What does it mean when your apical pulse is higher than normal?
Additionally, a heart rate that is consistently higher than normal could be a sign of heart disease, heart failure, or an overactive thyroid gland. When the apical pulse is lower than expected, your doctor will check for medication that may be affecting your heart rate.
How to locate the landmark of the apical pulse?
Physically palpate the intercostal spaces to locate the landmark of the apical pulse. Ask the female client to re-position her own breast tissue to auscultate the apical pulse. For example, the client gently shifts the breast laterally so that the apical pulse landmark is exposed. See Figure 3.6 below.
How is apical pulse rate determined by stethoscope?
Once the PMI has been located, your doctor will use the stethoscope to listen to your pulse for a full minute in order to obtain your apical pulse rate. Each “lub-dub” sound your heart makes counts as one beat.
What can a doctor do about an irregular apical pulse?
Measuring the apical pulse is a noninvasive and effective way to assess a person’s heart function. Several factors, including age, level of physical fitness, and emotional state, can influence a person’s pulse. If a person has an irregular apical pulse, their doctor may order additional tests, such as a chest X-ray, EKG, or echo.
How do you measure and record apical pulse?
Use the stethoscope by putting the earpiece on the ears and holding the diaphragm part of the stethoscope. Warm the diaphragm by rubbing it. 5. Position the diaphragm of the stethoscope on the area where the apical pulse is found. Instruct the person to normally breathe. A lub-dub sound can be heard and this is considered to be a single beat.
What should my apical pulse be before digoxin?
As the nurse, you will be assessing the apical pulse during a cardiac assessment and before administering certain types of cardiac medications, such as Digoxin (cardiac glycoside). A normal apical pulse is 60-100 bpm in an adult.
What should be the scale for palpation of the pulse?
Palpation should be done using the fingertips and intensity of the pulse graded on a scale of 0 to 4 +:0 indicating no palpable pulse; 1 + indicating a faint, but detectable pulse; 2 + suggesting a slightly more diminished pulse than normal; 3 + is a normal pulse; and 4 + indicating a bounding pulse.