How To Calculate Heart Rate

Knowing how to calculate heart rate is important for different reasons. You may want to target a specific heart rate range when exercising to get maximum benefit from your workout. Certain medical conditions may also require the frequent need to monitor or calculate heart rate ranges.

To calculate heart rate, you will need:

• Watch or clock that counts seconds
  

1. Rest for at least ten minutes if you are trying to take your resting heart rate. If you were trying to take you’re exercising heart rate, you can calculate heart rate at any point during your exercise.
2. Place your index and middle finger over a location that has an artery close to the surface. Common areas used to calculate heart rate include the neck and wrist. To calculate heart rate on your wrist, place your index and middle fingers across the base of your wrist just below where the palm ends. To calculate your heart rate at your neck, place your index and middle fingers on the side of your neck next to your Adam’s apple.
   
3. Press your fingers flat and firm against your skin until you can feel your pulse. Sometimes it takes a little practice to find your pulse, especially on the neck.
4. Count the heartbeats for one full minute or 30 seconds. During exercise it is often easier to just count 30 seconds. This is purely a preference choice.
5. Multiply the number of beats by two if you counted for 30 seconds. This will give you your beats per minute.

References:

US National Library of Medicine: Pulse