Question

Determine your heart rate by taking your radial pulse and then your carotid pulse.

What was your heart rate in each instance?
Explain which artery you found easier to use and why.

Which two websites did you use to determine your target heart rate?
What was your target heart rate zone on each of these websites? Were the zones the same?
Do you think the range for your target heart rate zones identified by these websites is reasonable? Why or why not?
How does understanding your target heart rate zone help you improve your physical fitness?
Describe a physical activity you have done before when you have failed the talk test. What would you change about that activity in order to pass the talk test?

Answer 1

We can see here that determining heart rate by taking radial pulse and then carotid pulse is done thus:

Radial Pulse: Located on the wrist, gently place your index and middle fingers on the radial artery (located on the thumb side of your wrist) and count the number of beats felt in 15 seconds. Multiply that number by 4 to determine beats per minute (bpm).

For the Carotid pulse, it is carried out thus: Found in the neck on either side of the windpipe, gently place your index and middle fingers on the carotid artery and count the number of beats felt in 15 seconds. Multiply that number by 4 to determine beats per minute (bpm).

Various websites, like the American Heart Association or Mayo Clinic, provide calculators or guidelines to determine target heart rate zones based on age, fitness level, and exercise goals.

Understanding your target heart rate zone helps tailor workouts for maximum effectiveness.

During physical activity, if you're unable to comfortably hold a conversation due to breathlessness, it suggests you're working out at a higher intensity.