A heart rate may be monitored directly, for example, by listening to the heart through a stethoscope placed on the chest or by electrocardiogram readings. Indirect methods rely on counting the pulse waves that are transmitted through your peripheral arteries each time the heart contracts. Placing your fingertips on one of two very accessible regions where the pulse waves can be felt through the skin will allow easy measurement of your heart rate.
Step 1
Hold your index and middle fingers held closely together. Place your fingertips gently along the side of your neck, just below the jawbone, to detect a pulse in the carotid artery. Alternatively place your fingertips on the inner surface of your wrist, below the base of your thumb. You should be able to detect a pulse in your radial artery in this region.
Step 2
Feel for a pulse as blood is forced through your artery with each beat of your heart. Slide your fingertips either forward or rearward along the skin of your neck or along your wrist until you can detect the pulse. You may need to apply moderate pressure.
Step 3
Count the number of pulse beats that occur over a 10-second interval. Multiply by six to determine your heart rate in beats per minute. For example, if you counted 11 pulse beats during a 10-second interval, your heart rate is 66 beats per minute.
Things You'll Need
- Stopwatch or clock with second hand
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