Friday Roundup: How to Check Your Heart Rate
Joelle Reizes - January 13, 2012
Your resting heart rate is important to your cardiovascular health. The Chicago Tribune has a good article that explains how to check heart rate yourself. If you ever have a heart rate over 80, be sure to consult your doctor immediately.
The steps taken from the article are:
- Use two fingers (not your thumb*) and press gently** on either on your neck or the underside of your wrist to locate the pulse
- Once the pulse is located, look at a clock or watch and count the number of beats in a 15-second period.
- Multiply the number from step #2 by 4 to get your heart rate.
*Your thumb has a light pulse which can be confusing so it is best not to use your thumb to check your heart rate. Use your index and middle fingers. (This fact is not included in the article.)
**Press gently because excessive pressure on an artery can slow the heart rate.
To find out more about heart rate, click on the picture in this post.
Read the Chicago Tribune article at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-201201032000–tms–premhnstr–k-c20120104jan04,0,1650803.story
Category: Health Awareness, Health Screenings, Healthy Living
Tags: cerebrovascular disease , heart disease
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
