HealthTips

How to Take Your Pulse


your pulse is usually taken during a routine doctor's visit. From time to time,though, you may want to check it yourself. You may have wondered how fast your heart beats while you're exercising or you may have felt an irregular or faster than normal thumping in your chest.
Each time your heart muscle contracts, it sends a wave through your arteries. This creates a pulse beat that you can feel when you place your fingers over an artery. Taking your pulse is easy. Here's how:
Get a watch with a second hand so you can count seconds.
Place the first two fingers along the palm side of your left wrist just below where your wrist and thumb meet.
Move your fingers around until your pulse is easier to feel. Begin counting the beats.
Count the number of beats for a full minute. You can also count the beats for 20 seconds, and multiply by three for the number of beats per minute.
If you have a hard time feeling your pulse at your wrist, you may want to try feeling your pulse at your neck. Here's how you can feel the pulse of the carotid artery. Take the same two fingers and gently place them between the wind pipe and neck muscle (on either side), just under the lower jawbone. Be careful not to press too hard or rub your neck while you're feeling for a pulse. Count the heartbeats as described above.
If you're having a hard time finding your pulse, don't worry. Your heart is still beating! At your next doctor's visit, ask the nurse or doctor to show you how to take it. Sometimes it just takes practice.
What's normal? Everyone's heart rate is different. Normal adult rates range between 60 and 80 beats per minute when resting or mildly active. The number rises while you're more physically active or exercising. Ask your doctor what's normal for you. If you're trying to exercise more vigorously, for example, learn what your "target" heart rate is. If you're straining, your rate will be higher than usual. If it's a low or moderate number, you may want to work out a little harder to raise your heart rate.
Irregular heartbeats The beats-per-minute number is just one thing worth checking. Your pulse also can reveal irregular heartbeats. This means how steadily your heart beats, not how quickly or slowly.
Notice whether beats are evenly spaced and steady. A normal heartbeat is so regular that you can predict when the next beat will occur. There may be skipped beats or extra beats.
If you have an irregular heartbeat, it may be atrial fibrillation or another heart rhythm problem. Atrial fibrillation is more common in people over 65. It can put you at higher risk for a stroke.
If think you might have an irregular heartbeat, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may want to see you for an exam.