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How to Check Your Heartbeat

When you want to check your heartbeat, what you are really doing is measuring the rate of your pulse. Heart rate is measured by counting the beats per minute (BPM) of your heart. You may check your heart rate to determine if you are exercising at an optimal pace, or for health reasons.

Things You'll Need

  • Stop watch
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Instructions

  1. How to Check Your Heartbeat

    • 1

      Start the stopwatch and set it somewhere that you can see it easily. Point your left hand towards the floor, palm facing up. While you can also feel your pulse in your arm and neck, checking your wrist is the easiest and most sure-fire way to accurately measure your BPM.

    • 2

      Use the first two fingers of your right hand to press firmly but not too hard on your left wrist, just below the thumb. Your fingers should be where the bone meets the tendon on your wrist. It may take some moving around, but you will be able to feel your pulse.

    • 3

      Wait a moment, once you've found your pulse, to be sure that it's beating regularly and with the same amount of strength. Whenever you're ready, look at the stopwatch and count how many pulses you feel in twenty seconds. Multiply the number by three to determine your BPM.

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