How to Grade a Pulse

Heart rate -- or pulse --is described in beats per minute and can be an indicator of heart health. As the heart muscle strengthens, it pumps more blood with each contraction and heart rate decreases. Blood pressure is a measurement of tension through the arteries as blood is travelling to different parts of the body. Pulse pressure is derived from the blood pressure measurement. Normal pulse pressure for an adult is 40 mmHg. Results that are higher can indicate leaky heart valves, while results lower than 40 mmHg can be a symptom of poor heart function.

Things You'll Need

• Blood pressure cuff
• Stethoscope

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Instructions

• 1

  Wrap the blood pressure cuff snugly around the person's upper arm. Place the pads of your index and middle fingers on the front of the elbow crease. Apply gentle pressure and feel for a pulse. Turn the blood pressure cuff so the "artery" arrow is lined up with the area where the pulse was felt.

• 2

  Place the end of the stethoscope on the arm where the pulse was felt. Inflate the cuff to 200 mmHg. Slowly release the pressure and listen for a heart beat. Record the number where the heart beat is first heard. This is the systolic blood pressure -- pressure when the heart is contracting. Continue to listen until the heart beat can no longer be heard. Record the number where the sound disappears. This is the diastolic blood pressure -- the pressure when the heart is relaxing and refilling.

• 3

  Subtract the diastolic blood pressure from the systolic blood pressure to obtain pulse pressure. For example, a blood pressure of 120/80 would result in a pulse pressure of 40 mmHg.