Measure your pulse yourself - there are these options
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You can measure your pulse yourself in many different ways: manually using a watch, via app with a smartphone or with a professional heart rate monitor. We'll show you the options.
Measure your heart rate: what does the heart rate say?
The pulse is given in beats per minute. It can be measured at various points on the body. The easiest way is on the wrist and the carotid artery. Depending on their age and sports habits, people have a resting heart rate in the following areas:
- Infants: around 130 beats per minute
- Infants: 100 to 120 beats per minute
- Adolescents: 80 to 100 beats per minute
- Adults: 60 to 80 beats per minute
- Athletes: 40 to 60 beats per minute
- Competitive athletes: up to 32 strokes per minute
If your measured value deviates significantly from the average values, you should speak to your doctor about your pulse the next time you visit.
Measure your pulse yourself: preparation
If you measure your heart rate to compare it with the above values, you should measure your resting heart rate. Do not exert yourself immediately before the measurement. Sit or lie down for at least five minutes before the measurement and come to rest. Only then should you start measuring your heart rate in order to obtain a meaningful result.
Measure your own pulse: manually with a watch
You can measure your pulse manually using a watch with a second display or a stopwatch:
- First, use your index and middle fingers to find your pulse on the inside of your wrist. Alternatively, look for it on the outside of your neck.
- Once you have found your pulse, you can start measuring. Count the slants for exactly 30 seconds.
- Now multiply the number by two so that you get the value for the beats per minute.
- Alternatively, you can count for a shorter or longer time and extrapolate the value accordingly to one minute. The longer you count, the more accurate the value.
Measure your heart rate using an app on your smartphone
You can also measure your pulse with your smartphone. Various apps use the camera to measure the pulse based on the color of your index finger. The determined values are almost exact, but not nearly as reliable as manual counting or a professional pulse monitor.
- With the Runtastic Heart Rate app for Android and iOS you can measure your heart rate for free.
- Start the app and put your index finger over the camera. Your current pulse is determined within a few seconds.
- The measurements are somewhat accurate. For a reliable result, you should measure two or three times in a row.
Measure your own pulse: professional measuring device
You will get the most reliable results with the help of a professional measuring device. For fitness applications, you receive fitness bands and heart rate monitors with and without a chest strap. You can connect some devices to your smartphone via Bluetooth.
- If you want to or need to measure your resting heart rate regularly, an electric heart rate monitor is the most practical. You can save the values and get a precise overview of your resting heart rate.
- We have compiled the most popular heart rate monitors with GPS for you in a price comparison.
- If you want a fitness band without a chest strap, take a look at our current test of the best fitness wristbands.
Heart rate monitors with GPS in the test
1
Garmin Forerunner 945
final grade
1.1
Very good
Review
- Sports functions (1.0)
- Facilities (1.0)
- Battery (1.5)
- Ergonomics (1.1)
- Accuracy (1, 2)
price
from € 509.00
price estimate
Acceptable (2.8)
price comparison
price comparison
TO THE SHOP
(Sport Check)
TO THE SHOP
(Sport Check)
2
Garmin Forerunner 245 Music
final grade
1.6
Good
Review
- Sports functions (1.8)
- Facilities (1.9)
- Battery (1.9)
- Ergonomics (1.0)
- Accuracy (1.3)
price
from € 289.83
price estimate
Very cheap (1, 1)
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price comparison
TO THE SHOP
(Engelhorn)
TO THE SHOP
(Engelhorn)
3
Suunto 9
final grade
1.9
Good
Review
- Sports functions (2, 3)
- Facilities (3.7)
- Battery (1.0)
- Ergonomics (1.3)
- Accuracy (1, 1)
price
from € 349.99
price estimate
Acceptable (2.6)
price comparison
price comparison
TO THE SHOP
(Otto)
TO THE SHOP
$config[ads_text6] not found(Otto)
4
Polar Vantage V
final grade
2.0
Good
Review
- Sports functions (1.3)
- Facilities (4.1)
- Battery (1.3)
- Ergonomics (1.9)
- Accuracy (1.8)
price
from € 371.93
price estimate
Acceptable (3.2)
price comparison
price comparison
TO THE SHOP
(Galaxus)
TO THE SHOP
(Galaxus)
5
Polar Vantage M
final grade
2.1
Good
Review
- Sports functions (1.3)
- Facilities (4.6)
- Battery (1.7)
- Ergonomics (1.6)
- Accuracy (1.6)
price
from € 207.44
price estimate
Very cheap (1.0)
price comparison
price comparison
TO THE SHOP
(Galaxus)
TO THE SHOP
(Galaxus)
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On the next page we will show you how to measure your blood pressure.