Your resting pulse rate is one of the many indicators of heart health. A healthy resting pulse rate falls between 60 and 100 beats each minute, according to Edward Laskowski, M.D., of MayoClinic.com. If you're in good health, a lower resting pulse rate usually indicates a heart fit enough to pump the same amount of blood in fewer beats. As your fitness improves, your resting pulse rate will generally decrease. It takes only a few seconds to check your resting pulse rate at home.
Step 1
Stay in bed when you first wake up and move as little as possible until after you take your pulse. The American Council on Exercise recommends checking first thing in the morning to get the most accurate results.
Step 2
Place two fingers to the right of the carotid artery on your neck, or on the thumb-side of the major artery in your wrist. Feel for a few beats before you start counting to make sure you're in a good position.
Step 3
Use a stopwatch or clock with a second hand to count your pulse rate. Count the number of times you feel your heart beat in one minute to get your resting pulse rate.
Step 4
Decrease the time it takes to check your pulse by employing a mathematical shortcut. Count the number of times your heart beats in 10 seconds, then multiply that number by six to achieve similar results. You can also count the number of times your heart beats in six seconds and multiply by 10.
Step 5
Check your resting heart rate on a regular basis to monitor for changes, especially if you're working to increase your overall fitness.
Tips and Warnings
- Lay a stopwatch or clock with a second hand next to your bed before going to sleep.
- Contact your doctor if your heart rate falls outside of the normal range.
Things You'll Need
- Clock or stopwatch
