What is a good heart resting rate

On this page

• What is resting heart rate?
• What is a normal resting heart rate?
• How do I check my resting heart rate?
• Which factors can influence heart rate?
• If my resting heart rate is normal, is my blood pressure normal?
• If my resting heart rate is slow, is it dangerous?
• If my resting heart rate is fast, is it dangerous?
• Resources and support
• Related information on Australian websites

What is resting heart rate?

Your resting heart rate, or pulse, is the number of times your heart beats per minute when you are at rest — such as when you are relaxed, sitting or lying down.

Resting heart rate varies from person to person. Knowing yours can give you an important sign of your heart health.

What is a normal resting heart rate?

For adults, a normal resting heart rate ranges between 60 and 100 beats a minute.

Usually, a lower resting heart rate means your heart is working more efficiently and is more fit.

For example, an athlete might have a resting heart rate of around 40 beats a minute.

How do I check my resting heart rate?

To check your heart rate:

• Sit down and rest for 5 minutes.
• Turn your wrist so your palm is facing up.
• Feel for a pulse at thumb side of your wrist.
• Once you feel it, count how many times you feel a beat in 30 seconds. Then double it.

If you can't find your pulse at your wrist, put 2 fingers on the side of your neck, next to your windpipe.

If you still can’t find a pulse, ask someone else to feel it for you.

Many people now monitor their heart rate with a wearable heart rate monitor, activity tracker or smart watch.

Which factors can influence heart rate?

Many things can affect your heart rate.

• Age — as you get older the rate and regularity of your pulse can change. This can be a sign of a heart problem.
• Sex — heart rate is generally higher in females than males.
• Physical activity — if you've been moving around a lot, your heart rate will increase.
• Fitness level — your resting heart rate may be lower if you're very fit.
• Air and body temperature — on hot days, your heart needs to pump more quickly.
• Emotions — when you feel stressed or overly excited your heart beats faster.
• Medicines — some medicines can decrease your resting heart rate (for example, beta blockers), While other medicines can increase it (for example, thyroid medicines).
• Substance use — alcohol, caffeine and smoking can all affect your heart rate.
• Time of day — your heart rate tends to be lower at night.
• Body position — for example, whether you are sitting up or lying down.

If my resting heart rate is normal, is my blood pressure normal?

Your resting heart rate is not an indication of your blood pressure. The only way to check blood pressure is to measure it directly.

If my resting heart rate is slow, is it dangerous?

People can have a resting heart rate of 40 if they are very fit. But a slow pulse could also be a sign of problems. If you are not sure, or if you have been feeling faint, dizzy or short of breath, see your doctor.

If my resting heart rate is fast, is it dangerous?

A fast-resting heart rate (higher than 100 beats per minute) can be a sign of problems. See your doctor for advice.

Seek urgent medical attention if:

• your heart is racing, and the rhythm is irregular
• you feel short of breath
• you have chest pain

Resources and support

You can call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

Posted on September 16, 2019

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We all know how important it is to maintain a healthy heart. But you may not realize that you can get a sense of how healthy your heart is with just two fingers and 30 seconds. How? By measuring your resting heart rate (RHR).

Your RHR is the number of times your heart beats per minute while you’re at rest. If you have a diagnosed heart condition, factors such as your medications and the nature of your heart problem may influence your RHR. For the rest of us, RHR can provide a rough snapshot of how well heart muscle is functioning.

“It’s a vital sign that can reflect improving heart health or a potential health problem,” says Steven Keteyian, Ph.D., who is director of preventive cardiology at Henry Ford Health.

What Your RHR Means

A “normal” RHR falls between 60 and 100 beats per minute. An RHR under 60 can indicate that you’re more physically fit and may be associated with better heart function. An RHR that is above 100 beats per minute can reflect exposure to stress, excessive caffeine consumption or an illness.

“If you have an RHR above 100 or below 50 that can’t be explained by obvious factors, such as participation in a regular exercise program, you should see a doctor,” Dr. Keteyian says.

An RHR over 100 could be a sign of an infection, heart arrhythmia or a worsening heart problem. Studies link an elevated RHR, especially in men, with a greater risk of premature death.

A low RHR, around 50 beats per minute or less, can also be a red flag. This is especially true if you are experiencing symptoms such as lightheadedness. “It could be a sign of problems with the electrical pathways in the heart,” Dr. Keteyian says.

How to Measure Your RHR

It’s important to take your heart rate while you are at rest. Don’t measure it within one hour of exercise or a stressful event. In fact, according to the American Heart Association, it’s best to measure your RHR first thing in the morning, even before you get out of bed.

While there are a variety of tools and apps to measure your RHR, all you really need is a timer. Here’s how:

• With your palm facing up, place your index and middle finger on the thumb side of your wrist, along the line where a watch band would be worn. You should feel a pulse. You can also find a pulse along the side of your neck about 1-2 inches below your ear.
• Set your timer for 30 seconds, then count the number of beats you feel during that window.
• Double the number of beats to get the number of beats per minute, which is your RHR.

For best results make sure you really are at rest before you begin. Then, it's a good idea to repeat the process once or twice to make sure it’s consistent.

How to Modify Your RHR

In addition to gender and genetics, a variety of controllable factors can impact RHR, including stress, anxiety, some types of medications, your morning cup of coffee or a caffeine-packed “energy” drink, and more. Regular exercise is a reliable way to bring down your RHR.

“If you start an exercise program, you can expect to decrease your RHR up to one beat per minute for every week or so that you train, up to 10 or 12 beats,” Dr. Keteyian explains. In elite endurance athletes, it’s not uncommon to see an RHR in the high 30s or low 40s.

Other ways to reduce your RHR:

• Quit smoking: Nicotine is a stimulant. Smoking not only increases your heartbeat, it also increases your risk of developing heart disease.
• Don’t binge drink: Even though alcohol is a depressant, sipping more than four drinks a day for women and five for men can overtax your heart and cause it to beat more quickly.
• Change your meds: Certain over-the-counter medications (e.g., weight loss drugs, certain cold medications) and prescription medications can boost your RHR. If you notice your heart rate increasing after starting a new medication, talk to your doctor about alternatives.

To find a doctor at Henry Ford, visit henryford.com or call 1-800-HENRYFORD (436-7936).

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Dr. Steven Keteyian is the director of preventative cardiology who sees patients at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, Henry Ford Medical Center - Livonia and Henry Ford Medical Center - Second Avenue in Detroit.

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