Some people's pulse is harder to take by palpation than others.It will be easier to take your pulse with a stethoscope if you have been advised by your physician to monitor your heart rate regularly.To learn how to do this, read on.
Step 1: Purchase a stethoscope if you don't already have one.
You don't need an expensive one as you can count and do not need to listen to quality.It's fine to spend a max of 30 dollars for the double-tubed "Sprague" type.
Step 2: You need something to keep track of time.
A watch with a second hand is easier to use than a digital watch because you don't have to count the seconds.
Step 3: To take your pulse, you need to listen to your heart.
Depending on the quality of your stethoscope, you can listen through about two layers of clothing.If you can't hear your heart clearly, take any heavy clothing off.
Step 4: You should put the earpieces in your ears.
In order for the earpieces of the stethoscope to be comfortable, you need to place the tips in the direction that you are looking.If they aren't comfortable, you can bend them backwards or forwards to get a good fit.
Step 5: The piece on your chest is called a chestpiece.
Many stethoscopes have chest pieces with two sides that can be moved around the tubing to better hear high and low frequencies.The other can't be used when one is in use.If you have earpieces in your ears, rub the side of the stethoscope that has a flat plastic piece on it.You should hear the chest piece click into position if you don't hear a sound.Any issues should be resolved by this.
Step 6: To find the imaginary line between your nipples, position the chestpiece on your chest.
The chestpiece should be placed slightly to the left of the center line.Try to hear your heart best where you can.If you are having trouble and can't find it, it's a good idea to lie down or lean forward.
Step 7: You are ready to count your heart beat for a period of time when you get your timepiece ready.
The heart has two beats, which represent the succession of valves in your heart contracting to pump blood.Only one of them is counted in your purse.The first beat is usually stronger and you should only listen to it and tune it out.
Step 8: When the second hand hits one of the 5 minute markers, you can count the beats through your scope.
The minimum pulse count that is considered accurate in a clinical setting is 30 seconds.You don't need to keep track of the second hand moves, it's too much work.The second hand will end at the end of 30 seconds.If you start counting at the "2" mark, the hand will have passed 30 seconds by the time you finish.It will be at 6.30 seconds have elapsed when the second hand reaches the marker.You can count beats for 1 minute if you want to be more accurate.
Step 9: If you counted for an entire minute, you're good to go, but in most cases you need to do a little math because pulse values are expressed in beats per minute.
If you want to get beats per 60 seconds, you have to take 30 seconds to count the beats.If you counted your pulse at 36 beats over 30 seconds, you would get a pulse of 72.If you counted beats for only 15 seconds, you would need to multiply by 4 to get 60 bpm.
Step 10: If required, repeat.
If you think your pulse was high or low, it's possible.15-20 bpm off your normal), you should definitely repeat this process to make sure you were accurate, and repeat successively until your measurements are similar.There is nothing more to it.