up in the morning |
| Recommended resting heart rate measurement technique | Counting the number of beats for 15 seconds and multiplying by 4 |
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What You'll Learn
Using a pulse oximeter
Pulse oximeters are commonly used in hospitals to measure heart rate and are also available for personal use. They are small devices that clip onto a finger and use optical detection to track pulse rate and blood oxygen levels.
Pulse oximetry is based on the principle of light absorption. The device consists of single or multiple LEDs and a photodiode in an enclosed arrangement. The LEDs emit light at specific wavelengths (usually 660nm and 940nm for a two-LED sensor), which are absorbed differently by various blood components. The blood components absorb different wavelengths, and the concentration of these components also determines the degree of absorption. The light that is not absorbed by the blood is converted into a photo-current by the photodiode, which is then processed by the device to calculate the heart rate.
The MAX30100 is a popular pulse oximeter that integrates a pulse oximeter and a heart rate monitor. It has two LEDs (a red LED at 660nm and an infrared LED at 920nm), a photodetector, specialised optics, an ambient light filter, and a 16-bit delta-sigma ADC converter. It also has an internal temperature sensor to compensate for temperature effects on the measurement.
Pulse oximeters provide a simple, painless way to measure heart rate and blood oxygen levels. They are widely used in hospitals and can also be purchased for personal use to monitor one's vital signs.
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With a digital blood pressure monitor
Measuring Heart Rate with a Digital Blood Pressure Monitor
Digital blood pressure monitors are an effective way to measure heart rate, alongside blood pressure. They are widely used in hospitals and are also available for home use. They are considered the most popular blood pressure measuring device due to their ease of use and legibility.
The device consists of a cuff that is placed snugly around the upper arm, at heart level. The cuff is inflated with air, either manually by squeezing a rubber bulb or automatically by the device itself. As the cuff inflates, it becomes tight and may cause some discomfort, but only for a few seconds. The cuff then slowly releases the air, and the device records the readings.
Readings
The display screen will show the systolic and diastolic blood pressures, along with the heart rate. The systolic pressure is the first number, indicating the pressure exerted by the blood on the artery walls when the heart beats. The diastolic pressure is the second number, representing the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats. These readings are important for understanding cardiovascular health and can help detect issues like hypertension.
Tips for Accurate Readings
It is important to ensure that the cuff size is appropriate for the user, especially for children. The arm should be bare, with the cuff placed directly above the bend of the elbow. The user should be seated with their back straight and supported, feet flat on the floor, and arms resting on a flat surface. It is recommended to take multiple readings, allowing for a few minutes of quiet rest between each reading.
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Wearable devices
While wearable devices are not as accurate as approved medical devices, they can still be valuable tools for monitoring health and enhancing routine monitoring in hospitals. They can also be used as an early warning system to detect clinical deterioration. For example, a study was conducted where 50 stable patients in the intensive care unit wore a wrist-worn personal fitness tracker (PFT) for 24 hours, and the heart rate values were compared to those derived from continuous electrocardiographic (cECG) monitoring. The PFT-derived values were slightly lower than those from cECG monitoring, but the overall accuracy of the Fitbit Charge HR was less than that of continuous pulse oximetry.
Another example of a wearable device is the chest-band monitor, which uses electrical detection to measure heart rate directly, rather than pulse rate, making it more accurate, especially during exercise. There are also adhesive sensor patches that can be stuck onto the chest to monitor the heart's electrical activity, such as the loop memory monitor and the implanted loop recorder. The latter is implanted under the skin and can be used for multi-year monitoring.
In addition to measuring heart rate, some wearable devices can also measure blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and other parameters such as speed, location, and distance using sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and GPS. These devices often connect wirelessly to smartphones and computers, allowing users easy access to review their heart rate data. While the data from these devices can be useful, it is important to note that they should not be used as a substitute for medical care.
