How to Check Your Heart Rate

Whether you’re trying to exercise more effectively or you want to continuously monitor your heart rate due to health reasons, it’s important to know how to check your heart rate quickly. Follow these simple steps to determine your heart rate in only ten seconds.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Gently press the tips of your index and middle fingers on one hand into your neck. The ideal spot is about an inch to either side of the middle of your throat, right where your neck and chin meet. You’ll know you have the right spot when you can feel the blood pumping through the blood vessels beneath.
2. Using your watch or timepiece to keep time, count how many beats occur in ten seconds.
3. Multiply this number by six. The result will be your current heart rate.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are measuring your heart rate to get more out of your exercise, be sure to review a heart rate chart. The chart will tell you what ranges are most effective for burning fat and for strengthening your heart depending on your age.