Pulse vs Blood Pressure

Vital signs are important assessments in a patient. It is one of the most basic things healthcare practitioners must master and apply in their everyday life in the hospital. It is very important since a sudden increase or decrease in it may warrant emergency intervention for the patient. So doctors, nurses, and other medical staff must have extensive knowledge regarding vital signs.

Two of the vital signs that must be assessed frequently are pulse and blood pressure. Let us tackle the differences.

First, pulse is the the beat of an artery, or it can also be the beat of the heart. There are many major arteries inside the body. From the foot up to the legs, up to the neck up to the arms, forearms up to the sides of the forehead, there are major arteries that pulsate blood. On the other hand, blood pressure is defined as the relationship of the systolic volume towards the diastolic volume. In blood pressure, the stroke volume of the blood is being measured or how strong the blood circulates around the body. The heart is the major organ that pumps blood around the body. Thus, a change in it can increase the blood pressure as well as the pulse.

The normal pulse beat is 60-100 while the normal blood pressure is 120/80 or 110/70. Beyond those values must be reported to the physician immediately. Below those values must also be reported to the physician. A value beyond the normal pulse is called tachycardia, or rapid pulse beat, while a value beyond normal blood pressure is called hypertension. A value below the normal pulse is called bradycardia, or slow pulse rate, while a value below normal blood pressure is called hypotension.

In assessing the pulse rate, the fingertips are used to palpate for the artery and count the beats for one whole minute. In taking blood pressure, a sphygmomanometer is used to get the systolic and diastolic values. One can also get the apical pulse in the heart using a stethoscope via auscultation, or hearing the heart sound, and counting for one full minute.

When one has high blood pressure, he or she can take medications such as calcium channel blockers or those medications ending in -olol such as Metoprolol, Propanolol, etc. When one has tachycardia, one can also take anti-arrhythmic drugs which can also be the function of calcium channel blockers. However, there are more specific drugs that can be used in treating these conditions that are specific to these problems.

Summary:

1. Pulse is the the beat of an artery, or it can also be the beat of the heart, while blood pressure is the defined as the relationship of the systolic volume towards the diastolic volume.
2. The normal pulse beat is 60-100 while the normal blood pressure is 120/80 or 110/70.
3. In assessing the pulse rate, the fingertips are used to palpate for the artery and count the beats for one whole minute. In taking blood pressure, a sphygmomanometer is used to get the systolic and diastolic values.
4. A value beyond the normal pulse is called tachycardia, or rapid pulse beat, while a value beyond the normal blood pressure is called hypertension.
5. A value below the normal pulse is called bradycardia, or slow pulse rate, while a value below the normal blood pressure is called hypotension.

Sharing is caring!