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Your pulse can be felt at any point on your body where your veins and arteries run close to the surface of your skin.
The most popular and easily accessible pulse point can be found on the carotid artery, which runs along the left side of your neck. You can find the carotid artery just below the leftmost point of your jaw bone, next to the tendon in your neck. - You should not use your thumb to measure your heart rate. Your thumb has its own strong pulse that can interfere with the pulse you are trying to measure. Instead, use your index and middle finger to press on the artery.
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Your resting heart rate should be taken in the morning when you awaken, before you get out of bed. One way to calculate it is by counting how many beats elapse during a 15 second period (use a watch) and multiplying by four.
To be sure that you have an accurate measurement of your resting heart rate, measure it five mornings in a row, as your heart rate can be affected by many factors. Then take the average of all five measurements. This number is your resting heart rate. -
If your resting heart rate is above 90 beats per minute for all five days of measurement, you should consult your physician. You may have a heart condition called tachycardia.
Similarly, a dangerously low heart rate (below 60 if you are inactive and below 40 if you are an athlete in training) accompanied by weakness, lethargy and fainting can be a symptom of bradycardia, which requires immediate medical attention.
A consistently irregular heart beat that skips beats or speeds up periodically is also cause for concern. While the occasional fluctuation is no serious matter, if you take your pulse for a full minute and notice irregularities, you should bring this to the attention of your physician.
