Many people often get confused between pulse rate and heart rate, thinking they are the same. In reality, both are closely related but not always identical. The heart rate is simply the number of times your heart beats in one minute. Every beat of the heart pushes blood into the arteries. The pulse rate, on the other hand, is the number of times you can feel that blood wave (the throbbing sensation) in the arteries within one minute. In most healthy people, the heart rate and pulse rate match, but in certain medical conditions they may differ.
For example, when you place your fingers on the wrist or neck and count the beats, you are actually feeling the pulse rate. This is an indirect way of knowing how fast the heart is beating. Doctors, however, often use a stethoscope, ECG, or digital monitor to measure the heart rate directly, which gives a more accurate picture of the heart’s activity.
Why is the difference important?
In normal cases, both are almost the same, usually ranging from 60 to 100 beats per minute at rest. But in some heart conditions like arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), the heart may beat but not every beat produces a strong enough pulse to be felt in the arteries. This means the heart rate can be higher than the pulse rate, and that difference can be very important for diagnosis.
In simple words:
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Heart Rate = how fast your heart is beating.
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Pulse Rate = how many of those beats you can actually feel in your arteries.
Both are vital signs of health. Pulse is easier for self-checking, while heart rate is more accurate in medical assessment. Together, they provide valuable information about the heart and circulation.
Have you ever compared your manual pulse count with what your smartwatch or oximeter shows? Was it the same or different?
MBH/PS