How to Check Your Heart Rate

Use your watch 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. Your heart rate is the number of times your heart beats in a minute. People who exercise use their heart rate to find the optimum level of exertion.

Things You'll Need

• Watch

Instructions

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 10 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.

References

• Cleveland Clinic: Your Pulse and Your Target Heart Rate