Keeping a finger on the pulse of health

There are some interesting facts about your pulse and how it relates to your overall health. First of all, your pulse rate is important. It shows how hard your heart is working to keep you going. The more energy you expend, the more stress you are under, the higher your pulse or heart rate. Learning to control your pulse rate is important for having a healthy heart with a fast recovery rate.

Start with a resting pulse taken first thing in the morning before you get out of bed. A reading in the 70s or 80s would be normal. If you exercise aerobically, you might find the reading to be in the 60s.

Use the right method for taking your pulse. If you are going to use your wrist for pulse taking, be sure you use your first two fingers instead of your thumb for the pressure. Place your first two fingers on your opposite thumb, palm side up, and run up your wrist about an inch. You'll feel the beat in that first valley between the two outside wrist bones. Mark it with a felt tip pen and practice going to it quickly. You'll need to be able to find your pulse fast to get the most accurate reading for recovery rates.

Another area for finding the pulse is in the neck. This one is a bit harder for most folks and not as easy to describe. The best way to find it is to lay the palm of your hand along one side of your throat and slide it gently around under your chin until you find a beat on some part of your hand. Now zero in on that beat with two fingers and mark the spot with the felt tip marker. Two things : Don't press hard, and don't use your thumb for leverage on the other side of your throat.

This is the carotid artery and the blood supply to your brain. It is easy to cut off both sides with thumb and finger pressure around the throat.

There are other areas for pulse taking and ones that may be more familiar to you. You might use the temple area in front of the ear or the area in the "V" of the breast bones. The wrist and neck areas, however, are the easiest for fitness students to find quickly. Whatever area you choose, be sure to use those same two fingers, the ones that form a "V."

Now try this little test on yourself. When you find your pulse, control your breathing to a very slow in and out movement and concentrate on trying to slow your pulse while you take it. What you'll find is that you can lower your pulse by mind control. Amazing, isn't it? You are also relaxing at the same time.

Your pulse is always with you. It pounds under stress or fear, and it may be weak when you are ill. It races with a fever and runs slow when you sleep. It can be irregular and require medication. In any case, it is something you need to understand. And you need to learn to control it whether through exercise, stress reduction methods or rest.

• Jerry Vance is the owner of Sweat Shop/Wet Sweat. She offers classes through the Carson City Recreation and Aquatics Center and is a fitness instructor for the Carson City Senior Citizens Center.