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3 Methods On How To Check Your Pulse

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Checking your pulse is one of the ways that will allow you to determine the heart-rate without using any special equipment. In fact, checking the pulse is the oldest method used for determining people’s heart-rates and it has actually been in existence for centuries especially in the medical section. Additionally, checking your pulse can also be of great use in-case your trying to lose weight or when you’re having a brain condition. So, below are some of the methods and steps that will help you to easily check your pulse.

METHOD-1: HOW TO FIND AND RECORD YOUR PULSE:

  1. Use the index and third finger to find a pulse: you should always use the index-finger and third-finger when finding a pulse. Never use your thumb when finding a pulse because the thumb has its own pulse and this makes the whole pulse-checking process impossible.

 

  1. Find your radial pulse: a radial-pulse is actually a pulse on the inside of your wrist. To find this pulse, you need to use the pads of your index and third finger by placing then just below the wrist creases on the thumb side. Additionally, try to press lightly until you feel blood pulsing under your fingers and if necessary you may even move your fingers around until you feel a pulse.

 

  1. Find your carotid-pulse: this is a pulse found on the side of the neck just below the jaw-line. To feel this pulse, you need to place your index-finger and 3rd-finger in a hollow between the windpipe and the large-muscle in the neck-section. Afterwards, apply some little pressure as you press until you feel a pulse.

 

  1. Consider checking and recording your heart-rate: this can be done by wearing a watch/clock on the second hand and then count the number of times you feel a pulse for about 1-minute (60-seconds). In fact this is the most accurate method you can use to calculate your pulse and heart-rate. On the other hand, if you don’t have a watch/clock nearby, then consider counting the beats you feel for about 15-seconds and then multiply them by 4 in order to get your heart-rate per minute. However, this is a less accurate option but it will work for you if you have no clock/watch.

 

  1. Determine the normal heart-rate: for most adult, the normal resting heart-rate is 5–70 bpm (beats-per-minute). For children under the age of 18, the normal heart-rate is 70-100 bpm (beats-per-minute). So, this should be your heart-rate when you’re at rest depending on your age range. Additionally, you can determine this heart-rate by counting your pulse for about 15-seconds and then multiply the number-of-pulses by 4 to get your normal heart-rate.

 

  1. Gently check the strength of the pulse: you should try checking the strength of your pulse to see if it is weak or strong. In fact, your pulse’s strength can’t be calculated and this means that you should personally decide whether your pulse is weak, strong, faint or bounding as you feel your pulse.

 

  1. Consider checking the rhythm of your pulse: this is actually the measurement of your heart’s pulsations and pauses between them. In fact, if your pulse is steady then it should be marked as regular but if you detect a skip or any other oddity about your pulse then there must be something irregular about it.

 

METHOD-2: WHAT TO DO IN-CASE YOU CANT FIND YOUR PULSE:

  1. Use your finger-tips: if you fail to feel your pulse using in first place, try using your fingertips instead of laying the fingers across your wrist. In fact, place your fingertips in different places while stopping in each location for about 5-seconds. This will actually enable you to feel the pulse at a certain point and it from there that you will begin your heart-rate calculations.

 

  1. Consider varying the pressure of your fingertips on the wrist: at times, pressing harder or lightening your touch will actually help you to find your pulse. So, try to vary in the amount of pressure you apply when checking for your pulse and at some point you will actually feel it.

 

  1. Point your arm towards the floor: If you fail to find your pulse at first, then consider pointing your arm towards the floor especially if you had been holding the arm up before. In fact, pointing your arm down will help to change the rate at which blood flows and this will actually help you find your pulse.

 

  1. Consider using a stethoscope: in case you really fail to get your pulse using the fingers, then consider using a stethoscope by holding it against your bare chest after removing your shirt. Listen and count each beat in order to get appropriate heart-rate results. Additionally, try to listen to any skipped beats if any incase your pulse-checking process was not that accurate.

 

METHOD-3: HOW TO FIND YOUR MAXIMUM AND TARGET HERAT-RATES:

  1. Consider finding your potential maximum heart-rate: a maximum heart-rate is actually the highest your pulse-rate can get. In fact, you can use your potential maximum heart-rate to determine your target heart-rate by using a simple formula below: 220-(your age) = (predicted maximum heart-rate).

 

  1. Compare the real maximum heat-rate with the potential maximum heart-rate: consider exercising intensely for about 30-minutes and then check your heart-rate immediately during or after the workout. Afterwards, make a comparison between your real maximum heart-rate and potential maximum heart-rate. In fact, the numbers you get will be relatively similar. Additionally, if you take a pulse when exercising, then keep your feet moving as you do so and if you don’t, then blood might accumulate in the extremities making it hard to count your pulses.

 

  1. Find the target heart-rate: your target heart-rate is actually in a range of 60 to 85 percent of your maximum heart-rate. The target heart-rate is in a range because everybody has a different fitness level. So when exercising, consider checking your pulse for 15-seconds and the number you will get should be 60 to 80-percent your maximum heart-rate.

 

TIPS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHECKING YOUR PULSE:

  • Consider lying down on the floor for at least 1-minute before taking your pulse in case you want to measure your relaxed heart-rate.
  • You can use a Smartphone app to take pulse incase all other methods are not efficient. In fact, there are many Smartphone apps available for download but follow the instruction provided when using these apps for best results.
  • There are also other methods of taking your pulse and these include taking the pulse at your chest and temple. However, these methods are not common but they also offer good heart-rate results.

Vanilla Farmer, Amazon Retailer & Tech Researcher. Yosaki is my personal blog but I'm working on some big tech project back doors. I will keep on posting various topics on things I have knowledge about.

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