Traditional Methods of Measuring Pulse
- Every heartbeat sends a surge of blood through your arteries, creating a pressure wave that travels along the walls of these vessels.
- When this wave reaches areas where arteries are close to the surface of your skin, such as your wrist or neck, you can feel it as a pulse.
- Each pulse corresponds to one heartbeat, so counting your pulse is a direct way to determine your heart rate.
Definition
Pulse
A pulse is the pressure wave created by each heartbeat as blood travels through arteries near the skin’s surface.
1. Radial Pulse (Wrist)
- Location: The radial artery, located on the thumb side of your wrist.
- Steps:
- Place two or three fingertips (not your thumb) lightly on the underside of your wrist, just below the base of your thumb.
- Press gently until you feel the rhythmic beats of your pulse.
- Count the number of beats for 30 seconds and multiply by two to calculate beats per minute (bpm). For greater accuracy, count for a full minute.
2. Carotid Pulse (Neck)
- Location: The carotid arteries, found on either side of your neck near your windpipe.
- Steps:
- Place two fingertips on the side of your neck, just below your jawline and to the side of your windpipe.
- Press lightly until you feel the pulse.
