someone told me that you should not take your pulse from your neck, why is that???

Answer 1

There is no reason why one should not take pulse from the neck just to check the pulse rate. However, another reason why pulse in the neck is palpated is to check the quality of carotid pulse. And not that this shouldn't be done either. Only thing one has to be careful about is not to compress the carotid arteries on both sides together. This is because sometimes one of the carotids is partially blocked, in which case, there is partial cross-circulation to the brain from the other side. If you compress both sides together, the blood supply to the brain stops transiently, and in patients with already compromised blood supply, this can be the last straw - he can even get a stroke. I know this sounds too far-fetched, but it is documented.

Answer 2

You are absolutely right and all three answers upto now are wrong. There is a well innervated part of the carotid artery called the carotid sinus which is normally involved in regulation of the blood pressure and fluid balance. Pressure on the carotid sinus produces a reflex drop in the heart rate. This effect is used clinically in the form of carotid sinus massage to control supraventricular tachycardias. In rare cases pressure on the carotid sinus has produced cardiac arrest and death.

Answer 3

There is absolutely no reason not to take a pulse in your neck. "Someone" is full of baloney.

Answer 4

No special reason.

You won't pass out or anything like that from taking your carotid pulse.