How to measure heart rate

The easiest places to measure your heart rate (or pulse) are on the front of your forearm, just above your wrist on the thumb side (see diagram), and on the side of your neck, about half way between your chin and ear.  This is because major arteries are close to the surface of your skin at these points.

Locate your pulse in one of these places using the tips of your index and middle fingers.  Do not press too hard and you should feel a gentle, regular beat.  Use a stopwatch or a watch with a second hand to measure one minute whilst you count how many beats there are.  This is your heart rate.

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After exercise, your pulse rate will be changing rapidly so you should take your pulse over a shorter period of time.  To get a reasonably accurate result, start immediately after the exercise and count the number of beats in 15 seconds.  Multiplying by four will then give your heart rate.