A pulse is a beat, which you can feel on the walls of the arteries when the heart is beating. The pulse will always be the same as the heat rate. The normal pulse rate for an adult is from 60 to 100 beats a minute. Arteries are the blood vessels, which will carry the blood from heart to different parts inside your body. Through various arteries, you can find your pulse. The main arteries are radial and carotid, which are located near the wrist and the neck respectively. The pulse is checked for checking if you are suffering from illness. Here are some simple steps on how to take pulse.
Radial Pulse
- You will find the radial artery close to inner side of your wrist and thumb. For checking the pulse, you will need a watch with a seconds hand for counting the pulse. Start with bending your elbow with your arm placed on the side. Remember that the palm of your hand should be facing upwards.
- Take the middle finger and your index finger, and gently try to feel the artery that is inside your wrist. However, always remember, that you must never use your thumb to take the pulse, because it has a pulse of its own.
- Now, you will have to count the radial pulse for one minute (60 seconds). While taking the pulse you will have to determine if the pulse is strong or weak. The radial artery is the easiest place to take the pulse.
Carotid Pulse
- You will find this place on the outer left or right side of your neck. Take the middle and index finger, gently place them on the carotid pulse and try to feel them on either side of the neck. Always remember that you must not press on the pulse.
- Once you find the carotid pulse, you will find them beating. Remember never use your thumb for taking the pulse as it has its own pulse. Now, start counting the carotid pulse for one full minute.
- Start writing the pulse rate along with the date and the time you took the pulse. Check if your pulse has a weak or strong beat. Also, you must write all the things that you notice about your pulse, like when it becomes weak, misses beats or when it becomes strong.
- You can check this pulse during or after exercise as well.
Apical Pulse
- The apical pulse is when you count the pulse with a stethoscope placed on your heart. For this, you will have to sit or lie down. Place the tips of the stethoscope inside your ears. Take the diaphragm of the stethoscope and place it on the heart.
- You will find your heart in the middle of your chest and a little towards the left side. Start counting the heartbeats for one minute. Notice if your heartbeat is strong, weak or with missing beats. Now, you will have to write the apical date and time of the pulse taken. Also, mention if you notice that your heart is not beating in the usual manner.
Compare and Record the Findings
- Once you have got the pulse rate and the findings, then you will have to write down your findings. In this way, you will be able to chart the activity of your pulse for every month and get the average pulse rate.
- The normal pulse rating for an adult will be somewhere near 60 to 100 beats per minute. For children, it will be 70 to 110 beats per minute. Infants can have a higher pulse rate as compared to other, which can go up to 150 beats per second.
- Always remember that your pulse rating will keep rising the harder your body works. Therefore, it is always better to take the pulse when your body is calm and relaxed. Some people tend to calculate the pulse rate during exercise, for understanding if they have raised the normal rate to a higher one for burning calories.
Tips and Warnings:
- If you notice that your pulse rate is higher or lower than the average pulse rate, then you will have to visit a doctor soon.
- Someone else or you must be taught how to take pulse. Ask the doctor how many times in a day do you need to take the pulse and should you take it before or after your medication.
- If you think that you are doing it wrong, then go visit your doctor.
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