Checking Your Pulse (Heart Rate)
One way to find out how your body is reacting to an activity is by taking your pulse or heart rate. Your pulse is the number of times your heart beats for one minute. You can count your pulse at your wrist for 10 seconds and multiply it by 6 to get your heart rate for one minute.

How to Take Your Pulse
1. Make sure you can see a watch or a clock that has a second-hand. Using your first two fingers (not your thumb!), find your pulse on the thumb side of your opposite wrist or on your neck to either side of your windpipe (one side only!).

2. Count your pulse beats for 10 seconds. See the chart below to find your pulse rate

It is also important to monitor the rhythm (regularity) of your heartbeats. Most people have a regular heart beat. If the heart beat rhythm becomes irregular or you notice an increase in skipped beats, please notify your doctor.

In general, when you are active, your pulse will get faster. During the first 3 to 4 weeks after you leave the hospital your heart rate during activity should not be greater than 20 beats per minute above your heart rate when you are resting.. If it is 30 to 40 beats above resting but you have no symptoms (dizziness, chest discomfort, lightheadedness, shortness of breath), then it is probably all right.

When to Take Your Heart Rate (Pulse):
1. Before, during and after walking or physical activity.
2. When you try a new activity which may be physically stressful.
3. Check your pulse immediately if chest discomfort, dizziness, or lightheadedness develops while resting or active. Note if your pulse is regular or irregular. Your doctor will need this information.
4. Take your pulse every morning before rising to become familiar with your normal heart rate at rest.

Monitoring Your Activity
One of the most important things you can do to take care of yourself is learning to pay attention to how and what you feel during rest and activity.

Signs and symptoms of too much activity
If you feel any of the following symptoms, it is a sign that you may be overdoing it.
1. Angina (discomfort, pressure or pain) in chest, shoulders, arms, throat, jaw
2. Dizziness or lightheadedness during or after activity
3. Unusual or extreme shortness of breath or fatigue
4. Heart palpitations, chest pounding, new, irregular heartbeats

What to do if you experience these symptoms
1. Slow down and stop your activity.
2. Take your medicine for angina (if this applies to you).
3. TAKE YOUR PULSE. IS IT REGULAR OR IRREGULAR? Write down your heart rate.
4. If symptoms persist or recur, consult your doctor at that time or call 911 to access Emergency Medical Services (EMS).***

***If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. When you have an emergency medical condition, we cover emergency care from Plan providers and non-Plan providers anywhere in the world.

An emergency medical condition is (1) a medical or psychiatric condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or serious impairment or dysfunction of your bodily functions or organs; or (2) when you are in active labor and there isn’t enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your or your unborn child’s health and safety.