Your pulse is the beat of your heart. With each beat, your heart pumps blood to the rest of the body, and measuring your pulse is an important part of monitoring the heart’s activity. The best part: you can do it yourself.

Counting your pulse is the easiest way to monitor your heart rate. By conducting a simple count of your pulse beats, you will know how many times your heart beats in one minute, and how regular the beats are.

Your physician may ask you to monitor your heart rate for several reasons. You may have an irregular heartbeat (the heart beats too fast or too slow); you may have a pacemaker, or take medication to control an irregular heart rate; and you may want to check your heart rate as part of your exercise program.

How to take your pulse

(For an accurate count of your pulse, you will need a clock or watch with a second hand.)

You may feel for your pulse on either your wrist or neck – use the method that is easiest for you. To find your pulse on a wrist, press the tips of your index and middle fingers on the inside of your wrist, on the thumb side. If you have trouble finding your pulse, move your fingertips around until you find it.

To find your pulse on the neck, press your fingertips in the area under the jawbone, to either side of your adam’s apple.

If you have trouble finding either pulse, you may try varying the amount of pressure. (NOTE: you can miss your pulse by pressing too lightly, or obscure it by pressing too hard. The more frequently you check your pulse, the easier it will be.)

Taking a resting pulse

A resting pulse can be taken almost any time, except after a large meal, after exercise, or when taking prescribed drugs that alter your heart rate. Ask your doctor how often you should take your resting pulse.

Sit quietly for two minutes before taking your pulse. Find your pulse on either your wrist or neck, look at the second hand on your clock or watch, and begin counting. If you have any type of irregular heartbeat, you should count your pulse for exactly 60 seconds. If you count your pulse for 60 seconds, that is your heart rate. For example, if you count 70 pulse beats during that 60 seconds, then your heart rate is 70.

For people who have a regular heartbeat, you may count your pulse for 20 or 30 seconds, then multiply the result by 3 or 2, respectively. For example, if you count 25 pulse beats in 20 seconds, then you have a heart rate of 75 (25 x 3 = 75). If you count 40 pulse beats in 30 seconds, then your heart rate is 80 (40 x 2 = 80).

Taking your pulse after exercise

Taking your pulse during or after exercise can tell you if you are getting the greatest benefit from your exercise program, or if your heart is working too hard. Your physician can tell you your “target” heart rate, based on your lifestyle and health history.

Your target is the rate your heart should be beating after exercise. If your pulse falls below the target rate, then you should exercise harder the next time. If your pulse is higher than the target rate, then you should take it easier next time.

You should take your pulse as soon as you stop exercising. Locate your pulse, look at the second hand on your watch or clock, and start counting. Count the beats for only 6 seconds, and then add a zero to the result. For example, if you counted 10 pulse beats in 6 seconds, then your heart rate is 100. (NOTE: you should not count your exercising heart rate for 60 seconds. Your heart slows down immediately after exercising, and counting for a full minute will give you a lower rate.)