The Importance of Knowing Your Pulse

To find your pulse in your wrist:

1. Get a watch or a clock with a second hand and sit and relax for five minutes.

2. Hold out your hand (palm side up, elbow slightly bent).

3. Place the middle and index fingers of your other hand on your wrist at the base of your thumb. Press your fingers down until you feel your pulse. DO NOT press too hard and DO NOT use your thumb.

4. Count how many beats you feel for a full minute. Concentrate on whether the beats are evenly spaced or whether they are uneven. If your pulse feels irregular, you may have atrial fibrillation, which is the most common abnormal heart rhythm.