subject: How to Check your Own Pulse Rate [print this page] How to Check your Own Pulse Rate How to Check your Own Pulse Rate
If there are changes in your heart rate, pulse rate or rhythm, it may be due to a heart disease or any heart-related condition. This also goes if there is a hard blood vessel or weak pulse.
It is by counting a person's pulse rate that you can find out how fast the heart is beating. Parts of the body where you can feel a pulse would be close to the surfaces of the skin such as on the neck, writs and upper arm.
When you see a doctor, he or she will check your pulse as SOP. However, you can also check your own pulse. For the resting pulse, you can check this:
? First thing in the morning
? Before getting out of bed
? Just after waking up
There are also those who check their pulse rate before and after exercise sessions.
How do you check your pulse rate?
To check your pulse rate, you need to count the beats in a set time frame such in 15 to 20 seconds. Then you will multiply that number in order to get the accurate bpm or beats per minute.
Keep in mind that the pulse rate can change every minute. It is usually faster if the person:
? Is under some stress
? Has fever
? Does some exercises
When the person is resting, the pulse rate would be slower.
Use of Health Tools
These days, there are new advancements in technology that can help us make wise decisions or that can help us take action to improve our health. There are now interactive tools to help us determine:
? The ideal weight
? Health risks
? The pulse rate or heart rate
? And more.
The Importance of Checking the Pulse Rate
? To see how well our heart is working. It can help determine if our heart is pumping enough blood.
? To find out what is causing the symptoms. This may include dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid/irregular heartbeats.
? To check blood flow if a blood vessel is blocked or after an injury.
? To check on diseases or medicines that may be cause the slow heart rate. Medicines that are known to slow down heart rate are: beta-blockers and digoxin.
