US Medical Term · emergency
Pulse Rate
Frecuencia del pulso
Also: Frecuencia cardiaca (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Pulse Rate |
| Spanish (Español) | Frecuencia del pulso |
| Chinese (中文) | 脈搏率 |
| Korean (한국어) | 맥박수 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Nhịp mạch |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Pulse rate |
| Portuguese (Português) | Frequência de pulso |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | อัตราชีพจร |
| Japanese (日本語) | 脈拍数 |
What it means
Pulse rate, also called heart rate, is the number of times the heart beats per minute. In a hospital, it is measured by a clip placed on a finger (pulse oximeter) or by ECG leads on the chest. A normal resting pulse for adults is 60 to 100 beats per minute. A rate below 60 (bradycardia) or above 100 (tachycardia) may require evaluation. Very fast or irregular pulses can indicate a cardiac emergency. Nurses will alert you if your pulse rate sets off a monitor alarm, which usually means the reading needs to be checked rather than always indicating an emergency.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My pulse rate on the monitor seems very high; should I be worried?
Mi frecuencia cardiaca en el monitor parece muy alta; ¿debo preocuparme?
The doctor said her pulse rate is irregular.
El médico dijo que su frecuencia cardiaca es irregular.
How do you check my pulse rate with that clip on my finger?
¿Cómo miden mi frecuencia cardiaca con esa pinza en el dedo?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026