Heart Rate

What To Do

Part 1: Resting heart rate

• Find your pulse (two ways)
  • Neck: Place two fingers - your index and middle fingers, right under your jaw on your neck until you feel a thumping. 
  • Wrist: Place two fingers - your index and middle fingers, on your wrist on the side closest to your thumb until you feel a thumping. 
• Count your pulse
  • Count as many beats your heart beats in 15 seconds. It may be helpful to have someone keep track of the time while you count. 
  • Write this number down. 
  • Multiply this number by 4 to get your resting heart rate per minute.

Part 2: Active heart rate

• Exercise for one minute - make it fun! You can run on the spot, do jumping jacks or dance. Just make sure to keep moving for at least one minute.
• Quickly find your pulse (using the methods mentioned above). Count how many beats your heart beats in 15 seconds.
• Write this number down. 
• Multiply this number by 4 to get your active heart rate per minute.
• Was there any difference in the number of beats before or after you exercised?
• If the number of beats did not get higher after you exercised, try exercising for a bit longer and take your pulse again.