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Heartbeat – is yours normal?
It’s well worth learning how to take your pulse accurately as it can give an early warning of abnormal rhythms
What is a normal heart rate?
Between 60 and 100 beats per minute. However, there are normal reasons why your pulse may be slower or faster. This may be related to your age, medications, caffeine, level of fitness, any other illness including heart conditions, stress and anxiety.
How do I take my pulse?
You can feel your pulse with your fingers. Fingers should be placed near an artery and pressed gently against a bone, in order to feel the pulse.
In order to assess your resting pulse rate, you should sit down for five minutes beforehand. Please remember that any stimulants (such as caffeine or nicotine) taken beforehand will affect the reading.
Put your hand on a flat surface, with your palm facing upwards, then place your first and middle fingers on the wrist, below your thumb. Count for 30 seconds, and multiply the resulting number by two to get your heart rate in beats per minute. If your heart rhythm is irregular, you should count for one minute but without multiplying the resulting figure.
Heartbeat — is yours normal?
- If your pulse seems to be racing some or most of the time and you are feeling unwell
- If your pulse seems to be slow some or most of the time and you are feeling unwell
- If your pulse feels irregular (“jumping around”), and even if you do not feel unwell
Arrhythmia Awareness Week
‘Know Your Pulse’ is the overriding theme of Arrhythmia Awareness Week, 8 -14 June 2009, organised by Arrhythmia Alliance (A-A), The Heart Rhythm Charity.
The pulse is one of the most effective ways of identifying potential cardiac arrhythmias and so the idea of ‘knowing your pulse’ is relevant to patients and medical professionals. A-A aims to encourage medical professionals to check a patient’s pulse as part of normal procedure, in the same way that they might routinely measure their blood pressure and weight.
During the week, A-A will be working with sister charity Atrial Fibrillation Association (AFA) to facilitate ‘pulse check’ stands, where nurses, first aiders and doctors can educate members of the public on this simple health check procedure. An accompanying pulse check card will enable people to keep a record of their pulse over a period of time, and if there are any irregularities, they will be recommended to seek advice from their GP.
For more information on the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, go to
Blackouts
STARS, the Syncope Trust And Reflex anoxic Seizures, aims to ensure that anyone presenting with unexplained loss of consciousness receives the correct diagnosis, the appropriate treatment, informed support and sign posting to the appropriate medical professional.
Useful links
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
