Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

People who exercise more may have a lower risk of ALS

Moderate levels of physical activity and fitness may be linked to a reduced risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) later in life, according to a new study published in Neurology. However, the study only found an association ...

Cardiology

The rules for measuring blood pressure—and why they exist

The last time your blood pressure was measured, did you rush to the appointment while sipping coffee? Were you perched on an exam table with your legs dangling or your arm hanging? Were you chatting with a medical staff member ...

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Heart rate

The pulse rates can also be measured at any point on the body where an artery's pulsation is transmitted to the surface - often as it is compressed against an underlying structure like bone - by pressuring it with the index and middle finger. The thumb should not be used for measuring another person's heart rate, as its strong pulse may interfere with discriminating the site of pulsation Some commonly palpated sites include:

A more precise method of determining pulse involves the use of an electrocardiograph, or ECG (also abbreviated EKG). Continuous electrocardiograph monitoring of the heart is routinely done in many clinical settings, especially in critical care medicine. Commercial heart rate monitors are also available, consisting of a chest strap with electrodes. The signal is transmitted to a wrist receiver for display. Heart rate monitors allow accurate measurements to be taken continuously and can be used during exercise when manual measurement would be difficult or impossible (such as when the hands are being used).

This text uses material from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA