A weak pulse means you have difficulty feeling a person's pulse (heartbeat). An absent pulse means you cannot detect a pulse at all.
See also: CPR
Alternative NamesWeak pulse; Absent pulse
ConsiderationsAn absent or weak pulse may affect all or one part of the body.
If a pulse cannot be detected by a non-medical professional, it doesn't always mean there is a problem. Sometimes, it can be hard for a non-medical person to detect a pulse in certain areas.
Common CausesFollow the treatment your health care provider prescribes. CPR may be necessary.
Call your health care provider ifCall your health care provider if there is any sudden, severe, or long-lasting decrease in the pulse quality or rate, particularly when there are also other symptoms.
Shock is a life-threatening condition. Seek immediate medical help if you think someone has gone into shock. Start CPR, if needed.
A loss of consciousness or disorientation suggests that there is not enough blood getting to the brain. Seek medical help immediately.
What to expect at your health care provider's officeYour medical provider will take a medical history, do a physical exam, and ask questions such as:
Physical examination may include monitoring the vital signs (pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure). Emergency measures will be taken as necessary. Continued monitoring may be necessary.
Diagnostic tests may include:
Fang JC, O'Gara PT. The history and physical examination: an evidence-based approach. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa:Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 11.
Schriger DL. Approach to the patient with abnormal vital signs. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa:Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 7.
A weak pulse means you have difficulty feeling a person's pulse (heartbeat). An absent pulse means you cannot detect a pulse at all.
See also: CPR
Alternative NamesWeak pulse; Absent pulse
ConsiderationsAn absent or weak pulse may affect all or one part of the body.
If a pulse cannot be detected by a non-medical professional, it doesn't always mean there is a problem. Sometimes, it can be hard for a non-medical person to detect a pulse in certain areas.
Common CausesFollow the treatment your health care provider prescribes. CPR may be necessary.
Call your health care provider ifCall your health care provider if there is any sudden, severe, or long-lasting decrease in the pulse quality or rate, particularly when there are also other symptoms.
Shock is a life-threatening condition. Seek immediate medical help if you think someone has gone into shock. Start CPR, if needed.
A loss of consciousness or disorientation suggests that there is not enough blood getting to the brain. Seek medical help immediately.
What to expect at your health care provider's officeYour medical provider will take a medical history, do a physical exam, and ask questions such as:
Physical examination may include monitoring the vital signs (pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure). Emergency measures will be taken as necessary. Continued monitoring may be necessary.
Diagnostic tests may include:
Fang JC, O'Gara PT. The history and physical examination: an evidence-based approach. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa:Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 11.
Schriger DL. Approach to the patient with abnormal vital signs. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa:Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 7.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 02/20/2011
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A huge gaping wound, loss of consciousness, absent or impaired breathing, fast and weak or absent pulse.
A weak pulse is a faint or suppressed hearbeat.
Anxiety, restlessness.FatigueHypotension .A rapid, weak, thready pulse , combined with tachycardia.Cool, clammy, and mottled skin .JVP reased .Oliguria .Rapid and deep respirations (hyperventilation).Absent pulse in tachyarrhthmiaspulmonary oedema
Whether it is classified as a.... +1/4 - weak +2/4 - normal +3/4 - increased +4/4 - bounding 0/4 - absent You should also note the pulse pattern.
the heart beats faster than usual and the pulse is very weak, why is that?
the heart beats faster than usual and the pulse is very weak, why is that?
as it loses blood it loses what it has to pulse so you don't have a pulse that is much stronger than the you had
The patient's pulse was weak and irregular. After medication, the patient's pulse was strong and regular at 88 beats per minute.
Three time is triple meter with a recurring pulse pattern of Strong/weak/weak. Four time is a duple meter with recurring pulse patterns of Strong/weak/less strong/weak. So . . . strong weak rhythm would fall into the duple meter pattern - to feel this for yourself, tap the rhythms on your knee or a table top until you feel the pulse pattern internally.
When taking a pulse you need to pay attention to the rate of the pulse (how fast/slow?) and the quality of the pulse (how weak/strong?).
Use the AED when the pulse is confirmed absent.
A thready pulse is a weak pulse; so weak that it is very hard to find. This could be due to heart disease or injury. It could also be due to naturally fine veins and arteries.