Why is heartbeat important

What should you know about your heart rate? Where is it and what is a normal heart rate? The best places to find your pulse are the: wrists inside of your elbow side of your neck top of the foot To get the most accurate reading, put your finger over your pulse and count the number of beats in 60 seconds. How Other Factors Affect Heart Rate Air temperature: When temperatures and the humidity soar, the heart pumps a little more blood, so your pulse rate may increase, but usually no more than five to 10 beats a minute.

Body position: Resting, sitting or standing, your pulse is usually the same. Sometimes as you stand for the first 15 to 20 seconds, your pulse may go up a little bit, but after a couple of minutes it should settle down.

Medication use: Meds that block your adrenaline beta blockers tend to slow your pulse, while too much thyroid medication or too high of a dosage will raise it. A heart rate that does not have a steady pattern. Skipped beats. Extra beats. Some common examples are: Stress. Illness or fever. Panic attacks. Stimulants, such as caffeine and nicotine.

Medicine side effects. These include: Passing out losing consciousness. Feeling very dizzy or light-headed, like you may pass out. Feeling very weak or having trouble standing. Not feeling alert or able to think clearly.

You may be confused, restless, fearful, or unable to respond to questions. Being very sleepy or hard to wake up. Not responding when being touched or talked to. Breathing much faster than usual. Acting confused. The child may not know where he or she is. Symptoms of a heart attack may include: Chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in the chest. Shortness of breath. Nausea or vomiting. Pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly, or in one or both shoulders or arms.

Light-headedness or sudden weakness. A fast or irregular heartbeat. For example: You may feel a little out of breath but still be able to talk mild difficulty breathing , or you may be so out of breath that you cannot talk at all severe difficulty breathing. It may be getting hard to breathe with activity mild difficulty breathing , or you may have to work very hard to breathe even when you're at rest severe difficulty breathing.

Severe trouble breathing means: You cannot talk at all. You have to work very hard to breathe. You feel like you can't get enough air. You do not feel alert or cannot think clearly. Moderate trouble breathing means: It's hard to talk in full sentences. It's hard to breathe with activity. Mild trouble breathing means: You feel a little out of breath but can still talk.

It's becoming hard to breathe with activity. Severe trouble breathing means: The child cannot eat or talk because he or she is breathing so hard. The child's nostrils are flaring and the belly is moving in and out with every breath. The child seems to be tiring out. The child seems very sleepy or confused.

Moderate trouble breathing means: The child is breathing a lot faster than usual. The child has to take breaks from eating or talking to breathe.

The nostrils flare or the belly moves in and out at times when the child breathes. Mild trouble breathing means: The child is breathing a little faster than usual.

The child seems a little out of breath but can still eat or talk. A few examples are: Asthma medicines. Decongestants and cold medicines. Illegal drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines. Some heart and blood pressure medicines. Some medicines for depression and anxiety. Thyroid medicine. Call Now Based on your answers, you need emergency care. Seek Care Now Based on your answers, you may need care right away.

Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care. If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care in the next hour. You do not need to call an ambulance unless: You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you. You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down. Seek Care Today Based on your answers, you may need care soon. Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.

If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care today. If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning. If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner. Make an Appointment Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care. Make an appointment to see your doctor in the next 1 to 2 weeks.

If appropriate, try home treatment while you are waiting for the appointment. If symptoms get worse or you have any concerns, call your doctor. Home Treatment Home treatment can help relieve some problems that cause changes in your heart rate.

When you think you have a change in your heart rate or rhythm: Sit down and take your pulse for 1 minute. If you become light-headed , sit or lie down to avoid injuries that might occur if you faint and fall. Medical Review: Rakesh K. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.

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