How do you take a pulse? I know to use the index finger and it's mate, but what pressure do you put on etc?

Question

And I know to put the fingers- two finger widths apart- up from the wrist. But what else? What pressure? Do we push in with our finger tips?

How do we take our own pulse for more than 15 secs or so?

Answer 1

Place your two fingers at the radial pulse on your wrist. You will find it om the thumb side of your wrist, approx. two finger widths down. Apply gentle pressure, until you feel the pulse. If you press to hard you will occlude the pulse, and you won't feel it. To determine your heart rate you cant count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4, or you can count for thirty seconds and multiply by 2, but the most accurate measurement is to count the pulse for a full minute to determine your heart rate. Counting for the full minute allows for more accurate measurement, because of the natural variance in heart rate during a period of time. A normal heart rate for the average person at rest/normal activity is 60-100.

Answer 2

First if you go that high on the wrist you will NOT find the pulse. Try your own. just above the wrist, put your fingers on the bone then slide down to the soft tissue and press until you feel the heartbeat. Never use your thumb and you will be getting your own heartbeat. Taking your own pulse is best done at the neck.

Answer 3

Just try it on yourself until you feel the beats. Watch a clock to get 15 seconds and start from zero.