Please do not manipulate your Carotid artery - the neck artery pulse area. Checking your pulse is a different pressure; but pressing to check on sounds, or pressing too hard and holding that pressure can be bad.

There is an area called the Carotid Sinus, used in emergent situations for Cardiac care;

-- if you manipulate this area of the Carotid artery wrongly, you could induce severe Bradycardia (slow heart rate), hypotension (low blood pressure ) and cardiac arrest.