Don’t Have a Smartwatch? This is a simple way to detect heart problems from the pulse

The Importance of Understanding Heartbeats Without Sophisticated Equipment

Smartwatches have now become many people’s favorite tool for monitoring health, including heart rate. However, not everyone has these devices. However, the heart and blood vessel doctor, Dr. Evan Jim Gunawan, Sp.PD, Sp.JP(K), CCDS emphasized that early detection of heart rhythm disturbances can still be done manually, even without sophisticated equipment.

According to Dr. Evan, commonly used smartwatches work using photosensors to read the pulse, rather than directly calculating the heart rate from the heart’s electrical activity. This makes the device limited in detecting heart rhythm disturbances.

“The smartwatch that we usually use uses a photosensor. It counts our pulse, not our heart rate,” said Dr. Evan at the doorstop after the Launching and Health Talk Atrial Fibrillation event at Eka Hospital MT Haryono, Friday (13/2/2026).

He added that the device is only effective when used. When the smartwatch is removed, potential rhythm disturbances that arise may not be detected.

“If we are using it and checking it, it can be detected. But if we are not using it, we can miss it,” he explained.

This condition means that users still need to understand their own body’s signals, especially when complaints such as heart palpitations arise. A manual way to detect heart rhythm disturbances can be done by feeling the pulse.

Manual Method for Detecting Heart Rhythm Disorders

For people who don’t have a smartwatch, early detection of heart rhythm disturbances can be done in a simple way, namely by feeling the pulse. Evan advises everyone to immediately check their pulse when they feel their heart palpitations. The pulse can feel fast or slow, but rhythm irregularities are a sign to watch out for.

“But anyone with an irregular pulse is a disease. A fast pulse, a slow pulse, that can be normal. But if it’s irregular, it’s a disease,” he stressed.

One of the most common causes of rhythm disturbances is atrial fibrillation. This condition makes the heartbeat irregular and has the potential to cause complications if not treated. The easiest way to recognize the possibility of this disorder is to feel the pulse on the wrist. A rhythm that feels inconsistent can be a signal of a problem.

“The easiest way is to feel our pulse. If it is irregular, it could be atrial fibrillation or another rhythm disorder,” said Dr. Evan.

To measure your pulse via your wrist, do the following:

• Place your index/middle finger on the wrist where the artery passes.
• Press firmly on the artery until you feel a pulse.
• Count the pulse for 60 seconds (or 15 seconds then multiply by 4, then you will get the pulse rate per minute).
• Try to stay focused on counting the pulse and don’t miss it.
• If you are not sure about the results, we can repeat the pulse measurement.

The normal human pulse rate per minute is:
1. Infants up to 1 year old: 100-160 times per minute.
2. Ages 1 to 10 years: 70-120 times per minute.
3. Ages 11 to 17 years: 60-100 times per minute.
4. Adults: 60-100 times per minute.

The normal pulse rate of babies and children tends to be higher because the blood supply needs of babies and children is greater, making the heart work harder and beat faster to meet these needs.

However, heart rate can change depending on physical activity and health conditions.

Feeling the Pulse Takes Practice

Even though it sounds simple, feeling the pulse requires precision and practice. Many people fail to feel the pulse not because of body weight, but because of improper technique. Dr. Evan emphasized that anyone, regardless of body condition, can still learn to recognize the pulse by understanding the correct location of the touch.

The ability to recognize one’s own pulse is the first step to increasing awareness of heart health. By understanding the rhythm of the pulse, people can more quickly make decisions to see medical personnel when they find irregularities.

Amid the trend of using digital health devices, manual methods such as taking a pulse remain an important basic skill. The combination of technology and body awareness is considered to help early detection of heart rhythm disorders before they develop into more serious problems.