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Pulse - weak or absent

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Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Neck pulse
Neck pulse

Alternative Names    Return to top

Weak pulse; Absent pulse

Definition    Return to top

A weak pulse means you have difficulty feeling a person's pulse (heart beat). An absent pulse means you can not detect a pulse at all.

See also: CPR

Considerations    Return to top

An 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.

Causes    Return to top

Home Care    Return to top

Follow the treatment prescribed by your health care provider. CPR may be necessary!

When to Contact a Medical Professional    Return to top

Call your health care provider if there is any sudden, severe, or long-lasting decrease in the pulse quality or rate, particularly when accompanied by other symptoms.

Shock is a life-threatening condition. Seek immediately medical help if you think someone has gone into shock.

A loss of consciousness or disorientation suggests that there is not enough blood getting to the brain. Seek immediately medical help.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit    Return to top

Your medical provider will obtain a medical history, do a physical exam, and ask questions like:

Physical examination may include monitoring of 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:

Update Date: 1/22/2007

Updated by: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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