The doctor feels the pulse to check the rate, rhythm and regularity of the heart. Each pulse corresponds to a heartbeat that pumps blood into your arteries. The strength of the pulse also helps assess the amount (strength) of blood flow to different areas of your body.
You can tell how fast your heart is beating (pulse rate) by feeling your pulse. The pulse rate is the number of heartbeats in one minute.
You need a watch with a second hand to measure your pulse.
- Place the index and middle finger of your hand on the inner wrist of the other hand, just below the base of the thumb.
- You should feel a tapping or pulsing against your fingers.
- Count how many taps you feel in 10 seconds.
- Multiply this number by 6 to know your heart rate per minute.
By feeling your pulse, you can also tell if your heart rhythm is regular or not.
Heart listening
The doctor listens to the heart with a stethoscope. The heart valves opening and closing make sounds ("or dub") known as heart sounds. The doctor can assess the function of the heart and valves and hear the rhythm and heart rate by listening to the heart sounds.
Check your blood pressure (BP)
Blood pressure is the force or pressure exerted by blood in the arteries as the heart pumps it around the body. It is recorded as two measurements:
Systolic pressure: pressure in the arteries during cardiac contraction (higher number)
Diastolic pressure: the pressure in the arteries when the heart is relaxed, between heartbeats (lower number).
A doctor or nurse can listen to your blood pressure by placing a stethoscope on an artery and inflating a cuff placed around your arm. The blood pressure is read on a special meter called a sphygmomanometer.
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), which refers to how high the pressure in the arteries can raise the column of mercury in a sphygmomanometer.
Which arm to measure blood pressure on - right or left?
(It is best to measure blood pressure from the left arm if you are right-handed. However, you can use your other arm if you have been advised to do so by your doctor). Rest in a chair next to the table for 5 to 10 minutes (your left arm should rest comfortably at heart level).
Do you have to bend your arm when measuring blood pressure?
The researchers found that when the arm is straight and parallel to the body, blood pressure readings can be up to 10% higher than when the elbow is bent at right angles to the body at heart level. The ideal position falls between these extremes, with the arm at heart level and the elbow slightly bent.
Facts about blood pressure:
Normal blood pressure, for those not taking blood pressure medication, should be less than 120/80.
Your blood pressure record is not always the same. When you are exercising or excited, your blood pressure increases. If you are at rest, your blood pressure will be lower. This is a normal response to changes in activity or emotion. Age, medications and changes in position can also affect your blood pressure.
One high blood pressure reading does not mean you have high blood pressure. It is necessary to measure your blood pressure at different times while resting to find out if this is a typical blood pressure reading.
Learn more about the physical examination of the heart.
