Human Pulse

Learn about normal and irregular heart rates and find out how to check your own pulse.

What is your pulse?

When your heart beats it pushes blood around your body. This heart beat can be felt as your 'pulse' on your wrist or neck.

A pulse is what you feel over an artery as the pressure increases within it following each heartbeat. For adults, the general consensus is a normal pulse rate falls into the range of 60 to 100. See how Virgin Pulse's employee well-being solution helps employees create habits that matter so they can be their best at work and at home.

Your pulse is measured by counting the number of times your heart beats in one minute. For example, if your heart contracts 72 times in one minute, your pulse would be 72 beats per minute (BPM). This is also called your heart rate.

A normal pulse beats in a steady, regular rhythm. However, in some people this rhythm is uneven, or 'jumps about'. This is known as an irregular pulse.

Human Pulse Ox

A bounding pulse is when a person can feel their heart beating strongly. They may feel the pulse in their chest, neck, or wrists. This is often caused by anxiety or panic attacks, though in some.

How do you find your pulse?

The easiest place to find your pulse is in your wrist.

Turn your hand so that your palm is facing upwards.
Now place the three middle fingers from your other hand over your wrist below the base of your thumb.
Press lightly to feel the pulse under your fingers. If you can't feel anything press slightly harder.

How do you check your pulse (heart rate)?

You can measure your heart rate manually by checking your pulse. Follow these three steps.

Find your pulse in your wrist (as explained above).
Count each beat for a total time of 30 seconds.
Double the number of beats you counted. This is your heart rate or pulse, measured in beats per minute.

Also make a note of whether your heart beats at an even or uneven rhythm. A normal heart beats at a steady rhythm like a clock, tick tock tick tock.

Some people like to use a heart rate monitor to measure their heart rate. These monitors are often included in fitness trackers, which are now widely available in sports stores and other retail outlets. However, their accuracy depends on the quality of the device.

What is a normal heart rate?

A normal heart rate, when you're not being active, is between 60 – 100 beats per minute. This is called your resting heart rate. If you've been active, you'll need to wait at least five minutes before taking your pulse.

When you're active, your heart beats faster to get more oxygen to your working muscles. The harder your body is working, the faster your heart will beat. For example, your heart rate when you're sprinting will be much faster than your heart rate when you're walking. If you're exercising hard it's normal for your heart rate to get up to 160 beats per minute or more.

There are other things that can make your heart beat faster, like caffeine, nicotine, recreational drugs and some kinds of medications (such as beta blockers). Your heart will also beat faster when you feel strong emotions, like anxiety or fear.

Athletes or people who are very fit may have resting heart beats of less than 60 bpm.

What is an irregular pulse?

An irregular pulse is when the heart doesn't beat in a regular, steady rhythm. This is also called an irregular heart rate or an arrhythmia.

If your heart rate is irregular, you may notice that your pulse:

seems irregular or is 'jumping around'
is racing, even when you're at rest
seems unusually slow some or most of the time.

Why is it important to get it checked?

Often an irregular pulse is harmless. However, it's important to get it checked by a health professional, because sometimes it's a sign of a heart condition.

The most common kind of heart rhythm condition is atrial fibrillation (AF), which can put you at greater risk of having a stroke. Fortunately, if you have AF, there's medication you can take to help reduce this stroke risk.

Your doctor can do a simple test called an ECG (electrocardiogram) to further check your irregular pulse.

What are heart palpitations?

A heart palpitation is when you suddenly become aware of your heart beating, usually in an irregular way. Sometimes you can feel it in your ears or your chest when you’re lying down. Your heart beat may feel:

too fast or slow
like it’s fluttering
like it’s thudding, or pounding.

It is not unusual to feel heart palpitations occasionally and mostly they are harmless. However if you’re experiencing them on a regular basis, see your doctor.

Exercise and heart rate

Like any other muscle, your heart needs exercise to keep it fit and healthy. Regular exercise can help reduce your risk of heart disease and other health conditions, such as diabetes.

To keep your heart healthy, you should aim to do 150 minutes of low to moderate intensity exercise a week. If you have a heart condition, talk to your doctor about what exercise and target heart rates are safe for you.

One way to measure the intensity of your exercise is by using your heart rate. To exercise at a low to moderate intensity your heart rate should be at 50 to 70% of your approximate maximum heart rate.

The easiest way to get an approximate maximum heart rate (MHR) is to calculate 220 – your age. You then need to calculate 50 to 70% of your MHR.

For example, if you're 40-years-old:

your approximate maximum heart rate is: 220 – 40 = 180 beats per minute
50% of your MHR is 180 X 0.5 = 90 bpm
70% of your MHF is 180 X 0.7 = 126 bpm.

Alternatively, you can use our heart rate chart below to get a rough idea.

Remember if you're on medications to slow your heart rate down, you may not be able to meet these upper heart rates and the aim should be to exercise at a rate that makes you lightly puff.

Heart rate zones chart

Estimated heart rates for exercising.

