Heart rate, the number of times your heart beats per minute, is the measure of how hard your heart is working. You can take your heart rate on your neck, wrist, top of your foot or in the groin. According to the National Emergency Medicine Association, "a resting heart rate anywhere in the range of 60 to 90 is considered in the normal range." If you are an athlete, the pulse should be between 40 and 60 beats per minute. Your heart rate is controlled by electrical signals sent to tissues of the heart.
Significance
According to Mayo Clinic, "Activity level, fitness level, air temperature, body position, emotions, body size and medication use are factors that influence your heart rate." A lower heart rate in healthy adults usually means that your cardiovascular fitness level is good and your heart is functioning more efficiently.
Irregularities
You should take pulse irregularities seriously. If your heart rate is higher than 100 beats per minute, it is called tachycardia. According to Mayo Clinic, "Tachycardias can seriously disrupt normal heart function, increase the risk of stroke, or cause sudden cardiac arrest or death." If your heart rate is lower than 60 beats per minute it is called bradycardia. Bradycardia increases your risk of heart tissue damage, cardiac arrest and heart failure.
Measuring Heart Rate
To measure your heart rate at your radial pulse, the pulse on the inside of your wrist, place two fingers from the opposite hand on the thumb side of your wrist. When you feel your pulse, count the beats for 10 seconds. Multiply this number by six to get your heart beats per minute. To measure your heart rate at the carotid pulse, or pulse in your neck, place your first three fingers on your neck next to your windpipe. Count the beats for 10 seconds and multiply this number by six to get your heart rate per minute.
Target Heart Rate
Target heart rates are used to measure the benefits of physical activity and monitor your progress throughout a fitness program. Maximum heart rate is used to calculate your target heart rate and is the maximum rate your heart should reach during a workout.
Recovery Heart Rate
Recovery heart rate is a measurement of how fast your body returns to a resting heart rate after you exercise. This measurement will help determine how much you are benefiting from your exercise program. To calculate your recovery heart rate, take your pulse for 10 seconds immediately after exercising. Wait a minute and take your pulse again. Subtract the two numbers and this is your recovery heart rate.
