If you have pains, checking for tenderness - a sensitivity or pain in a place when you touch or press it - can provide you with additional clues. Here is a guide to what tenderness in some body areas may mean:
Bones and joints: If your bones or joints are extremely tender and sensitive to touch (particularly after a personal injury and when the bone also appears deformed), visit your GP or - in the event of the injury - your local Accident & Emergency (A&E) department for further assessment.
Skin: A tender swelling in your skin that's also red and feels hot may be due to a skin infection. See your GP or practice nurse for more assessment: you might need any pus draining and/or a training course of antibiotics.
Tummy: If you have tummy (also known as abdominal) pain, press it gently. If doing this makes your pain worse and you don't like this pressure, you might rarely have a more serious underlying problem.
Your pulse is the throbbing of arteries (called arteries) produced by the regular contractions of your heart. You can feel your pulse at various places on your body, however the easiest and most practical place for checking your pulse is your wrist. Being in a position to check your pulse is a useful skill since it can tell you how quickly and regular your heart is beating. Changes in heart rate - especially if it becomes irregular, extremely fast or very slow - can be important indicators when assessing illness. Heart rates vary between people, but normal ranges resting are as follows:
To check your heart rate, and to see whether your pulse is regular, follow the steps below. Get an understanding for what your normal pulse is by checking your pulse resting, but also find out how your pulse changes during or after exercise.
Put out one hand in front individuals, with the palm facing upwards. Put the pads of your first/index finger and your middle finger of your other hand on the inside of your wrist. Put them near the base of your thumb - roughly where the strap of the watch would be. Press gently and feel for the pulse. If you can't feel it, press just a little harder or move your fingers around slightly. Feel your pulse. The pulse is measured in beats each minute, so count your pulse for any minute, checking for:
Heart rate: Your heart rate can go up for various reasons - for instance, when you're excited, during exercise or perhaps a fever, when you are angry or when you're in pain. If your pulse is certainly going too fast even at complete rest, particularly if you have other symptoms such as chest pain or difficulty breathing, seek medical advice.
Irregular heartbeat: Normally, your pulse includes a regular rhythm - just like a clock or a metronome - so that you can predict the next beat. However when your pulse is irregular, you might not be able to predict the following beat - such as in the case of a common rhythm abnormality called atrial fibrillation. If you notice that your heartbeat is irregular, see your GP for further assessment. If you suddenly develop shortness of breath or chest pain, consult your GP more urgently or dial '999' in an urgent situation.
Occasional missed beats: Missed beats are common and if you're otherwise well you do not usually have to bother with them.
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