During an office visit ask the doctor what he or she expects as a normal heart rate for the person you care for.
Take the pulse and exercise diary with you to the doctor’s visit. Let the doctor know how the person you care for tolerates exercise.
Have the person you care for describe to the doctor any episodes of chest pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness or a sense of feeling “a funny heartbeat”.
Call the doctor immediately if you take a pulse and note a new irregularity or abnormal rate (dysrhythmia).
Remember: If you take a pulse and note a dysrhythmia and the person is in distress, call 911 immediately.
