Definition of pulse: Pulse: The rhythmic dilation of an artery that results from beating of the heart. pulse is the regular expansion of an artery caused by the ejection of blood into the arterial system by the contractions of the heart · A pulse can be defined as the rhythmic contraction and dilation of the arteries resulting from the beating of the heart. The pulse is the number of heartbeats per minute. CENTRAL VS PERIPHERAL PULSE Central and peripheral pulses are two types of pulses that can be measured in the human body. The central pulse refers to the pulse that can be felt in the carotid artery located in the neck, while the peripheral pulse refers to the pulse that can be felt in the radial artery located in the wrist. Several studies suggest that central (aortic) blood pressure (cBP) is a better marker of cardiovascular disease risk than peripheral blood pressure (pBP). Measuring an Apical Pulse. (1) Warm the stethoscope in the hands. A cold stethoscope may surprise the patient and alter the pulse rate. (2) Place the stethoscope at the apex (pointed end) of the heart, in the left center of the chest, just below the nipple. The pulse can usually be heard best at the apex. (3) Count the pulse for one full minute. Watson's water hammer pulse, also known as Corrigan's pulse or collapsing pulse, a pulse that is bounding and forceful, rapidly increasing and subsequently collapsing, as if it were the sound of a water hammer that was causing the pulse. Pulsus bisferiens, also known as biphasic pulse, is an aortic waveform with two peaks per cardiac cycle, a small one followed by a strong and broad one. pulsus tardus et parvus, more commonly known as slow-rising pulse, the pulse is late (tardus) (relative to contraction of the heart) and weak/small (parvus). Pulsus bigeminus is a cardiovascular phenomenon characterized by groups of two heartbeats close /together followed by a longer pause. The dicrotic pulse :A dicrotic pulse is a palpable, double pulsation with each cardiac cycle . Pulsus alternans is an arterial pulse with alternating strong and weak beats. paradoxical pulse, or "pulsus paradoxus," A paradoxical pulse (Kussmaul's) is an abnormal decrease in pulse wave amplitude during inspiration. Tachycardia and bradycardia are two types of heart rhythm disorders. Tachycardia is a condition where the heart beats faster than usual, with a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute . Bradycardia, on the other hand, is a condition where the heart beats slower than usual, with a heart rate of fewer than 60 beats per minute. Drugs affecting pulse rate Azithromycin (zithromax) Inhaled corticosteroids, albuterol, decongestants have pseudoephedrine Levothyroxine Venlafaxine, and Tricyclic antidepressants