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Your pulse, both at rest and during exercise, can reveal your risk for heart attack and your aerobic capacity. Your grandmother may have referred to your heart as "your ticker," but that nickname has proved to be a misnomer. A healthy heart doesn't beat with the regularity of clockwork. It speeds up and slows down to accommodate your changing need for oxygen as your activities vary throughout the day. What is a "normal" heart rate varies from person to person. However, an unusually high resting heart rate or low maximum heart rate may signify an increased risk of heart attack and death. One simple thing people can do is to check their resting heart rate. It's a fairly easy to do and having the information can help down the road. It's a good idea to take your pulse occasionally to get a sense of what's normal for you and to identify unusual changes in rate or regularity that may warrant medical attention. Your resting heart rateWhen you are at rest, your heart is pumping the lowest amount of blood to supply the oxygen your body's needs. For most healthy adult women and men, resting heart rates range from 60 to 100 beats per minute. However, a 2010 report from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) indicated that a resting heart rate at the low end of that spectrum may offer some protection against heart attacks. When WHI researchers examined data on 129,135 postmenopausal women, they found that those with the highest resting heart rates—more than 76 beats per minute—were 26% more likely to have a heart attack or die from one than those with the lowest resting heart rates—62 beats per minute or less. If your resting heart rate is consistently above 80 beats per minute, you might want to talk to your doctor about how your heart rate and other personal factors influence your risk for cardiovascular disease. Your maximum heart rateThe rate at which your heart is beating when it is working its hardest to meet your body's oxygen needs is your maximum heart rate. Your maximum heart rate plays a major role in setting your aerobic capacity—the amount of oxygen you are able to consume. Several large observational studies have indicated that a high aerobic capacity is associated with a lower risk of heart attack and death. And a small controlled trial demonstrated that men and women with mild cognitive impairment who raised their aerobic capacity also improved their performance on tests of memory and reasoning. The role of exerciseVigorous exercise is the best way to both lower your resting heart rate and increase your maximum heart rate and aerobic capacity. Because it's impossible to maintain a maximum heart rate for more than a few minutes, physiologists have advised setting a percentage of your maximum heart rate as a target during exercise. If you're starting an exercise program, you may want to set your target rate at 50% of maximum and gradually increase the intensity of your workout until you reach 70% to 80%. However, if you don't exercise regularly, you should check with your doctor before you set a target heart rate. Some medications—particularly beta blockers—can lower your heart rate. Your doctor can help you set realistic goals. How to take your pulseAlthough you may be able to feel your blood pumping in a number of places—your neck, the inside of your elbow, and even the top of your foot—your wrist is probably the most convenient and reliable place to get a good pulse. Press your index and middle fingers together on your wrist, below the fat pad of your thumb. Feel around lightly until you detect throbbing. If you press too hard you may suppress the pulse. You can probably get a pretty accurate reading by counting the number of beats in 15 seconds and multiplying that number by four. The best time to get your resting heart rate is first thing in the morning, even before you get out of bed. To gauge your maximum heart rate, take your pulse immediately after exercising as vigorously as possible. Image: Peera_Sathawirawong/Getty Images
How do you know your heart rate?A good heart rate differs from individual to individual, and it depends upon your age and the kind of physical work you do. Your heart rate is a measure of how fast your heart beats and is also an important indicator of good health. Your doctor will always make it a point to measure your heart rate whenever you visit him for your routine health checkup or any health-related problem. While the heart rate is routinely examined by your doctor, you can also measure your heart rate. With the help of your middle finger and index finger, you have to first try to feel and locate your pulse at any of the following places
The wrist is the most commonly used and convenient place to check your heart rate. Once you locate the pulse on your wrist, you have to gently press on it for 60 seconds and count the beats. This is how you will know your heart rate, which will be in beats per minute. What should my heart rate be?As per the American Heart Association (AHA),
What is a good heart rate for my age?A good heart rate differs from individual to individual, and it depends upon your age and the kind of physical work you do. Given below is the chart showing normal heart rates by age.