Age	Approximate Maximum Heart Rate (MHR)	Target heart rate for low to moderate intensity exercise (50-70% of maximum for MHR)
20	200 bpm	100 - 140 bpm
30	190 bpm	95 - 133 bpm
40	180 bpm	90 - 126 bpm
50	170 bpm	85 - 119 bpm
60	160 bpm	80 - 112 bpm
70	150 bpm	75 - 105 bpm
80	140 bpm	70 - 98 bpm
90	130 bpm	65 - 91 bpm

Published : 2011-06-09 - Updated : 2020-12-19
Author : Disabled World - Contact: Disabled World (www.disabled-world.com)

Synopsis* : Instructions on how to check your pulse rate, includes chart of what your beats per minute (BPM) should be for children and adults. Your pulse is usually called your heart rate, which is the number of times your heart beats each minute (bpm). The normal resting pulse rate for humans is usually around 60 to 100 beats per minute.

Main Digest

By checking your pulse, and comparing the resulting beats per minute (BPM) using the pulse rate chart below, you can find out how well your heart is working, as well as your general health and fitness levels.

What exactly is pulse rate defined as?

Your pulse is defined as the rate at which your heart beats. Your pulse is usually called your heart rate, which is the number of times your heart beats each minute (bpm). The pulse may be palpated in any place that allows an artery to be compressed against a bone, such as at the neck (carotid artery), at the wrist (radial artery), behind the knee (popliteal artery), on the inside of the elbow (brachial artery), and near the ankle joint (posterior tibial artery). The pulse can also be measured by listening to the heart beat directly (auscultation), traditionally using a stethoscope. You check your pulse rate by counting the beats in a set period of time (at least 15 to 20 seconds) and multiplying that number to get the number of beats per minute.

Human Pulse Locations

Pulse rates vary from person to person. The normal pulse rate for humans is usually 60 to 100 beats per minute, however, there are certain medical conditions such as cardiac arrhythmia which may alter the normal pulse rate of an individual. Other influencing factors include your age, gender and fitness level.

Checking pulse rate on the wrist

How To Check Your Pulse Rate

You can measure your pulse rate anywhere an artery comes close to the skin, such as in your wrist, neck, temple area, groin, behind the knee, or top of your foot.

Wrist: You can check your pulse rate by placing tips of your index, second and third fingers on the palm side of your other wrist, below the base of the thumb or on your lower neck, on either side of your windpipe. Do not use your thumb because it has its own pulse that you may feel.
Carotid Artery: This is located in your neck, on either side of your windpipe. Be careful when checking your pulse in this location, especially if you are older than 65. If you press too hard, you may become lightheaded and dizzy.
Heart Beat: Your pulse can also be measured by listening to the heart beat directly (auscultation), traditionally using a stethoscope.
Pulse Meter: Electronic pulse meters automatically check your pulse in your finger, wrist, or chest. These devices are helpful if you have trouble measuring your pulse or if you wish to check your pulse while you exercise. Some exercise machines such as treadmills have a pulse meter built into the device.
Beats Per Minute: Count the beats for 15 seconds and multiply this number by 4 to get your pulse per minute. Checking your pulse rates when resting, during exercises or after it, provides general information about your overall fitness level.

Baby and Child Pulse Rate (BPM)
1st month of life - 70-190 bpm
Between 1 and 11 mths - 80-160 bpm
1 and 2 yrs - 80-130 bpm
3 and 4 yrs - 80-120 bpm
5 and 6 yrs - 75-115 bpm
Between 7 and 9 yrs - 70-110 bpm
10 years of age plus - 60-100 bpm

The chart below shows target heart rates for different ages. An adults maximum heart rate is around 220 bpm minus your age.

Average Pulse Rate for Adults
Age	Target Heart Rate 50 - 85%	Average Maximum Heart Rate 100%
20 years	100-170 beats per minute	200 beats per minute
30 yrs	95-162 bpm	190 bpm
35 yrs	93-157 bpm	185 bpm
40 yrs	90-153 bpm	180 bpm
45 yrs	88-149 bpm	175 bpm
50 yrs	85-145 bpm	170 bpm
55 yrs	83-140 bpm	165 bpm
60 yrs	80-136 bpm	160 bpm
65 yrs	78-132 bpm	155 bpm
70 yrs	75-128 bpm	150 bpm

Heart Rate Explanations

Tachycardia: Means the heart is beating too fast at rest (usually over 100 beats a minute (BPM))
Bradycardia: A heart rate that is too slow (usually below 60 beats a minute(BPM))
Target Heart Rate: You gain the most benefits and lessen the risks when you exercise in your target heart rate zone. Usually this is when your exercise heart rate (pulse) is 60 percent to 80 percent of your maximum heart rate - (Target Heart Rate Calculator and Chart)
Maximum Heart Rate: The maximum heart rate is the highest your pulse rate can get. To calculate your predicted maximum heart rate, use the formula: 220 - Your Age = Predicted Maximum Heart Rate

NOTE: It is recommended that a physician be consulted for advice in event of doubts or therapy.

About the Author

Disabled World (Disabled-World.Com) is an independent disability community established in 2004 to provide disability news, assistive technology reviews, and disability sporting events, as well as general information for people with disabilities, seniors, their family and/or carers. Be sure to check out our homepage for informative reviews, exclusive stories and how-tos. You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

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