Finding and Understanding a Normal Pulse Rate

10. Target Heart Rate and Exercise

One of the most important times to pay attention to pulse is during exercise. The body gets the most benefits from exercise when the pulse is in the "target heart rate zone", which is 60 to 80 percent of the individual's maximum heart rate. When the heart rate gets too high during exercise, the risk of injury increases. The best way to find out a target heart rate is to ask your doctor. When exercising, stop periodically to check a 10-second pulse. If it's too low, increase the intensity of the exercise. If it's too high, decrease the intensity of activity to bring it down into the target zone.