Doctors want Newham residents to get to know their pulse

Newham GPs are urging residents to get to know their pulse and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Doctors from NHS Newham Clinical Commissioning Group believe the measures could help prevent people suffering from heart attacks and strokes.

They say an irregular pulse can be a sign of small blood clots forming in your body. People with these clots are more likely to have a stroke. Therefore it is really important for everyone to know what their pulse rate is and check it regularly.

Dr Zuhair Zarifa, chair of NHS Newham Clinical Commissioning Group and a GP said: “Being aware of your pulse is important as it can indicate an abnormal heart rate or rhythm. Taking your pulse at various points throughout the day before and after doing activities is a good idea, as your pulse rate will change during the day depending on what activity you are doing (this is normal). To get your baseline pulse and normal rhythm – called your resting pulse, try doing this first thing in the morning and just before going to bed.

“One of the easiest places to feel for a pulse is on your wrist, on the same side as your thumb. The number of beats per minute when you press lightly down on your wrist is your pulse rate. A normal pulse is normally between 60 and 100 beats per minute.

“Preventing people from the risks of heart and vascular diseases is a priority of NHS Newham CCG. We are asking local people to ‘know their pulse’, it is really important to monitor it regularly and get it checked if it changes.”

Anyone with an abnormal pulse, too fast or too slow, should get medical advice.

Find out how to check your pulse in four easy steps on: www.knowyourpulse.org and if you are visiting your GP or practice nurse in the near future, ask them to check your pulse and ask them to show you how you check your pulse yourself.