Pulse Rate Chart
Using our Pulse Rate Chart, you can learn more about the heart's inner workings and how they may indicate overall health and well-being.
Fact Checked by RJ Gumban.
What is a Pulse Rate Chart?
A pulse rate chart is a reference tool that allows individuals and healthcare practitioners, such as nurses or health coaches, to track an individual's pulse rate. Pulse rate is how heart rate is measured, whereby by finding the pulse, we can gauge how quickly the heart is beating per minute (bpm) (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). The chart visually represents the ranges in which heart rate should sit within each age range, when individuals are awake but at rest, otherwise called resting heart rate (American Heart Association, 2023).
Normal pulse rates often sit between 60 and 100 beats per minute, which may differ due to physical fitness, stress, and medication (LeWine, 2023). However, heart rate can also change from minute to minute as a response to the environment or the type of activity the body is performing.
Every time the heart beats, it pumps blood through the arteries that travel through the body to deliver oxygen and nutrients to fuel its activities. This circulation results in higher pressure in the arteries every time the heart contracts, which stops as the heart relaxes and creates the pulse sensation that is felt in areas such as the neck, wrist, and elbow (Cleveland Clinic, 2022).
A healthy heart can adjust to accommodate the body’s needs, which is vital for an individual's health and well-being. Using a pulse rate chart can help indicate heart functioning and maybe a screening tool that health practitioners can use in routine wellness measurements.
Printable Pulse Rate Chart
Download this Pulse Rate Chart to learn more about the heart's inner workings.
How does it work?
Our pulse rate chart is an effective reference tool to help individuals and healthcare practitioners, like general practitioners or health coaches, monitor their pulse rate. The pulse rate chart provides recommended pulse rates (heart rates) by age, which can be used to identify whether an individual’s heart is functioning at a normal rate. Here are some steps that break down how to use the chart:
Step 1: Access the pulse rate chart
You can access our free Pulse Rate Chart here or download it as a PDF version to use as a reference.
Download the Printable Pulse Rate Chart here
Step 2: Find your pulse
The pulse point can be found by feeling any of the following arteries using light pressure of the ring and index fingers. Take care not to press too hard; if you cannot feel it in one area, it may feel stronger in another artery point. Try the following areas:
- Carotid artery (neck): trace your fingers along the earlobe until you reach below your jaw
- Radial artery (wrist): with palm facing the sky, press the area where the thumb meets the wrist
- Brachial artery (inside the elbow): with the palm facing the sky, find the hollow section of the elbow using your fingers. Then trace your upwards to the body, until you feel the pulse.
Alternatively, healthcare practitioners may find a pulse in the following areas. Note these are slightly more difficult to find on your own or without training:
- Abdominal aorta (belly)
- Popliteal artery (behind the knee)
- Apical artery (in the chest, above the heart)
Step 3: Determine pulse (heart) rate
Count how many pulses you feel in a timed minute, or count how many pulses you feel in 30 seconds, and multiply this value by two. This will give you the heart rate in beats per minute (bpm).
Step 4: Interpret the pulse rate chart
Using the pulse rate chart, compare the measured rate with the resting heart rate table. This will show whether the individual's resting heart rate is within the normal age range.
Pulse Rate Chart example (sample)
We have constructed the following example based on a fictitious character’s pulse rate to demonstrate how our Pulse Rate Chart operates in practice. You should use this as a reference when completing your own or a client’s pulse rate chart. Please consider that this is an example pulse rate chart that should not substitute health advice or personalized pulse rate charts.
You can access our Pulse Rate Chart Example here or download the Pulse Rate Chart PDF below:
Download the free Pulse Rate Chart example:
When would you use this chart?
The pulse rate chart can be used under various circumstances requiring measurement and monitoring of pulse rates and heart health. Here are some scenarios in which it would be beneficial to use a pulse rate chart:
Routine health checks
Using a pulse rate chart as a resource when conducting routine health measurements allows healthcare professionals to gain an indication of heart function and overall health status. Pulse rates out of the normative range may indicate an underlying health condition, such as anemia or arrhythmia (British Heart Foundation, n.d.; Hipp, 2023).
Monitoring medication progress
Individuals using prescription medications such as beta blockers to control blood pressure or asthma medications can alter pulse rate. Though rate change may not occur often or may not be major, individuals need to monitor and discuss any pulse changes or symptoms with their healthcare provider. Additionally, healthcare professionals may use the pulse rate to monitor any changes, using this information to inform dosage and the prescribed medication type (British Heart Foundation, n.d.).
Informing exercise prescription
Health coaches may use the chart to inform the training plans they prescribe to clients. Using the exercise heart rate chart, they may use the maximum and target heart rate zones to gauge exercise intensity based on age (Cleveland Clinic, 2022).
