Testing for an apical‒radial deficit is done in order to:
A) determine if the pulse is regular.
B) measure the ability of the heart to contract.
C) determine if the patient is having a heart attack.
D) obtain a very accurate pulse rate.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Testing for an apical‒radial deficit is done to measure the ability of the heart to contract. This test compares the heart rate at the apex of the heart (apical pulse) with the heart rate at the radial artery (radial pulse) to check if the heart is effectively pumping blood to the body. If there is a significant difference between the two pulse rates, it could indicate a problem with the heart's contraction.

Testing for an Apical‒radial Deficit Is Done in Order To