Alternate Names: Rapid heart rate; Tachycardia; Heartbeat - fast; Bounding pulse

Considerations: A bounding pulse can often be seen over arteries that are close to the skin.

A rapid heart rate and bounding pulse can occur together, but can also occur separately. A rapid pulse can be a symptom of arrhythmias.

A bounding pulse is often a sign that there is excessive fluid in the circulation (called fluid overload).

Common Causes:

• A rapid heart rate and bounding pulse both occur normally with heavy exercise, pregnancy, fever, or high anxiety.
• The pulse rate is normally fast in infants. The pulse is usually not bounding in an infant, however.
• A bounding pulse is often associated with high blood pressure or fluid overload. Fluid overload can occur with congestive heart failure, acute renal failure, chronic renal failure, and other conditions.

Home Care: Follow prescribed therapy.

Call If:

• there is any sudden, severe, or persistent increase in the pulse intensity or rate particularly when accompanied by other symptoms or when not relieved by resting for a few minutes.

What To Expect: The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting bounding pulse in detail may include:

• time pattern
  • Is this the first time that a bounding pulse has been present?
  • Did it develop suddenly or gradually?
  • Is it present continuously?
  • Is it only there when other symptoms (such as palpitations) are also present?
• aggravating factors
  • Are you pregnant?
  • Have you had a fever?
  • Have you been very anxious or stressed?
  • Do you have known high blood pressure?
  • Do you have congestive heart failure?
  • Do you have kidney failure?
• relieving factors
  • Does it get better if you rest?
• other
  • What other symptoms are also present?

• blood studies (CBC or blood differential)
• ECG
• echocardiography
• X-rays of the chest