How to Measure the Pulse Rate Per Minute

1). Rest for at least 10 minutes before measuring the pulse.
2). Measure the pulse at the wrist by placing the index and middle fingers together on the underside of the left wrist, below the base of the thumb. Press firmly to feel a pulsating beat. Besides the wrist, the pulse can also be felt at the neck by placing the same two fingers just to the side of the Adam's apple under the jaw.
3). Use a watch or clock to count the beats for 1 minute and multiply by two. Record the number on a piece of paper and note if the rhythm was fast, slow, bounding or irregular. According to the National Institutes of Health, normal resting heart rates for children under the age of 10 are 70 to 130 beats per minute, adults are 60 to 100 beats per minute and professional athletes are 40 to 60 beats per minute.