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Manually checking the wrist or neck
Heart rate, or pulse rate, is a vital sign that can be manually checked by healthcare professionals in hospitals. It is the number of times the heart beats per minute. The pulse rate can be manually checked by firmly pressing on the arteries, which are located close to the skin at certain points of the body.
The wrist and neck are two common spots to manually check a person's pulse rate. To check your pulse on your wrist, place your index and middle fingers on the inside of your wrist, below the base of your thumb, and press gently. To check your pulse on your neck, place your fingers on the side of your neck, just under your jawline, and press gently. You should be able to feel the pulses of blood going through the radial artery in your wrist or the carotid artery in your neck.
Once you have found your pulse, you can count the number of heartbeats in 60 seconds. This number is your heart rate or "beats per minute" (bpm). If you are counting manually, it may be easier to count the number of beats for 15 seconds and then multiply that number by four to get your heart rate. For example, if you count 20 beats in 15 seconds, your heart rate is 80 beats per minute.
It is important to note that a person's heart rate can fluctuate throughout the day and may be affected by factors such as exercise, illness, injury, and emotions, caffeine consumption, and recent activity. A healthy heart rate for adults over 18 typically ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute while at rest. However, athletes and young adults may have heart rates as low as 40 beats per minute. If you notice an unusually fast or slow heart rate, it is recommended to contact a healthcare provider.
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Smartphone apps
While equipment such as chest strap heart rate monitors or electrocardiograms are designed for the purpose of measuring heart rate, smartphone apps can also be used to obtain a potential measurement of your heart rate. These apps use your phone's camera to measure your heart rate, and there are two types: contact PPG-based apps and non-contact PPG-based apps. Contact PPG-based apps tend to be more accurate than non-contact PPG-based apps as they require the user to touch the camera lens, allowing the camera flash to illuminate the blood vessels under the skin. However, it is important to note that these apps are not intended for medical use and should be used only for informational purposes.
One such app is the Heart Rate Monitor app, which is compatible with Samsung, Redmi, and Motorola devices. It provides accurate pulse measurements and expert insights from the pulse monitor. The app also allows users to log blood sugar and blood pressure readings and provides visuals that simplify these readings. Additionally, it tracks stress levels by measuring pulse rate and HRV, giving an overview of emotional well-being.
Another app, Cardiio, measures your heart rate in under 15 seconds and provides a free circuit workout to help improve your stats. It is completely free to use, but additional features can be purchased. Cardiograph is another app that measures your pulse while at rest or in motion. It allows users to input what they are doing while taking their pulse so that the numbers are stored with added context in the health history.
Instant Heart Rate is another popular app that has been featured in various news outlets and is used in heart research. It measures heart rate in less than 10 seconds and provides a real-time chart of every heartbeat.
It is important to note that while these apps can provide convenient measurements of heart rate, they should not be solely relied upon for medical purposes. App readings should be taken with a grain of salt, and users should consult their healthcare providers for any concerns or symptoms of heart-related issues.
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Frequently asked questions
Heart rate is measured in hospitals using wired medical heart rate monitors with multiple sensors. These devices use electrocardiography (ECG or EKG) to measure electrical heart information. PPG (Photoplethysmography) sensors, which use light-based technology to measure the blood volume controlled by the heart's pumping action, are also used.
You can measure your heart rate at home using a smartwatch, smartphone, or a heart rate monitor. You can also manually check your heart rate by placing your index and middle fingers on your neck just under your jawline or on the inside of your wrist, counting the number of beats in 15 seconds, and multiplying that number by 4.
A normal heart rate for adults over 18 is usually between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm). Children tend to have higher resting heart rates than adults. Athletes and young adults can have heart rates of 40-60 bpm.
You should go to the hospital if you have symptoms of a heart attack or other serious heart problems. These symptoms include arrhythmias, heart palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or a resting heart rate consistently slower than 60 bpm or faster than 100 bpm.
