Pulse and heart beat are checked primarily to have a simple and quick assessment of the condition of the heart and other system of the body. By checking the pulse the doctor can know the rate, rhythm and wave pattern of the arterial pulse. The normal arterial pulse will have certain characteristic features and any deviation from this pattern suggests an underlying problem.
For example normal, adult resting person’s pulse rate/heart rate is around 72 beats per minute. Here the words normal, adult resting all have significance as children’s heart rate is more compared to adults and a person who did some exercise like running, cycling and swimming will have a higher pulse/heart rate compared to other persons at rest. These are all physiological variations.
Even at rest if a person’s pulse rate grossly deviates from the beat it signifies some underlying problem. In the same way if the rate of the rhythm or wave pattern of the pulse deviates from the normal it also denotes some underlying problem. Normal heartbeat consists of two heart sounds. In addition if any other sounds or murmurs (peculiar noises heard in between or along with the heart sounds) are heard, it also signifies some problem in the heart.
The arterial pulse can be felt at several places viz near the wrist, elbow, armpit, neck, groin, popletial fossa (area behind the knee joint) and foot. The wrist and neck are the most easily accessible places for the doctor to check the pulse with little discomfort to the patient. Hence these regions are usually preferred. In certain special conditions or diseases the pulse at the other regions are also checked.