How to Measure a Heartbeat Rate

Whether you are just keeping an eye on your overall health, or ensuring that your heart rate is in the proper range during cardiovascular exercise, periodically checking your pulse is a vital tool in your arsenal for ensuring optimal health. Checking your pulse measures the number of times that your heart beats every minute. Abnormal results may indicate that you are exercising too strenuously or experiencing health problems. For example, an abnormally fast pulse can indicate dehydration or infection; a pulse that is difficult to feel may indicate blockages in your arteries.

• 1

  Perform the test at an area where an artery closely passes through the skin. You can measure your pulse at your groin, temple, the top of your foot or back of your knees. More commonly, the heart rate is measured from the wrist or throat.

• 2

  Measure your pulse at your wrist by placing your middle and index fingers just below the base of your thumb on the opposite wrist. Measure your pulse on your neck by placing the same fingers slightly to the side of your Adam's apple. In either location, flatten your fingers and press firmly until you feel your heart beating.

• 3

  Set a timer or watch a clock with a second hand for one minute. Count your heartbeats for the full minute. Alternatively, you could also count the beats for 10 seconds and multiply the number of beats by six to calculate your beats per minute.