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Not the taking the pulse part but the higher being better:
Taking your pulse
Your pulse rate is an important indicator of your metabolism and general health, including thyroid balance. If you have a slow pulse it can be a sign that you have a more sluggish metabolism, low thyroid, and that you may be experiencing other health problems. A faster pulse can indicate a more rapid rate of metabolism, overactive thyroid, and can also point to other health problems as well. Your pulse is a good indicator of how your thyroid system is working, and if thyroid supplementation is necessary, or if the dosage you are taking is working. The thyroid gland and hormones it releases into the body have a direct influence on your metabolism.
Scientists performed tests on elderly patients and a group of young students to better understand pulse rate and metabolism. The study found that students with a pulse rate of 85 beats per minute generally did better on tests and were more alert than other students with lower pulse rates. Scientists also monitored a group of elderly heart patients with pacemakers, where the heart rate could be adjusted to different levels. The scientists learned that when the pacemakers were set at 85 beats per minute, that the heart patients were more alert, felt better, and performed better on tests.
So 85 beats per minute is a good target level for daytime pulse, and a good indicator of overall health. Yet don't jump to conclusions based on pulse alone, and don't be too quick to react or change doses if your pulse is low. Healing takes time, and you are looking for overall trends over longer periods of time.
During routine physical exams, doctors and nurses will often comment to seemingly healthy youthful people, or sometimes even to older folks, telling them that their slow pulse rate is a very healthy condition and shows that the person must be an athlete or runner. It is surprising how many of us have heard this at some time in our lives. These doctors are wrong, this is not a healthful state or desirable for heart health, but is a very good indicator of suppressed thyroid function. A low thyroid condition is quite common to distance runners and extreme athletes, and is not healthy by any means. Studies of marathon runners and extreme athletes as a whole have repeatedly shown that thyroid problems exist, often difficult to treat, which is the cause for slower than normal pulse rate.
Now maybe you are beginning to see why monitoring and recording your pulse is an important part of monitoring overall health. Don't neglect to monitor and record your pulse in conjunction with taking your temperatures. As time goes on you will notice important changes and trends that will help you take charge of your health.
How To Take Your Pulse
Make sure that you have a watch or clock with a digital or second hand feature. Place it nearby with the dial within your view. Using your index finger and thumb, or middle finger and thumb, gently press your fingers to either side of your throat at the top of your neck. Keep your fingers several inches apart, to the sides of your windpipe. As you press back gently on either side you should be able to easily feel the pulses as your heart pumps blood through these major arteries. This is a good place to take a pulse, where it is easy to feel the heart beats. Don't push too hard or it can make you light headed, just be real gentle.
Count these pulses for exactly 15 seconds, then multiply by four, which gives you your heartbeats per minute. Write it down. Go ahead and count the pulses for a whole minute if you like. If done right, the 15 second method will be the same as counting them for a minute, yet much easier.
If you have trouble monitoring your pulse at your neck, or if it makes you light headed (don't push so hard!), then try the wrist method, which works just as well.
Use your thumb or several middle fingers to find your pulse at your opposite wrist. This works best when you hold your wrist limp, letting it relax and hang a little, either backwards or forward, then press the tips of your several middle fingers or thumb (whichever works for the way you are holding your wrist) near the bend in your wrist near the base of your thumb. As you explore the softer areas between the tendons (usually best to the side of your wrist at the base of your thumb) you will feel your pulse. If it is not found in the very bend of the wrist, then move an inch closer to your arm and away from the bend in your wrist. It won't be long until you become a pro at finding and taking your pulse.
If your average basal resting pulse is in the range between 65-75 beats per minute, this is considered normal. If your average daytime resting pulse is in the range of 75-85 beats per minute, this is considered normal.
If your basal pulse rate is consistently under 65 beats per minute and your daytime pulse rate is consistently under 75 beats per minute, this is considered low. Coupled with low body temperatures, this is a good indicator of a low thyroid condition.
If your basal and daytime pulse rates are consistently higher than the normal top basal limit of 75 beats per minute and top daytime limit of 85 beats per minute, this is considered high. There are numerous things that can cause a rapid pulse, but coupled with low body temperatures it may be a good indicator of an overactive thyroid condition.
