Pink Prescriptions - June 2026
Know Your Pulse: The Language of Your Heart
June 2026 Issue — Pink Prescriptions
Special to Pink Magazine, International Arrythmia Alliance
Your pulse can reveal the most important factors
regarding the current state of your heart.
World Heart Rhythm Week, June 1st-7th, plays a vital role in raising awareness about heart rhythm disorders, also known as arrhythmias, which affect millions of people worldwide and can lead to serious complications such as stroke, heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest, and death. The campaign encourages education about symptoms, risk factors, early detection, and treatment options, while promoting healthier lifestyles, and regular
heart screenings.
One of the fastest and easiest ways to assess the state of your heart rhythm is by checking your pulse, which can reveal important factors regarding your heart health. In less than 60 seconds, you can know your heartbeat, heart rate, and heart rhythm. Being aware of your pulse is important because it can indicate an arrhythmia (heart rhythm disorder). Discovering an abnormal heart rate or rhythm early can ensure you receive accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment/therapy from your doctor to help better manage these conditions and reduce the risks for further consequences.
The most common place to feel your pulse is on your wrist, just below your thumb. You can feel your pulse in other areas of your body including the crease of your elbow, in your groin, behind your knee, or on your neck. It is a good idea to try taking your pulse at various points throughout the day (before and after various activities), as your pulse rate changes depending on what activity you are doing. This is normal. To get your baseline pulse and normal rhythm, try taking your resting pulse when you wake in the morning and before going to bed.
A normal (resting) rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. A normal rhythm has an even gap between beats (ticks like a clock). However, there are normal reasons why a pulse may be slower or faster, such as age, medications, caffeine intake, level of fitness, and any other illness, including heart conditions, stress and anxiety, that may be present.
If your pulse seems to be racing some or most of the time and you are feeling unwell, you should seek prompt medical attention.
Instances to see your doctor or go to the emergency room include:
1. If your pulse seems to be slow some or most of the time and you are feeling unwell.
2. If your pulse feels irregular (‘jumping around’), even if you do not feel unwell.
3. If you have a persistent heart rate above 120 bpm or below 40 bpm and/or if the rhythm is irregular, too fast, too slow.
Everyone is different, which makes it difficult to give precise guidelines. Certainly, many people may have pulse rates over 100 beats/min (bpm) or less than 60 bpm. Irregularity is quite difficult to assess since the normal pulse is a bit irregular, varying with the phase of respiration. The bottomline is checking your pulse, paying attention to anything that seems irregular, and getting established with a physician for proper medical care. Catching symptoms early can make a vast difference in your heart’s health and your overall quality of life.
Why is World Heart Rhythm Week 2026 Important?
• Every year in the United States approximately 400,000 sudden cardiac arrests occur
• Atrial fibrillation (AFib), the most common arrhythmia, leads to nearly 112,000 AFib-related strokes each year. Many of these strokes can be prevented with early diagnosis and appropriate anticoagulation therapy
• By age 40, everyone has a 25% lifetime risk of developing AFib, which increases the risk of stroke by 500%
• More than one million people experience unexplained loss of consciousness annually, often a sign of an undiagnosed heart rhythm disorder.
• 39% of children and 30% of adults diagnosed with epilepsy are misdiagnosed, with many actually having an underlying arrhythmia that could be fatal.
• Currently, there is no national program for pulse checks or heart rhythm screening in the US. WHRW2026 aims to raise awareness and advocate for the early detection of heart rhythm disorders to save lives. 
To learn more about
World Heart Rhythm Week,
visit the Arrhythmia Alliance at www.heartrhythmalliance.org.
Know Your Heart Rhythm in 4 Steps.
It Could Save Your Life!
1. Sit down for five minutes. Avoid consuming stimulants like caffeine or nicotine and grab a timer.
2. Hold your hand out with your palm up while bending your elbow slightly
3. Place three fingers between the edge of your wrist and tendon.
4. Count your pulse for 30 seconds and multiply by two to get your heart rate and BPM (beats per minute).
If your heart rhythm (pulse) is irregular, repeat for 60 seconds and do not multiply. If your pulse was irregular or over 120 BPM, you should consult your doctor. If your heart’s not ticking like a clock, call the doc!
Reference: www.knowyourpulse-us.org