Monitoring vital signs in healthcare
The pulse rate chart can be a key indicator for monitoring vitals in healthcare contexts, such as in ICU or pregnancy. This can be an important diagnostic for cardiovascular changes that are often accompanied by chest pain, breathlessness, or dizziness (Coad & Frise, 2021; Hipp, 2023).
What do the results mean?
Results observed using our free Pulse Rate Chart may differ amongst individuals depending on age, physical fitness, medication use, body positioning, and medical history (American Heart Association, 2023). The following are some typical results from a pulse rate chart and the implications on the individual:
Normal pulse rate
The pulse rate may be within the normal resting range for the individual’s age range, indicating good health and heart function. As a vital sign, pulse rate should continue being monitored over the lifespan to pick up on any changes in heart health or overall health. Doing so will allow individuals and healthcare providers to facilitate a proactive approach to health and detect health issues early to enhance treatability.
Abnormal pulse rate
Individuals and healthcare providers may observe heart rate to be outside of normal ranges during rest, which may indicate the following:
- Very low pulse (heart rate under 60 bpm) or bradycardia may cause dizzy spells, fatigue, or fainting in severe cases. Individuals experiencing these symptoms or feeling their pulse is very slow should contact their healthcare provider as soon as possible (Cleveland Clinic, 2022; Hipp, 2023).
- Very high pulse (over 100 bpm) or tachycardia may result from underlying issues such as fever, infection, or dehydration, and should receive medical attention as soon as possible (Cleveland Clinic, 2022).
However, some individuals, such as competitive athletes, may have a low heart rate as a result of rigorous fitness training, which may not warrant concern(Cleveland Clinic, 2022).
Irregular pulse rate
The pulse rate may be irregular, otherwise known as arrhythmia, where individuals may feel their heart racing, miss a beat, or be unusually slow at rest. If this is the case, individuals should schedule an appointment with their healthcare provider to voice their concerns and complete further screening procedures.
Why use Carepatron as your Pulse Rate app?
As an online platform, Carepatron is the ideal Pulse Rate app and software to monitor pulse rate and overall health. With electronic patient records and ongoing clinical documentation, it has never been easier to keep track of patient health and well-being. Additionally, our user-friendly patient portal allows for more effective communication channels that allow for patients mobile access to their records and schedule appointments, allowing them to actively engage and make more-informed decisions around their health.
Carepatron also offers health coach software, which allows health coaches and their clients to collaborate actively. This feature is essential for health coaches to monitor their clients' progress, in alliance with their health status, and make any necessary adjustments to their recommendations. Simultaneously, the software allows for a bi-directional communication channel where clients can document any changes or experiences they face, which they can discuss with their health coach or health provider. This may involve adjusting training programs in response to medications, health concerns, or pulse rates to ensure a safe - yet effective - program.
As a company seeking practical solutions for healthcare providers and their clients, we at Carepatron aim to provide an all-in-one experience. With thousands of features and resources similar to this guide, our technology allows for effective appointment scheduling, medical billing, and electronic patient record storage. This can save time and resources taken by typical clinical practices, allowing you to focus on providing the best care.
References
American Heart Association (2021). Target Heart Rates Chart. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/target-heart-rates
American Heart Association (2023). All About Heart Rate (Pulse). American Heart Association.https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/the-facts-about-high-blood-pressure/all-about-heart-rate-pulse
British Heart Foundation (n.d.). What is a normal pulse rate? Heart Matters magazine. https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/ask-the-experts/pulse-rate
Cleveland Clinic (2022). Pulse & Heart Rate. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/17402-pulse--heart-rate
Coad, F., & Frise, C. (2021). Tachycardia in pregnancy: when to worry? Clinical Medicine, 21(5), 434-437. PubMed Central. doi: 10.7861/clinmed.2021-0495
Cunha, J. P. (2022). What Is A Good Heart Rate for My Age? Chart. Heart Health Center. https://www.emedicinehealth.com/what_is_a_good_heart_rate_for_my_age/article_em.htm
Hipp, D. (2023). Normal Resting Heart Rate by Age (Chart). ForbesHealth. https://www.forbes.com/health/healthy-aging/normal-heart-rate-by-age/
Lewine, H. E. (2023). What is a normal heart rate? Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School. https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/what-your-heart-rate-is-telling-you
New Zealand Heart Foundation (n.d.). Understanding your pulse (heart rate). New Zealand Heart Foundation. https://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/wellbeing/managing-risk/how-to-check-your-pulse-heart-rate
Commonly asked questions
Anyone wanting to monitor their pulse rate or seeking a procedure indicating heart health and functioning can request pulse rate charts.
A pulse rate chart can be applied in various scenarios to compare pulse rates or can be used as a diagnostic tool for vital health screening. They may also be implemented in health plan formulation, where health coaches may use the chart to identify a client’s maximum heart rate and working heart rate ranges to inform an exercise plan.
After measuring pulse rate (resting or working), individuals or healthcare practitioners can use the pulse rate chart as a reference tool to see if the heart is working within average ranges.
