Hellooo friends,

My posts are related to health and disease conditions. It will be usefull for the one who is conscious about his health and intrested in knowing the things. Students like me can learn the topics with ease and can share their views with me as i am also a student.

Today i am going to share about PULSE. But what is the necessary to learn about this topic? Is it that much important? You will know about this soon.

PULSE

image source: running.competetor

What is pulse??

Many a times when you visit a doctor the first thing he do will be, catching hold of your hand and seeing your Pulse. A doctor can easily guess the condition of your heart and cardiovascular system just by holding your hand. Its such an easy procedure and a crucial one in assessing ones health. Thats the reason its very important for everyone to know about PULSE.
()
Image source:alpha coders

INTRODUCTION.

Pulse is a waveform that was produced by CARDIAC SYSTOLE which traverses the arterial tree at speed faster than the blood column.
Carotid pulse - after 30 milliseconds
Brachial pulse - after 60milliseconds
Femoral pulse - after 75milliseconds
Radial pulse - after 80milliseconds.
()
Image source:wikimedia commons

CHARECTERSTICS

Arterial pulse is assessed in the following way

1. Rate
2. Rhythm
3. volume
4. charecter
5. Felt in all peripheral vessels.
6. Radiofemoral Delay
7. condition of vessel wall.

Rate:

Normal: 60-10/ minutes

1. If it is <60/minute it is called as SINUS BRADYCARDIA
2. If it is >100/minute, it is called as SINUS TACHYCARDIA.

PULSE DEFICIT (APEX-PULSE DEFICIT).
In conditions like ATRIAL FIBRILLATIONS & VENTRICULAR PREMATURE BEATS Heart rate is much more than the pulse rate, this is called pulse deficit.
It is measured as difference between the heart rate and pulse rate counted simultaneously for 1minute.

RHYTHM.

Rhythm will also varies , it is of following types and is very valuable in diagnosing:

1. REGULARLY IRREGULAR:

   • Atrial tachyarrhythmias with fixed AVblock.
   • ventricular bigemini, trigemini.

2. IRREGULARLY IRREGULAR

   • Atrial /ventricular ectopics
   • Atrial fibrillations
   • Atrial tachyarrhythmias with varying AV blocks.

VOLUME

Accurately measure by difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
30-60 mmHg is NORMAL
< 30 mmHg is SMALL VOLUME PULSE
Greater than 60mmHg is LARGE VOLUME PULSE

CHARECTER

CHARECTER is defines by both VOLUME AND WAVEFORM.
VOLUME is the indication for stroke volume, it is small in heart failures and large in Aortic regurgitation.

TYPES

Now i am going to tell about some types of PULSE with their wave forms.

1. Normal pulse:
   
   Image source: eric glen

It contains a percussion wave and a Dicrotic notch.

1. Small volume pulse:

   • cardiac failure
   • shock
   • Mitral stenosis and Aortic stenosis.

2. Slow raising pulse or PULSUS PARVUS ET TARDUS
   It is seen in severe valvuar stenosis.

3. Hyperkinetic pulse
   It is seen in

   • High output state
   • Mitral regurgitation
   • Ventricular septal defect

4. Collapsing pulse
   It is seen in

   • Patent ductus arteriosus
   • Aortic regurgitation.

5. Pulses Bisferiens
   It is seen in

   • Aortic stenosis
   • Aortic regurgitation
   • Dissection of aorta

6. Pulsus Dicroticus
   It is seen in low volume and decreased peripheral conditions like

• Left ventricular failure
• Enteric fever.
• Dehydration.
• Cardiac tamponade.

So, now i think you got some idea regarding why pulse is so important in our regular general examination.
It is called as MIRROR OF HEART because of this reason as any change in the heart will be displayed in PULSE. so never take pulse so easily.

I hope you guys like this post. Thank you for spending time for reading this post.
I thank @nairadaddy for creating a platform which encourages budding doctors like me.