How to Determine the Basal Heart Rate
- 1). Sit in a quiet place and relax for 20 minutes. Your heart will pump faster when you are moving around, so in order to determine the basal heart rate, sit still for at least 20 minutes to allow your heart to return to its normal rate.
- 2). Locate the pulse in your neck. Use your index and second fingers and place them on the carotid artery in your neck, just under your jawbone.
- 3). Using a stopwatch or a watch with a second hand, time your heart rate for a period of 60 seconds. If you miss a beat, start over to ensure an accurate reading.
- 4). Take several readings and average them to find out your average resting heart rate.
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