Is there a certain pulse rate that is considered having a heart attack?
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Hi. Doctor here.
Pulse rates are important and can point towards possible heart attacks but are not specific enough on their own to confidently diagnose a heart attack, as pulse rates can change due to many things, for example:
* Exercise – higher pulse rate
* Low blood pressure – higher pulse rate
* Bleeding – higher pulse rate
* Pain anywhere in the body – higher pulse rate
* Fever – higher pulse rate
* Anemia (decreased hemoglobin in the blood) – higher pulse rate
* Sugar or caffeine rush – higher pulse rate
That being said, pulse rate in combination with other symptoms like chest pain, uncontrollable sweating, breathlessness is correlated to suspect a heart attack.
Fun fact: In one type of heart attack, called an Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction, the pulse rate actually *drops*. But again remember, a lower pulse rate alone is not sufficient evidence of an inferior wall MI either.
Hope this helps 🙂
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