Final answer:
When taking the pulse, you report the rhythm of the heartbeat. By palpating arteries such as the radial or carotid, you can feel the expansion and recoiling attributable to cardiac cycles. A 10-second pulse count multiplied by 6 provides an estimate of the heart rate in beats per minute.
Step-by-step explanation:
When taking the pulse, you must be able to report accurately the rhythm of the heartbeat. The pulse reflects the heart rate which is typically measured as beats per minute. To measure your pulse rate, you can palpate manually using the radial artery in the wrist or the common carotid artery in the neck, among other locations. When you feel your pulse, you are feeling the expansion and recoiling of the arteries as blood is ejected from the heart and moves through them. If you measure your pulse rate for 10 seconds and then multiply by 6, it should approximate the number of beats per minute, assuming a steady heart rate during the minute.
To check for a factor of 6 difference, you would count the number of beats in 10 seconds and then in 1 minute. If the heart rate is steady, the number of beats in 10 seconds multiplied by 6 should roughly equal the number of beats in 1 minute. However, factors such as irregular heartbeats or measurement errors can impact this. Still, the factor of 6 serves as a quick estimate for converting a 10-second pulse count into beats per minute.