How To Take Your Own Pulse

Steps

1. Relax for 10 minutes - Rest quietly for 10 minutes to take a resting heart rate measurement. If you are testing your active heart rate, test after activity. (12 sec. )
2. Find your pulse - Turn your left arm palm-up and place the first two fingers of your right hand on the inside of your wrist, just below your thumb. Press gently to feel your pulse. (20 sec. )
3. Your carotid artery on the side of your neck may give a stronger pulse. (28 sec. )
4. Count beats - Count the number of beats you feel over 30 seconds. Double that number for the number of beats per minute. (33 sec. )
5. The average resting heart rate for an adult man is 70 beats per minute, and 75 beats for an adult woman. (39 sec. )
6. Maintain a healthy heart rate - Keep your heart pumping and your heart rate low with exercise and a healthy diet. (46 sec. )
7. Your heart beats more than 2.5 billion times over the course of a 70-year lifetime. (52 sec. )