What is normal heart rate

Slow your roll! Woo hoo! Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff. Fitness Basics. Getting Active. Staying Motivated. How do I get my heart rate in the target zone? What is a resting heart rate? Is resting heart rate different by age? The figures are averages, so use them as a general guide. You've got goals. So do we. 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.

When 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 beats per minute.

However, a 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. 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. The 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.

Vigorous 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.

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. Although 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.

Sauer WH. Normal sinus rhythm and sinus arrhythmia. Fatisson J, et al. Influence diagram of physiological and environmental factors affecting heart rate variability: An extended literature overview. Heart International. Laskowski ER expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Riebe D, et al. Client fitness assessments. Philadelphia, Pa. See also Slide show: 5 smart exercise choices for psoriatic arthritis 6 tips for an active getaway you'll remember Accentuate the positive to make lasting health changes An appointment to exercise?

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