You can measure your pulse at any point that an artery comes close to the skin's surface. Common areas to manually measure your pulse are: the wrist or the neck.
To Measure Your Pulse:
• To measure from your wrist, place your index and middle finger on the underside of your opposite wrist, below the base of the thumb (note: avoid using your thumb as your thumb's pulse can interfere with measuring your pulse elsewhere).
• To measure from your neck, use your index and middle finger to feel for your pulse on the left or right side of your trachea.
• With either method, use the flat part of your fingers (but not the tips) & press firmly. Do not push hard enough that you can no longer feel the pulse.
• Use a manual or digital clock to watch the time as you count your number of heart beats for 30 seconds. Multiply the number of beats after 30 seconds by 2 to get the beats per minute. If you are taking your pulse during exercise, count your heart beats for only 10 seconds and multiply by 6.
*Note: Please do not use this information as a substitute for medical advise. Please consult with your doctor if you have questions/concerns.