How To Check Your Pulse

Your pulse is the force of blood going through your arteries when your heart beats. Each time your heart squeezes to push blood out, the pressure in your arteries briefly goes up. You can feel this as a pulsing sensation in places like your wrist, neck and groin. Between beats, your heart relaxes, which brings the pressure back down again. That’s why each pulse feels like a single pulse or an on-and-off, like a blinking light.

Pulse and heart rate aren’t the same. Your heart rate is the number of times your heart squeezes. When you take your pulse, you’re counting the number of times your arteries expand and contract in response to those squeezes. But checking your pulse is often a reliable way to know your heart rate. Usually, the numbers match. That’s why many people use the terms interchangeably.

How to check your pulse on your wrist

The easiest place to check your pulse is on your wrist. This is called your radial pulse because you’re feeling blood pushing through your radial artery.

Follow these steps:

1. Get a timer or stopwatch so you can easily keep track of time.
2. Turn one arm so your palm is facing up.
3. Use the index and middle fingers of your other hand to trace a line from the base of your thumb down to your wrist bone.
4. When you feel your wrist bone, move your fingers slightly inward. You’ll feel a groove. That’s the spot where you can feel your pulse.
5. Gently press down on the groove. You should feel a subtle pulsing (beating or throbbing) sensation. If you can’t feel anything, apply a bit more pressure with the tips of your fingers.
6. Set the timer for 30 seconds. Count each pulse you feel during that time.
7. Double the number of pulses you counted. This equals your pulse in beats per minute (bpm). If you counted 40 pulses, multiply that by 2. Your pulse is 80 bpm.

How to check your pulse on your neck

Another spot to check your pulse is along your upper neck. This is called your carotid pulse. But before you try it, you should check with a healthcare provider. Pressing too much on the carotid artery isn’t safe in some cases, like if the artery is narrow due to plaque buildup.

If your provider says it’s OK, you can check your carotid pulse by following these steps:

1. Place your index and middle fingers on either side of your neck. They should go in the groove under your jaw and next to your windpipe.
2. Gently press down on the groove until you feel a pulse. You may need to move your fingers around slightly to find the right spot.
3. Count the pulses for 30 seconds.
4. Double the number of pulses you counted to get your pulse in beats per minute.

Normal pulse rate

For most adults at rest (not exercising), a normal pulse is between 60 and 100 bpm. That’s also the normal resting heart rate for adults. Your pulse will naturally go up when you’re moving around.

What can cause a low pulse rate?

In some cases, it’s OK to have a pulse below 60 bpm. This might happen if:

• You’re an athlete (athletes typically have lower resting heart rates than nonathletes)
• You’re sleeping (your heart rate naturally slows down while you sleep)
• You’re taking medications like beta-blockers that can lower your heart rate

But it’s not normal to have a slow pulse along with symptoms like fatigue, dizziness or fainting. These could be signs of a medical condition that needs treatment. Tell a healthcare provider if this happens.

What can cause a high pulse rate?

It’s normal for your pulse to be higher than 100 beats per minute during physical activity. Your body needs more oxygen when you’re exercising. You can figure out safe training zones based on the intensity of your workout.

Your pulse may be higher if you’re dehydrated or fighting an infection. In these cases, tell your healthcare provider what you’re noticing. They’ll let you know if you should come in for a checkup. Usually, your pulse will get back to normal once you’re properly hydrated or over the infection.

Stress or anxiety can also lead to a faster pulse. Aside from noticing a higher pulse rate when you check, you might also feel your heart racing in your chest or have other symptoms, like headaches, digestive problems and trouble sleeping.

If you have a fast pulse when you’re at rest and healthy, you may have a medical condition. Talk to a provider if this happens — especially if you also have symptoms like dizziness or heart palpitations.

What if my pulse seems irregular?

You might notice your pulse doesn’t beat in a steady rhythm. Instead, it may seem to jump around, pause, skip a beat or race, even if you’re calm and sitting down. Tell a provider if you notice any of these things. They could indicate an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), like atrial fibrillation.