Heart Rate vs Pulse Rate: Difference and Comparison

Is there a difference between heart rate vs pulse rate? Well, there is a connection between heart rate and pulse rate, but there is a difference.

Heart rate and pulse rate give us the same health information, which is how fast the heart beats at a given time and how we can feel our heart rate.

The heart beats and circulates blood throughout the body. This changes the blood pressure as well as the pulse in the arteries. Healthy individuals usually have synchronized heart rate and pulse, and this can be measured by feeling areas such as the wrist, inside the elbow, side of the neck, and even on top of the foot.

Heart rate measures the heartbeat and pulse rate measures the noticeable increase in our blood pressure.

What Is Heart Rate?

Heart rate is the number of heartbeats or contracts measured per minute. Generally, heart rates differ based on the body’s physical need, the need to absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide.

The heart rate can also vary based on factors such as physical fitness, psychological status, genetics, hormonal status, disease, drugs, and environment.

According to the American Heart Association, the normal heart rate for a resting adult human is 60-100 bpm. The normal resting heart rate of a trained athlete is about 37-38 bpm.

Age is also another factor to look at when we talk about differences in human heart rate. But what should be the normal heart rate?

Heart rate in infants is about 70-190 bpm, while that of children between the ages of 3 to 9 is around 70-130 bpm. The heart rate is around 60 to 100 bpm in teens around the ages of 10 to 20.

The heart rate also stays between the ranges of 60 to 100 bpm for those above the age of 20.

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What Is Pulse Rate?

Pulse rate is the number of times the artery expands and contracts in one minute in response to the heart circulating blood throughout the body. Pulse rate measures the noticeable increase in our blood pressure.

Places in the body where you can measure your pulse rate include, your wrist, groin, back of your neck, inside your elbow, and on top of your foot. These are places where the artery is closer to the skin’s surface and the pulse is strongly felt.

We feel our pulse as a result of mechanical vibration and continuous beating throughout our body.

Heart Rate vs Pulse Rate: Difference between a Heart Rate and a Pulse Rate

Although there is a connection between your heart rate and your pulse, both are not the same. Your heart rate is the number of times and how fast your heart beats per minute, while your pulse is how you can feel your heart rate throughout your body.

When your heart beats, it circulates blood through the network of arteries. Your pulse is the increased pressure you feel at certain places in your body. It’s the pressure felt in the arteries going up as the heart pushes out litres of blood continuously.

Between heartbeats, you will notice that the heart relaxes and the pressure comes back down. This is why every heartbeat is felt like an increased pressure when you feel your pulse.

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Heart Rate vs Pulse Rate: What Is Your Heart Rate?

Your heart rate is the frequency of your heartbeat measured by the number of contractions of your heart in sixty seconds.

The heartbeat is automatically controlled by the body. Your heart beats faster when you are engaged in a physical activity, excited, tense, or scared. Your heartbeat drops when you are calm, resting, or asleep.

Your heartbeat gives you important details about your health. If it beats too fast or too slow, it could be a sign of heart disease or other health problems.

Heart Rate vs Pulse Rate: What Is a Normal Pulse Rate?

What is the normal pulse rate that is considered healthy for someone?

Pulse rate is the number of times the artery expands and contracts in one minute in response to the heart circulating blood throughout the body.

A resting heart rate should be around 60 to 100 bpm (beats per minute). However, this can also vary from minute to minute.

Another factor to consider is age, as the pulse rate in older people tends to be lower compared to infants, children, and teenagers. Also, a trained athlete will have a lower pulse rate compared to a non-athlete and healthy adult.

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Heart Rate vs Pulse Rate: What Is a Fast Pulse Rate?

If you are calm and at rest and your heart rate is over 100 bpm, then you have a fast pulse rate.

A rapid heart rate can be a result of certain health conditions. It’s normal for your heart rate to increase during or shortly after excursing. You may also notice a rapid heart rate when your body is fighting off an infection.

Heart Rate vs Pulse Rate: What Is a Slow Heart Rate?

An adult at rest with a heart rate below 60 bpm is considered slow. This can only be a normal heart rate for an athlete, a healthy young adult, or people taking medications such as beta-blockers.

If you notice that your heart rate is unusual, especially when you are unwell, it may be related to a heart problem.

Heart Rate vs Pulse Rate: Normative Ranges

Age	Pulse rate (beats per minute)
Newborn	100 to 180
Infant	80 to 150
Children between the ages of 2 to 6	75 to 120
Children between the ages of 6 to 12	70 to 110
Adolescent/adult	60 to 90

Heart Rate vs Pulse Rate: How to Check Pulse

We listed the places in your body, where you can feel and measure your pulse.

If you want to check your pulse rate, kindly place your index and third fingers on your neck close to the side of your trachea.

You can check your pulse rate at your wrist by placing two fingers between the bone and the tendon over your radial artery.

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How to Maintain a Normal Heart Rate

Our lifestyle generally affects our health and how the organs in our body function. To maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce the risk of cardiac arrest, it’s important to keep a healthy heart rate.

You can improve and protect your heart health by exercising, avoiding excessive intake of alcohol, smoking, and reducing stress.

If you are overweight, it will likely increase the work rate of your heart to properly circulate blood in your body. So you should follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly if you think you are overweight.

Stress can also increase your blood pressure and heart rate- so try meditation, deep breathing or yoga to reduce stress.

Avoid smoking tobacco as it can also increase the risk of higher heart rate. Maintain a healthy lifestyle and abstain from consuming junk food and alcohol.

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References

British Heart Foundation: What is a normal pulse rate?
Wikipedia: Heart rate