2 ways to check your pulse - wikihow

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  • 7/31/2019 2 Ways to Check Your Pulse - WikiHow

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    Find the radial pulse.

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    Alternatively find the

    carotid pulse.

    How to Check Your Pulse

    Checking your pulse allows you to determine your heartrate without any special equipment. This can be useful ifyou're trying to lose weight or you have a heart condition.Read on to find out how to easily and painlessly checkyour own pulse.

    Use your fingers when finding a pulse . Don't use your thumb when finding it, as it hasits own pulse.

    Find the radial pulse. This is also known as thepulse on the inside of the wrist. Use the pads ofthree fingers. Place these just below the wristcreases at the base of the thumb. Press lightly untilyou feel a pulse (blood pulsing under your fingers).If necessary, move fingers around until you find it.

    An easier way to find your pulse is to use only two fingers, the index and your middle fingers.Again, never use your thumb, because your thumb also has a pulse in itself. Count your pulsefor a complete minute (60 seconds.)

    Turn your arm, so the palm of your hand is facing upwards, place the pad of themiddle finger of your opposite hand on the small bony protrusion of the forearmbone (the radius), that you will fee l on the outer aspect of the wrist, and pressdown lightly with the pads of both fingers, until you feel your pulse . Count yourpulse for a full minute, or you may count it for 15 seconds and multiply that reading by 4 toget a full 60 second count.

    If you are unable to fee l it then, press a little harder while you rotate the wristaway from your body; until you "catch" the tips of your fingers in the little"groove" that you will feel, and then press downwards until you fee l the pulse .

    --Krystalee 12:04, 22 May 2012 (UTC)

    Alternatively find thecarotid pulse.Alternatively, to feel apulse on the side of theneck, place two fingers,preferably your indexand middle finger, in

    the hollow between thewindpipe and the largemuscle in the neck. Press lightly until you feel apulse.

    Steps

    the how to manual that you can edit

  • 7/31/2019 2 Ways to Check Your Pulse - WikiHow

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    Check and record the rate,

    strength and rhythm.

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    Check and record therate, strength andrhythm. Use a watch orclock with a second hand.Make a note of the rate ofthe pulse, which is thenumber of beats perminute. Check the strengthof the pulse to see if it is

    strong or weak and if therhythm is regular orirregular.

    If you don't have a watch or a clock around, the Cleveland Clinic Health Systemrecommends counting the beats you feel for 15 seconds and multiplying this by fourto get your heart rate per minute:

    Your pulse is _______________ (beats in 15 seconds) x 4 =________________(your pulse) You can count beats for 30 seconds and

    multiply by 2.

    Normal, Maximum And Target Heart Rates

    Normal heart rate. This is your heart rate when you are at rest.

    For children under age 18, normal heart rate is 70-100 beats per minute.

    For adults, normal heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute.

    Maximum heart rate . This is the highest your pulse rate can get. To find yours, follow this

    formula: 220-(your age)=(predicted maximum heart rate)

    Target he art rate. This is 60 to 85 percent of your maximum heart rate. This is usuallyaccomplished through exercise.

    What To Do If You Can't Find Your Pulse

    Use your fingertips instead of having your fingers lay across your wrist . Put themin different places and stop in each location for five seconds.

    Vary the pressure of the fingertips on your wrist. You may need to lighten up orpress harder to feel your pulse.

    Hold your arm pointing down towards the floor.

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