Normal heartbeats, for example, would be 60 for infants 70 to 120 for children age 1 to 10 60 to 100 for children older than 10 to adulthood and 40 to 60 for athletes.

A normal pulse rate varies according to age of the individual. A definitive diagnosis of hypertension would occur with consistent readings above 140/90. The most common sites for measuring the pulse aside from the wrist are found in the groin, back of the knees, neck, temple and the top of the foot.īlood pressure readings in the range of 120/80 or less remain a normal consideration for adults, while a reading from 120 to 139 over 80 to 89 may warrant a diagnosis as 'pre-hypertensive' and would require monitoring. Counting beats for 30 seconds and multiplying by two gives the beats per minute. Measuring the pulse involves gentle pressure using the artery in the wrist by placing the first two fingers on the thumb joint and following down to the inner wrist to feel the heartbeat. Listening for the rhythm of the first heart's beat and the last, the number noted at the sound of the first heartbeat represents the systolic the number noted at the sound of the last beat in a rhythm represents the diastolic numbers of the blood pressure reading. After placing the stethoscope head over the arteries, gradually release pressure while watching the dial and begin to listen carefully. Once secured, inflate the cuff until the needle reaches the 180 to 200 range. The cuff wraps snugly around the upper arm with the rubber tubing directly over the bend of the elbow where the main arteries are. To measure the blood pressure, a person uses a monitor known as a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope. The difference in the measurements lies in what a person measures: pressure against arteries versus actual heartbeats counted.

Pulse pressure