Your pulse is the rate at which your heart beats. As your heart pumps
blood through your body, you can feel a pulsing in some of the blood vessels
close to the skin's surface.
The usual resting pulse for an adult is 60 to 100 beats per minute.
Certain illnesses can cause your pulse to change, so it is helpful to know what
your resting pulse is when you are well. To find your resting pulse, count your
pulse after you have been sitting or resting quietly for at least 10
minutes.
You can easily check your pulse on the inside of your wrist, below
your thumb.
- Gently place 2 fingers of your other hand on this
artery.
- Do not use your thumb because it has its own pulse that you
may feel.
- Count the beats for 30 seconds; then double the result
to get the number of beats per minute.
You can also check your pulse in the carotid artery. This is located
in your neck, on either side of your windpipe. Be careful when checking your
pulse in this location, especially if you are older than 65. If you press too
hard, you may become lightheaded and fall.
