top of page

  • 60 - 100 bpm

  • Regular rhythm

  • Regular amplitude

Heart Rate - Adult

Normal findings

Normal variation

  • < 60 bpm

    • Athletes

  • > 100 bpm

    • Recent exertion

    • Emotional excitement

    • Caffeine ingestion

    • After eating

 

Weak thready pulse

Bounding pulse

  • Causes

    • Heart failure

    • Aortic stenosis

References

Dental Management of the Medically Compromised Patient. Little, Falace, Miller, Rhodus.  8th Edition

  • Causes

    • Heavy exertion

    • Stress, fear

    • Medications

    • Recreational drugs

    • Hyperthyroidism

    • Severe hypertension

Rhythm Irregularities

  • Pulsus alternans

    • Alternate strong and weak beats

    • Left ventricular heart failure

  • Premature ventricular contractions (PVC)

    • Heart "skips a beat"

    • Caused by stress, acidosis, hypoxemia, toxic drug reaction

    • Not clinically significant in healthy individuals

  • Uncoordinated or totally irregular

Management of abnormalities

  • Is this a normal variation?

  • Is the patient aware of this condition?

  • Could this be caused by an dental infection?

  • Is there anything in the patient's medical history that may be related to this finding?

  • Could this be caused by any of the patient's medications?

  • Is the patient anxious or fearful?

  • Is the patient using recreational drugs?

  • Medical consultation if the answers to these questions are NO or if the patient's medications or medical conditions may be causing the problem.

Bradycardia

Tachycardia

  • Causes

    • Fever

    • Anemia

    • Congestive heart failure

  • Causes

    • Medication toxicity (digitalis, beta adrenergic blockers)

    • Hypothyroidism

bottom of page