**broken link removed**
Taking your pulse
Your pulse rate is an important indicator of your metabolism and general health, including thyroid balance. If you have a slow pulse it can be a sign that you have a more sluggish metabolism, low thyroid, and that you may be experiencing other health problems. A faster pulse can indicate a more rapid rate of metabolism, overactive thyroid, and can also point to other health problems as well. Your pulse is a good indicator of how your thyroid system is working, and if thyroid supplementation is necessary, or if the dosage you are taking is working. The thyroid gland and hormones it releases into the body have a direct influence on your metabolism.
Scientists performed tests on elderly patients and a group of young students to better understand pulse rate and metabolism. The study found that students with a pulse rate of 85 beats per minute generally did better on tests and were more alert than other students with lower pulse rates. Scientists also monitored a group of elderly heart patients with pacemakers, where the heart rate could be adjusted to different levels. The scientists learned that when the pacemakers were set at 85 beats per minute, that the heart patients were more alert, felt better, and performed better on tests.
So 85 beats per minute is a good target level for daytime pulse, and a good indicator of overall health. Yet don't jump to conclusions based on pulse alone, and don't be too quick to react or change doses if your pulse is low. Healing takes time, and you are looking for overall trends over longer periods of time.
During routine physical exams, doctors and nurses will often comment to seemingly healthy youthful people, or sometimes even to older folks, telling them that their slow pulse rate is a very healthy condition and shows that the person must be an athlete or runner. It is surprising how many of us have heard this at some time in our lives. These doctors are wrong, this is not a healthful state or desirable for heart health, but is a very good indicator of suppressed thyroid function. A low thyroid condition is quite common to distance runners and extreme athletes, and is not healthy by any means. Studies of marathon runners and extreme athletes as a whole have repeatedly shown that thyroid problems exist, often difficult to treat, which is the cause for slower than normal pulse rate.
Now maybe you are beginning to see why monitoring and recording your pulse is an important part of monitoring overall health. Don't neglect to monitor and record your pulse in conjunction with taking your temperatures. As time goes on you will notice important changes and trends that will help you take charge of your health.
How To Take Your Pulse
Make sure that you have a watch or clock with a digital or second hand feature. Place it nearby with the dial within your view. Using your index finger and thumb, or middle finger and thumb, gently press your fingers to either side of your throat at the top of your neck. Keep your fingers several inches apart, to the sides of your windpipe. As you press back gently on either side you should be able to easily feel the pulses as your heart pumps blood through these major arteries. This is a good place to take a pulse, where it is easy to feel the heart beats. Don't push too hard or it can make you light headed, just be real gentle.
Count these pulses for exactly 15 seconds, then multiply by four, which gives you your heartbeats per minute. Write it down. Go ahead and count the pulses for a whole minute if you like. If done right, the 15 second method will be the same as counting them for a minute, yet much easier.
If you have trouble monitoring your pulse at your neck, or if it makes you light headed (don't push so hard!), then try the wrist method, which works just as well.
Use your thumb or several middle fingers to find your pulse at your opposite wrist. This works best when you hold your wrist limp, letting it relax and hang a little, either backwards or forward, then press the tips of your several middle fingers or thumb (whichever works for the way you are holding your wrist) near the bend in your wrist near the base of your thumb. As you explore the softer areas between the tendons (usually best to the side of your wrist at the base of your thumb) you will feel your pulse. If it is not found in the very bend of the wrist, then move an inch closer to your arm and away from the bend in your wrist. It won't be long until you become a pro at finding and taking your pulse.
If your average basal resting pulse is in the range between 65-75 beats per minute, this is considered normal. If your average daytime resting pulse is in the range of 75-85 beats per minute, this is considered normal.
If your basal pulse rate is consistently under 65 beats per minute and your daytime pulse rate is consistently under 75 beats per minute, this is considered low. Coupled with low body temperatures, this is a good indicator of a low thyroid condition.
If your basal and daytime pulse rates are consistently higher than the normal top basal limit of 75 beats per minute and top daytime limit of 85 beats per minute, this is considered high. There are numerous things that can cause a rapid pulse, but coupled with low body temperatures it may be a good indicator of an overactive thyroid condition.
**broken link removed**
