What is a thready pulse?
A thready pulse is a pulse that is weaker than a normal pulse. It can be said that a thready pulse is a weak pulse.
A normal pulse can be felt in the arteries that are close to the skin. Arteries, where the pulse can be felt, are the radial artery at the wrist and the carotid artery at the neck.
When someone has a thready pulse, the pulse at this location is difficult to find and feel.
There are several conditions linked to a thready pulse. Among the causes of a thready pulse are:
- low blood pressure,
- shock,
- heart disease,
- endocrine disorders,
- or blood loss.
Also, more complex mechanisms can lead to a thready pulse, like in hemopathy. In this disease, the blood composition changes. The difference in blood morphology leads to a complex compensation reaction that can lead to a thready pulse [1].
What are the causes of a thready pulse?
Many conditions can cause a thready pulse. Among them are:
- cardiac arrest [2],
- shock [2],
- coronary heart disease [1],
- disease of blood [1],
- dehydration [3],
- low pH of the blood [3],
- high or low potassium levels [3],
- body temperature below 95°F/35°C [3],
- low oxygen levels [3],
- thrombosis [3],
- chest trauma [3],
- heart toxins [3],
- cardiac tamponade [3],
- tension pneumothorax [3],
- menstruation [4],
- vigorous physical activity [4].
Moreover, severe emotional states like stress, anxiety, and emotions can lead to a thready pulse.
Also, a thready pulse can be caused by coffee, nicotine and alcohol abuse, and other non-medical and medical drugs [4].
Is a thready pulse dangerous?
A thready pulse is not directly dangerous. However, it can mean a medical emergency [5].
A weak pulse can be associated with heart disease or blood disease. It can arise as a side effect of the compensation mechanism of the body [1].
One of the compensation mechanisms is a faster heartbeat. It occurs, for example, to make up for the lack of oxygen due to low levels of red blood cells. The increased heart rate causes a lower ejection time, so less blood leaves the heart. The small blood volume pumped with every beat leads to a peripheral feeling of a weaker heartbeat, which can be described as a thready pulse [1].
A thready pulse can accompany other cardiovascular symptoms like heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or fainting [6]. In such cases, the thready pulse can be a medical emergency.
Should I see a doctor with a thready pulse?
It depends on the reason and whether you have any other symptoms except the thready pulse.
However, here are a few examples of when you should immediately visit a doctor.
You should seek medical attention when you have a thready pulse that is accompanied by cardiovascular symptoms. Among the most worrying are symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or heart palpitations [6, 7].
Also, you should visit a doctor when the thready pulse persists and is higher than 100 or lower than 60 beats per minute [4].
You should see a doctor as soon as possible in case you have heart disease and experience a thready pulse. The thready pulse can be a sign of the worsening of your condition and can be serious [7].
Not all thready pulse cases need medical treatment. However, it is better to get reassurance from the doctor that your condition is harmless [8]. Whenever you feel unwell with a thready pulse and do not know what is the reason, it is better to visit your doctor.