Keeping a stethoscope on hand makes it easy to check your pulse rate while exercising at home or in the gym. Counting your pulse at the wrist or neck is sometimes difficult. A stethoscope placed over the left chest clearly detects heartbeats, however.
Monitoring your pulse rate is important for a safe and effective workout. To gauge exercise intensity, fitness experts recommend checking the pulse midway through an exercise session and comparing it to one's target heart rate--a figure based on age and fitness level.
To calculate your target heart rate, first subtract your age from 220. This is your maximum heart rate, or MHR. In general, the target heart rate is 65 percent of the MHR for those beginning an exercise program, 75 percent of the MHR for regular exercisers, and 85 percent of the MHR for those in advanced regimens.
A stethoscope, widely available for less than $20, is also a useful addition to home first-aid kits for detecting heart and lung sounds in an emergency. See "NHW Merchandise" on page 5 for ordering information.
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