Health:  Knowing Your Target Heart Rate - Part 2

Finding Your Pulse

The first step in being able to determine your target heart rate (THR) is to be able to quickly and easily find and count your heart rate. There are two places that your pulse should be felt with relative ease. Once you become comfortable locating them, they will eventually become second nature.

Your carotid pulse is found on both sides of your neck. The carotids are the two major arteries that supply blood to your head and your brain. To locate your carotid pulse, place two fingers of either hand on the center of your Adams apple. Next, slide those fingers upwards 1 to 2 inches. Then, move your fingers to either side of your neck, another 1 to 2 inches. With gentle pressure you should feel your pulse rather easily. Don't push too hard, only light pressure is needed to feel it. To locate your best pulse point, move your fingers around a little bit at a time until you find the area where you can feel it the best. Practice trying to put your fingers on that exact spot several times. You hand will quickly learn exactly where to go without having to think about it.

The second area, called the radial pulse, is on the inside of either wrist. To find it, locate your wrist bone just above your thumb with two fingers. Now, slide your fingers slightly toward the inner part of your wrist, remember -- be gentle (pushing too hard can stop the blood flow, which means you won't be able feel it.) Your fingers should be just above the crease in your inner wrist. Once you find it, move your fingers around slightly, just until you find locate the spot where you feel your pulse the best. Again, practice locating your radial pulse several times.

If you have trouble finding it in your wrist, use a Sharpie and mark it with a couple of dots, a small line, or an X. Eventually, you'll find it without difficulty.

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Health:  Knowing Your Target Heart Rate Part 1

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