How To Find Your Pulse
Knowing how to find your pulse, or other people’s pulses is fairly important. First, it can help you monitor your target heart range (THR) and second, it’s one of the vital signs that you need to check regularly. Here’s how to find your pulse.
Before Starting
If you are right-handed, find the pulse that is on the left side of your body. For example, to take the pulse in your left wrist, you must use your right hand to locate it.
Use your index finger and middle finger joined together, and use the pads of said fingers to locate your pulse. Don’t use your thumb.
It’s better to find your pulse while in the middle of an activity, like after walking or exercising. Your pulse will be beating harder during activity, making it easier to locate.
Keep in mind that you are looking for the central pulses, which include your carotid and arterial pulses. These are directly connected to the veins that feed your brain, which will give you a more accurate pulse reading than your peripheral pulses.
Use only a slight, gentle pressure when checking your pulse. Carotid arteries feed your brain directly, and applying a strong pressure for a long time can cause serious damage to a person.
If you are monitoring your pulse on a regular basis, keep a paper and pen ready
Carotid Artery
Your carotid artery runs vertically on both sides of your neck. To look for your pulse stemming from the carotid artery, place your middle and index fingers together. Using the pads of your fingers, place them on the left side of your neck, where your neck and jawline meet. Slide your fingers downward, approximately in the area in the middle of your neck, until you locate the tell-tale throbbing of your pulse.
Radial Artery
The pulse that originates from your radial artery, also known as your wrist pulse, To find your radial artery, turn your hand upwards, palms up.
Take your middle and index fingers to the area of your wrist closest to the thumb. Your middle finger should be closer to your palm than your index finger. Both fingers should be placed vertically along your wrist. Your wrist pulse can be felt between the tendons of your wrist (the hard “strings” running in the middle of your arm) and the edge of your wrist. Press gently and maneouver a little bit if you must. You should feel your radial artery pretty strongly in this position.