When you’re ready, begin counting the number of times you feel your pulse beat under your fingers for 30-seconds. You may need to move your fingers around slightly until you feel your pulse. Press down lightly with your index and middle finger until you feel blood pulsing under your fingers. Place the tips of the index finger and middle finger of the other hand at the crease of the wrist below the base of the thumb. Turn one hand over so that your palm is facing upward. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and dry well. If you do not have a device, you can check your pulse by hand.įind a watch, clock, or timer on your phone set to count down the seconds in a minute. Many smart phones and watches can check your pulse for you automatically. Do not take your pulse within two hours of exercise, stressful activity or drinking caffeine as your pulse may be higher and will not give you an accurate resting heartrate. The best time to check for your resting heart rate is right after you wake up in the morning. People 10 years of age and older: 60-100 beats per minute.Children 1 to 10 years old: 60-140 beats per minute.Having a higher resting heart rate can lead to illnesses like cardiovascular disease. A higher resting heart rate may indicate a problem with your heart or a lower fitness level. Having a lower resting heart rate can help prevent cardiac events like a heart attack. A lower resting heart rate indicates a stronger heart muscle or higher level of fitness. Your lowest pulse is your resting heart rate. Your pulse is measured by how many times your heart beats in one minute and can be easily measured on your own. Monitoring your heart rate can help you detect symptoms of coronavirus early.Ĭhecking your pulse can help you understand how well your heart is working, how your body is responding to an adverse event, like getting sick, and can help determine your fitness level. If your resting heart rate is higher than normal, you may have a fever.
If you have a fever, your pulse is likely to increase. Your pulse changes as your body fights and recovers from an illness such as COVID-19.
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How to Check Your Pulse Checking Your Pulse During the COVID-19 Pandemic