While medical checks are needed to confirm if you have atrial fibrillation, checking your own heart rate may help you spot early signs of possible problems. If you want to check your heart rate, you can try a manual pulse check or use a mobile device like a fitness tracker.

How to do a manual pulse check

Wrist: while sitting down, press two fingers on the inside of the opposite wrist, next to the tendon under the thumb. You might have to try a few times to find your pulse.

Neck: gently press two fingers to the side of your Adam’s apple, just below the jaw.

To find your heart rate, either:

• Count your pulse for 60 seconds or
• Count your pulse for 30 seconds and multiply it by two.

This gives your heart rate in beats per minute (bpm).

Using a smartwatch or smartphone to check your heart rate

Many mobile devices like smartphones and smartwatches can now check body functions like heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen levels. Using your mobile device to measure your heart rate can be a good way of spotting early signs of any problems.

There are some devices on the market that can take very accurate readings which can be used by your doctors. However, most standard mobile devices and apps do not give highly precise readings, and you will also need medical tests to get the full picture. 

What is an abnormal heart rate?

• Normal heart rate: your pulse should feel regular. Most people have a resting heart rate between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm).
• Abnormal heart rate: your pulse may feel uneven or skip a beat. Your resting heart rate could be over 120 bpm.

What should I do if my heart rate is irregular?

If your pulse is irregular, or very fast when you are at rest, you should contact your GP. An irregular pulse might come and go, and you could have changes in heart rate for different reasons. To diagnose AF, you will need medical checks for your heart function and other conditions that can cause an irregular heartbeat.