Use your index and middle fingers to feel your pulse, and strictly do not use your thumb as it can pulsate itself. – dpa
A racing heart is usually a sign of agitation or excitement.
But if it’s not unusual for your heart to beat too fast or to skip a beat, it might be worth having it checked out by a doctor.
In order to recognise heart palpitations at an early stage, it can be helpful to regularly take your own pulse, which tells you the number of times your heart beats per minute.
To measure your pulse, you don’t need any special equip-ment as long as you stick to the following three steps, the German Heart Foundation says.
Don’t check your pulse after a workout or climbing stairs.
In order to get a precise result, sit down and relax for five minutes before placing your index and middle finger on your upturned wrist.
It doesn’t matter whether you use the right or left arm.
Don’t use your thumbs to check your pulse as they slightly pulsate themselves.
This might prevent you from feeling the pulse in your wrist.
Once you’ve located the beating sensation – you may have to press more firmly if you can’t feel anything – count each pulse for exactly 15 seconds.
Multiply that number by four to get the heart rate in beats per minute (bpm).
An ideal heart rate for adults is 60 to 80 bpm at rest.
If you notice any irregulari-ties, the Foundation recommends to take your pulse for an entire minute.
If your pulse is under 40 bpm or higher than 100 bpm, you should consult a doctor to check whether you are suffer-ing from heart palpitations that need to be treated.
Women’s heart rates are usually a little higher, by about three bpm on average.
Older people tend to have a slower heart rate compared to middle-aged adults, by around three to four bpm. – dpa
