Normal Pulse Rate by Age: Pulse Rate vs Heart Rate

Pulse rate and heart rate are two terms that are often considered the same. But are they actually similar? Well, in this article, we will discuss pulse rate in detail. Pulse rate is the number of times your heart beats in a minute, that is, it is measured in beats per minute (bpm). The normal pulse rate is different for different people depending upon their age and lifestyle. Read the article to know about the normal range of pulse rate in males, females and children of different age groups and the major differences between heart rate and pulse rate.

A faster heart rate or tachycardia isn’t a light subject. It can be an early clinical symptom of poor heart health, arrhythmia, and atherosclerosis. All of these complications increase the risks of heart failure and heart attacks in the future. Don’t wait till the worst hits. Avail comprehensive testing to overcome such risks in the future.

Normal Pulse Rate

Pulse rate is a vital parameter that conveys important health information. According to studies, the normal adult pulse rate lies between 60 to 90 beats per minute (bpm). According to the American Heart Association (AHA) the normal sinus pulse rate lies between 60 bpm to 100 bpm. Your pulse rate can get influenced by factors like your age, smoking habit, fitness, air temperature, history of cardiovascular diseases, expression of emotions, medicines, body size and proportion.

Normal Pulse Rate Range In Men

The normal pulse rate in adult males and females is different. The pulse rate in adults largely depends upon the age. The pulse rate also varies depending on whether you are resting or exercising. The normal pulse rate in males while resting is tabulated below: 

S.No.	Age (years)	Pulse Rate (bpm)
1.	18 - 25	56 - 65
2.	26 - 35	55 - 65
3.	36 - 45	57 - 66
4.	46 - 55	58 - 67
5.	56 - 65	57 - 67
6.	> 65	56 - 65

Normal Pulse Rate Range In Women

The pulse rate in females is around 2 - 7 bpm higher than that in males of the same age. According to the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), women with high pulse rates are more prone to heart attacks. The optimum range of pulse rate for women at different ages is tabulated below:

S.No.	Age (years)	Pulse Rate (bpm)
1.	18 - 25	58 - 68
2.	26 - 35	57 - 68
3.	36 - 45	59 - 69
4.	46 - 55	60 - 70
5.	56 - 65	59 - 70
6.	> 65	58 - 68

The normal pulse rate in females differ when they are pregnant. The normal range of pulse rate in each trimester during pregnancy is tabulated below:

S.No.	Trimester	Pulse Rate (bpm)
1.	1st trimester	63 - 105
2.	2nd trimester	67 - 112
3.	3rd trimester	64 - 113

Normal Pulse Rate Range In Children

Since the normal pulse rate varies with age, children tend to have different pulse rates as compared to adults. The average heart rate in children between age 6 - 15 ranges from 70 bpm to 100 bpm. The pulse rate of children at various stages of life are tabulated below:

S.No.	Age (years)	Normal heart rate (bpm)
1.	< 1 month	70 - 190
2.	1 - 11 months	80 - 160
3.	1 - 2 years	80 - 130
4.	3 - 4 years	80 - 120
5.	5 - 6 years	75 - 115
6.	7 - 9 years	70 - 110
7.	> 10 years	60 - 100

Pulse Rate vs Heart Rate

Heart rate and pulse rate are two different parameters, although they may seem similar. Your heart rate measures the heart beats, while a pulse rate measures the rate of blood pressure. Heart rate refers to the number of times your heart beats each minute, whereas pulse in the mode through which you can feel each beat of your heart. Since, heartbeat pumps the blood through your body, it causes a change in the blood pressure that generates a pulse in the arteries. When you are healthy, your heart rate is in sync with your pulse rate. People who have certain heart issues, have a lower pulse rate as compared to the heart rate. There are other factors like obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, medicines and body mass that can affect the pulse rate. The changes in heart rate over time is detected by the electrocardiogram (ECG) while the changes in pulse rate over time is detected by photoplethysmography (PPG). 

Takeaway 

One in every four deaths are generally due to irregular heart rate. Therefore, pulse rate is a very important factor that depicts a lot about your health condition. Now that you know about the optimum range of pulse rate in males, females and children at different age groups, you can better monitor your pulse rate and can also manage it by taking appropriate measures.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• How can I measure my pulse rate?

You can measure your pulse rate by feeling your pulse on your wrist, crook of the elbow, top portion of the foot and the side of your neck as well. Gently feel your pulse and count the number of throbs you feel in a minute. You can also count the number of throbs in 15 seconds and then multiply it by 4 to get your pulse rate.

• How can I lower my heart rate?

Following simple lifestyle modifications like regular exercise, appropriate diet, reducing stress and stopping smoking can help you to lower your heart rate considerably.

• What will be the maximum heart rate for me?

The highest level of heart rate during exercise is known as maximum heart rate or target heart rate. It can be calculated using the formula:

Maximum heart rate = 220 - your age in years

• What happens when the pulse rate decreases?

Reduced pulse rate, that is, less than 60 bpm, indicates a condition known as bradycardia. This condition can occur either due to the failure of the sinus node or due to the blockage of the heart.

• What happens when the pulse rate increases?

The increase in the pulse rate, that is, above 100 bpm, indicates tachycardia that can be due to high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, poor blood supply, electrolyte imbalance, stress, and alcohol consumption.