Your pulse is the rhythmic throbbing of your arteries as your heart pumps blood through your body. Checking your pulse is a simple and important way to assess your heart rate and overall cardiovascular health. It can help you detect irregularities in your heart rhythm, such as tachycardia (fast heart rate) or bradycardia (slow heart rate), which may indicate an underlying medical condition.
There are several ways to check your pulse. The most common method is to place two fingers on the inside of your wrist, just below the base of your thumb. You should feel a faint throbbing sensation beneath your fingers. Count the number of throbs you feel in 15 seconds and multiply that number by 4 to get your heart rate in beats per minute (bpm).