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Jakarta, Knowing the changes in heart rate is very important to know the heart of the problem early on. Not only by using special equipment, checking the heart rate can also be done without using tools.

Heart rate is the number of heartbeats per unit time, usually expressed in beats per minute (beats per minute or bpm).

Heart rate can vary according to the body’s need for oxygen changes, such as during exercise or sleep.

Measurement of heart rate is usually used by medical professionals to assist in the diagnosis and monitoring of medical conditions. But you can also check their own heart rate without having to use specialized medical equipment.

As quoted from eHow, Monday (05/03/2010), here I check my heart rate without using special equipment:

1. Use your fingers to find the pulse
Use two fingers or three fingers, namely the index finger, middle finger and ring finger to find your pulse. But do not use your thumb because your thumb has a pulse itself.

Inspection can be done on the wrist (radial pulse) and in the neck (carotid pulse).

At the wrist, use three finger pads of index, middle and ring finger. The ideal place is below the wrist crease at the base of the thumb. Press lightly until you find the pulse (the blood pulsing beneath the fingers). If necessary, move your fingers until you find the most taut pulse.

On the neck just use two fingers, index and middle fingers. The ideal spot is about one inch to the side of the middle of the throat, right where the neck and jaw meet.

2. Check and record level, strength and rhythm
Use a clock or watch in the other. Calculate and record how many pulses that occurred within 10 seconds.

3. Multiplied by 6
Heart rate is the number of beats per minute. So the number of beats for 10 seconds multiplied by the number 6 (60 seconds each with 1 minute). The result is your heartbeat.

Slow heartbeat

Normal heart rate at rest for adult individuals ranges from 60-100 beats per minute. If someone has a heart rate below that, the doctor will be diagnosed with bradycardia (slow heartbeat).

Slow heart rate is sometimes normal and can be a sign of someone very fit. Healthy young adults and athletes often have heart rate less than 60 times per minute.

But for others, slow heartbeat may be signs of a problem with the ‘electrical systems’ heart. This marks the pacemaker is not functioning correctly or ‘power line’ the heart be disturbed.

Severe bradycardia with a heart that beats so slow, so the blood that is pumped is not sufficient to meet the needs of the body, can be life threatening.

Like dilasir from WebMD, bradycardia can be caused by:

1. Changes in the heart of which is the result of aging.
2. Diseases that damage the heart’s electrical system. These include coronary heart disease, heart attacks, and infections such as endocarditis and myocarditis.
3. Conditions that can slow electrical impulses in the heart. Examples have low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism) or an electrolyte imbalance, such as too much potassium in the blood.
4. Side effects of medications to treat heart problems or high blood pressure.

Rapid heartbeat

Heart beat faster and achieve one hundred times more diagnosed with tachycardia (rapid heartbeat).

Most people experience temporary rapid heartbeat or sinus tachycardia, a normal response to excitement, anxiety, stress, caffeine or exercise.

But if tachycardia occurs at rest or without a logical reason, it is considered abnormal. Rapid heartbeat usually occurs in people with thyroid disease, fever, or the effects of certain drugs (especially asthma and allergy medications).

In some cases, tachycardia does not cause symptoms or complications. However, tachycardia could seriously interfere with normal heart function, increasing the risk of stroke, or lead to heart failure or sudden death.