The pulse is a measure of your heart rate, counted in beats per minute. The usual rate for an adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute, although the normal rate can fall outside these limits depending on your age, weight, and size. Childhood heart rates decline to normal adult levels by age 16.
Physical activity causes a temporary increase in heart rate.
However, people who exercise regularly tend to have a slower average heart rate than those who are sedentary. Other factors that affect the pulse include fevers, certain medicines, caffeine, anger, excitement, and fear. Your doctor may ask you to take regular readings of your pulse if you have heart disease or need to take certain drugs that can cause an irregular heartbeat. This type of reading is convenient to take during or after exercise. You'll need a watch or clock with a second hand.