However, a heart rate that is lower than 60 per minute does not necessarily mean that it is abnormal. If you are an athlete or someone who is engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity, you may have your heart rate between 40 and 60 per minute. Is 72 bpm a good heart rate?Yes, 72 beats per minute is a good heart rate. According to the American Heart Association, your risk of dying from a heart attack is lower if your heart rate is below 80 beats per minute. A normal resting heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. However, it is healthier to have a heart rate that is at the lower end of the range. SLIDESHOWHeart Disease: Symptoms, Signs, and Causes See SlideshowWhen should I worry about my heart rate?Before you become worried about your heart rate, it is important to know the things that can increase or decrease your heart rate. Your heart rate might be increased
Health conditions that may increase your heart rate and could be improved upon by treatment
Some conditions like supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) may cause a sudden increase in your heart rate at rest. This is a medical emergency and needs immediate medical attention. This condition may lead to sudden death. Consuming heavy amounts of alcohol frequently can lead to a fast and irregular heart rate (atrial fibrillation). This again is a medical emergency. A persistent high heart rate can also mean that the heart muscle is weakened, which forces it to pump harder to deliver the same amount of blood. You may have a lower resting heart rate due to
Certain medications like beta-blockers, which are used for treating hypertension and anxiety You should also be concerned about your heart rate if you notice your heart beating on an irregular rhythm frequently. This can be a serious condition known as arrhythmia for which you should see your doctor right away. Health NewsWhen should you go to the ER for high heart rate?If your heart rate is consistently above 100 bpm and you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness, you should go to the ER Tachycardia or fast heart rate occurs when your resting heart rate is faster than normal, which is about 60-100 beats per minute. If your heart rate is consistently above 100 beats per minute and you experience the following symptoms, you should go to the emergency room:
QUESTIONIn the U.S., 1 in every 4 deaths is caused by heart disease. See AnswerWhat are the different types of high heart rate?Atrial or supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)SVT is a fast heart rate that originates in the upper chambers of the heart (atria) and disrupts electrical signals coming from the sinoatrial node, which acts as the natural pacemaker of the heart. It causes an irregular, fast heart rate, resulting in incomplete filling of the heart chambers between contractions and compromising blood flow to the rest of the body.
Sinus tachycardiaSinus tachycardia is a normal increase in heart rate in response to various factors. Causes of sinus tachycardia include:
Treatment involves addressing the cause of sinus tachycardia. Ventricular tachycardiaVentricular tachycardia is a fast heart rate that originates in the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles).
Subscribe to MedicineNet's Heart Health NewsletterBy clicking "Submit," I agree to the MedicineNet Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. I also agree to receive emails from MedicineNet and I understand that I may opt out of MedicineNet subscriptions at any time. Medically Reviewed on 2/24/2022 References Image Source: iStock Images All About Heart Rate (Pulse). Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/the-facts-about-high-blood-pressure/all-about-heart-rate-pulse Normal Vital Signs. Available at: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2172054-overview#a2 Your Heart Rate. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/watching-rate-monitor?tex=vb3&prop16=vb3. What is Supraventricular Tachycardia?. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atrial-fibrillation/what-is-supraventricular-tachycardia Are OTC Allergy and Cold Medications Making Your Heart Race?. Available at: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/otc-allergy-and-cold-medications-may-be-bad-for-your-heart/#:~:text=A%20decongestant%20eases%20congestion%20by,heart%20rate%2C%20or%20skipped%20beats. Does Alcohol Cause AFib?. https://www.webmd.com/hase/atrial-fibrillation/atrial-fibrillation-alcoholeart-dise https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atrial-fibrillation/what-are-the-types-of-tachycardia https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/about-arrhythmia/tachycardia--fast-heart-rate What is a good resting heart rate by age?Normal Heart Rate by Age Chart. What is a good resting heart rate by age and gender?Age 1-2: 80-130 (average 116 for males, 119 for females) Age 3-4: 80-120 (average 100 for males, 99 for females) Age 5-6: 75-115 (average 96 for males, 94 for females) Age 7-9: 70-110 (average 87 for males, 86 for females)
What is an unhealthy heart rate?Consult your doctor if your resting heart rate is consistently above 100 beats a minute (tachycardia) or if you're not a trained athlete and your resting heart rate is below 60 beats a minute (bradycardia) — especially if you have other signs or symptoms, such as fainting, dizziness or shortness of breath.
What is a healthy heart rate for a woman?What is the normal heart rate for a woman? The average heart rate for adult women is 78 to 82 beats per minute, though the “normal” range is between 60 to 100 beats per minute. Multiple factors such as hormones, exercise and lifestyle choices can affect your heart rate.
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Normal heart beats per minute by age
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