1.Age – generally, as the age increases, pulse rate gradually decreases.
2.Sex – after puberty, the average male’s pulse rate is slightly lower than the female’s.
3.Exercise – pulse rate normally increases with activity. The rate of increase in the professional athlete is often less than the average person because of greater cardiac size, strength, and efficiency.
4.Fever - pulse rate increases in response to the lowered blood pressure that results from peripheral vasodilation associated with elevated body temperature, because of the increased metabolic rate.
5.Medications – some medicines decreases, and others increases. Ex… digitalis - decreases, epinephrine - increases
6.Hemorrhage – loss of blood from the vascular system normally increases pulse rate. It results in a temporary adjustment of the heart rate as the body compensates for the lost blood volume.