Many pulse oximeters provide a pulse bar or pleth (plethysmograph); however this information has been largely ignored by most users even when it provides some very important information signals. The pulse bar or pleth is a graphical representation of how your heart beats; although it does not give you a set of numbers, it gives you an indication of your general health and heart conditions. Here we will discuss how and why you should pay attention to this signal.
It is difficult to have one guideline for all people as the pulse is dependent on many variables, such as age, gender, circadian rhythm, body build, stress and emotions, exercise and activities, body temperature.. It is important to establish a norm for you at various situations, such as resting after meal or during rigorous exercise. Then pay attention for any deviation from your norm. If you have any questions, ask your doctor.
Pulse assessment has been used in various degrees in medical field. In western medicine, pulse assessment is commonly performed by palpating the pulse at the wrist or listening to the heart beats at the chest with a stethoscope. In oriental medicine, palpation on the wrist is the primary method used. Pulse diagnosis plays an important role in the history of Chinese medicine.
Low blood pressure due to decrease in cardiac output. A rapid, weak, thready pulse due to decreased circulation combined with tachycardia. Cool, clammy, and mottled skin (cutis marmorata) due to vasoconstriction and subsequent hypoperfusion of the skin. Distended jugular veins due to increased jugular venous pressure.
When assessing a patient's pulse, there are three important factors; pulse rate, pulse strength and or volume, and pulse rhythm. All three of these factors can be observed through the pulse bar or pleth displayed by an oximeter.
For a normal adult and under normal conditions, the heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm). For well-trained athletes, the heart rate can go as low as 40bpm.
Tachycardia is a heart condition that causes the heart to beat in excess of 100 bpm. Drweb for mac os. Rapid contraction, if sustained, tends to overwork the heart and reduce blood circulation leading to low blood oxygen saturation level. For this condition medical treatment is required.
Bradycardia is a heart condition with heart beats below 60bpm. Unless you are an athlete, this would merit continued monitoring as bradycardia can be caused by some issues with the heart's electrical system.
Pulse strength or volume is related the amount of blood pumped with each heartbeat or the force associated with each contraction. A normal pulse is one that can be felt with mild pressure on the artery. A thready pulse or weak pulse is one that is difficult to feel or obliterated easily with slight pressure. A full or bounding pulse has a pronounced pulsation that does not easily disappear with pressure. A rapid thready pulse is normally a sign of serious concern and must be reported immediately. There are different ways to classify the pulse strength. The following table shows one particular approach.
| Number | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | None | No pulsation is felt with extreme pressure |
| 1 | Thready | Not easily felt; disappear under slight pressure |
| 2 | Weak | Stronger than thready; disappear under light pressure |
| 3 | Normal | Easily felt; disappear under moderate pressure |
| 4 | Bounding | Strong and does not disappear with moderate pressure |
With a pulse oximeter, similar information can be observed from the amplitude of the pleth wave or the fluctuation in the pulse bar. In order to establish a point of reference you can try to get a reading from several people to see what the various patterns look like.
For weak or thready pulses, some oximeters may have trouble getting a reading. It would be a good idea to double check the readings.
The pulse rhythm is the pattern of pulsations, amplitude, and the pauses between each pulse. They should be regular and consistent from beat to beat. An arrhythmia or dysrhythmia (irregular patterns) is cause for serious concern and should be treated by medical professionals as soon as possible. An electrocardiogram should be performed for further clarification.
AGE | RANGES |
130 | |
1 year | 80 to 140 |
100 | |
10 years | 50 to 90 |
75 | |
Adult | 60 to 100 |
70 |



| Site | Location | How to Locate | Reasons for the Using the site |
Where the radial artery runs along the radial bone, on the thumb side of the inner aspect of the wrist | Position the client’s arm alongside the body, palm downward. Curl 2 to 3 fingers around the wrist on the thumb side and palpate gently. | ||
Temporal | Where the temporal artery passes over the temporal bone of the head. The site is above and away from the midline of the eye. | The superficial temporal artery passes upward just in front of the ear Palpate gently, using the tips of 2 to 3 fingers. | |
Carotid | At the side of the neck where the carotid artery runs between the trachea and the sternocleidomastoid muscle. | Locate the larynx or voice box and slide 2 to 3 fingers off into the groove beside it. Never press both carotids at the same time or press it too hard or too long because this can cause a reflex drop in blood pressure or pulse rate. | Used in case of cardiac arrest. Used to determine circulation of the brain |
At the apex of the heart | In an Adult, this located on the left side of the chest just about 3 inches to the left of the sternum and at the 4th, 5th or 6th intercostal space (between the ribs). For a child 7 to 9 years old, it is located at the 4th or 5th intercostal space. Before 4 years of age, it is left of the midclavicular line. between 4 and 6 years old, it is at the midclavicular line. | Routinely used for infants and children up to 3 years of age. Used to determine discrepancies with radial pulse. Used in conjunction with some medications. | |
At inner aspects of the biceps muscle of the arm or medially in the antecubital space. | Have the patient rest the arm with palm upward and locate the pulse located near the center of the antecubital space toward the little finger. | Used to measure blood pressure.Used during cardiac arrest in infants. | |
Where the the femoral artery passes alongside the inguinal ligament. | You may need to press harder to locate the femoral pulse found about halfway between the anterior superior iliac spine and symphysis pubis, below the inguinal ligament. Respect the client’s privacy when attempting to locate this pulse. | Used in case of cardiac arrest. Used for infants and children. Used to determine circulation of a leg. | |
Where the popliteal artery passes behind the knee. | With the client’s leg in a flexed position, feel behind the knee in popliteal fossa. You may need to press more deeply to locate the popliteal pulse. | ||
Posterior Tibial | On the medial surface of the ankle where the posterior tibial artery passes behind the medial malleolus | Feel for this pulse by curving your finger behind and a little below the medial malleolus of the ankle. Often difficult to feel in obese or edematous clients. | |
Pedal | Where the dorsalis pedis artery passes over the bones of the foot, on an imaginary line draw from the middle of the ankle to the space between the big and second toe. | Feel the pedal pulse on the dorsum (top) of the foot with foot plantar flexed if possible. Feel gently as this pulse is easily obliterated. You may find the pulse between the middle of the client’s ankle and the space between the big and the second toe. |
