Are the heart rate (bpm) and pulse rate the same?

Are the heart rate (bpm) and pulse rate the same?

In most persons, the number of heart beats and number of pulses will be the same. In rare situations like atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm originating from the upper chambers of the heart), heart rate will be more than pulse rate and there will be something which is called as a “pulse deficit”. This is because some beats are not forceful enough to open the aortic valve [valve between left ventricle (lower muscular chamber of the heart) and aorta (the biggest blood vessel supplying oxygenated blood to the whole body)] and does not produce a pulse. Similar situation can also occur when there are frequent premature beats, and some of the premature beats are not strong enough to produce a pulse.