Your pulse rate, also called your heart rate, is a measurement of the number of times your heart beats in one minute. The Cleveland Clinic says your heart rate is lower when you're at rest, and rises during exercise when your heart beats faster to provide additional oxygen to your lungs, muscles and other body tissues. While there is significant variation in normal pulse rates for children, the norm for adults doesn't change very much with age.
Pulse Sites
You can easily measure our own pulse rate by pressing two fingers over any spot where an artery runs close to the surface of the skin, according to Medline Plus. The radial pulse is measured over the artery at the inside of your wrist, while the carotid pulse can be counted by pressing over either of the arteries on the side of your neck in front. You might also see your health-care provider palpate the popliteal artery on the back of your knee or the femoral artery in your groin to evaluate pulses in those areas. If you have a history of cardiac problems, your doctor may choose to listen to the apical pulse over your heart with a stethoscope.
Proper Procedure
You can measure your own pulse rate by counting the number of times an artery throbs against your fingers over a 60-second period. You can also count the beats for 30 seconds and multiply times two to calculate your pulse rate, notes Medline Plus.
Timing
You'll get the best reading of your normal resting pulse rate if you count your heart beats first thing in the morning, before getting out of bed, according to Montana State University. If you want to measure it later in the day, wait at least two hours after a meal and four hours after vigorous work or exercise. Before you start counting, rest for 30 minutes and then sit or lie down while you count.
Age
Although normal pulse rate values change a bit as you age, those differences are insignificant, according to the Topend Sports Network. A 21-year-old man in good physical condition, for example, typically has a pulse rate between 62 and 65 beats per minutes. This norms fluctuates a little over the years, but by age 65 years, his pulse rate will once again run between 62 and 65.
Fitness Level
On the other hand, your fitness level has a big influence on your pulse rate. A 68-year-old woman in poor physical condition will have a pulse of 84 or more beats per minute, while her same-age friend in good condition will run between 65 and 68 beats. If you're 68 years old and a well-conditioned athlete, your heart will beat only 50 to 59 times a minute at rest, depending on your gender.
Considerations
In addition to age and fitness level, your pulse rate may change over time depending on your medical history, emotional state and medication use, says Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist Dr. Edward R. Laskowski.
