How It Is Done You can measure your pulse rate anywhere an artery comes close to the skin, such as in your wrist or neck , temple area, groin, behind the knee, or top of your foot. Gently place 2 fingers of your other hand on this artery. Do not use your thumb because it has its own pulse that you may feel.
Count the beats for 30 seconds; then double the result to get the number of beats per minute. How It Feels Checking your pulse should not cause pain.
Risks Checking your pulse should not cause problems. Results Normal resting heart rate The chart below shows the normal range of a resting heart rate pulse rate after resting 10 minutes in beats per minute, according to age.
Resting heart rate Age or fitness level Beats per minute bpm Babies to age 1: — Children ages 1 to 70— Children ages 11 to 60— Adults: 60— Well-conditioned athletes: 40—60 Your pulse usually has a strong steady or regular rhythm.
Fast pulse A fast heart rate may be caused by: Activity or exercise. Some medicines, such as decongestants and those used to treat asthma. Some types of heart disease. An overactive thyroid gland hyperthyroidism. Stimulants such as caffeine, amphetamines , diet pills, and cigarettes.
Drinking alcohol. Slow pulse A slow resting heart rate may be caused by: Some types of heart disease and medicine to treat heart disease. High levels of fitness. An underactive thyroid gland hypothyroidism. Weak pulse A weak pulse may be caused by: A blood clot in your arm or leg. Diseases of the blood vessels peripheral arterial disease. Heart disease and heart failure. Heart rate during exercise Many people use a target heart rate to guide how hard they exercise.
To check your heart rate while exercising: After exercising for about 10 minutes, stop and take your pulse. Measure your heart rate by placing two fingers gently against your wrist don't use your thumb. There are other things that can make your heart beat faster, like caffeine, nicotine, recreational drugs and some kinds of medications.
Your heart will also beat faster when you feel strong emotions, like anxiety or fear. An irregular pulse is when the heart doesn't beat in a regular, steady rhythm. This is also called an irregular heart rate or an arrhythmia. Often an irregular pulse is harmless.
However, it's important to get it checked by a health professional, because sometimes it's a sign of a heart condition. The most common kind of heart rhythm condition is atrial fibrillation AF , which can put you at greater risk of having a stroke. Fortunately, if you have AF, there's medication you can take to help reduce this stroke risk.
Your doctor can do a simple test called an ECG electrocardiogram to further check your irregular pulse. A heart palpitation is when you suddenly become aware of your heart beating, usually in an irregular way.
Your heart beat may feel:. It is not unusual to feel heart palpitations occasionally and mostly they are harmless. Finding your pulse You can find your pulse in your wrist or neck. To find your pulse in your wrist: hold out one of your hands, with your palm facing upwards press the first index finger and middle finger of your other hand on the inside of your wrist, at the base of your thumb — don't use your thumb as it has its own pulse press your skin lightly until you can feel your pulse — if you can't find it, try pressing a little harder or move your fingers around To find your pulse in your neck: press your first finger and middle finger to the side of your neck, just under your jaw and beside your windpipe — don't use your thumb press your skin lightly to feel your pulse — if you can't find it, try pressing a bit harder or move your fingers around Checking your pulse When you find your pulse, either: count the number of beats you feel for 60 seconds count the number for 30 seconds and multiply by 2 This gives you your heart rate — the number of times your heart beats per minute bpm.
See a GP if you're worried about your pulse. What's a normal heart rate? Most adults have a resting heart rate between 60 and bpm. Exercise and your pulse If you check your pulse during or immediately after exercise, it may give an indication of your fitness level. Further information How do I check someone's pulse? Typically, exercising at 60 to 85 percent of your maximum heart rate is most beneficial.
Exercising at the lower end of this percentage or doing interval training where your heart rate goes up and down is ideal for fat burning. Exercising at the higher end is ideal for building cardiovascular strength.
To calculate your estimated maximum heart rate, you can use the equation of subtracting your age from You can then use your maximum heart rate to determine what your target heart rate is while exercising. The most accurate way to determine your true maximum heart rate and target heart rates is to participate in a graded exercise test performed by a doctor.
A consistently low heart rate is called bradycardia. In healthy young adults or trained athletes, a low heart rate with no other symptoms is usually the sign of a very healthy heart muscle. However, a low heart rate can be a sign of a serious underlying problem. A consistently high heart rate over bpm when resting is known as tachycardia.
There are simple methods for checking your heart rate that you can perform at home. It may be useful to know your resting heart rate as an indicator of your heart health. You can also maximize your workout routine by knowing your target heart rates and checking your heart rate when exercising. There are times when a high or low heart rate accompanied by other symptoms is a sign of a serious underlying issue.
Call your doctor immediately if you experience this. Your heart rate indicates how hard you're pushing yourself while exercising. We'll help you determine your best resting and training heart rates.
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