Show Ask An ExpertQuestion:I'm a healthy 50-year-old woman. My resting pulse is about 50-60 beats per minute. When I run on the treadmill at a six mph pace for two miles, my pulse will get to 172. I get 35-40 minutes of cardio five times a week. Is 172 too high? Answer:The simple answer to your question is no, it is not too high. You sound like a very fit woman. A six mph (or a 10-minute) mile is a nice pace. I assume you are comfortable at this pace since you can keep it up for 20 minutes. Most "normals" in medicine are defined by averages of healthy people. There is usually a bell-shaped curve where most are in the middle, but higher or lower can be normal, as well. For resting heart rate, normal is defined as 60 to 100 beats per minute, but trained athletes can have resting heart rates as low as 35 to 40, which is normal for them. The simple calculation for maximal peak heart rate is 220 - age for men, and 226 - age for women. That would put your peak heart rate at 176. For most people your age, your exercise heart rate would put them in an anaerobic zone (90-100% of maximum), which cannot be maintained for long periods due to the build-up of lactic acid in the muscles. However, this is clearly not an anaerobic rate for you. Based on the typical heart rate formula, your heart is acting younger than your 50 years. Training more vigorously, pushing your pace into the anaerobic zone, will result in improved oxygen utilization, improved cardio-respiratory system, greater ability to tolerate lactic acid build-up, and improved endurance. Competitive athletes must do this to improve. There is also some evidence that interval training - fast for a few minutes, then slower for a few minute - burns calories more effectively than a steady, moderate pace. Only those people with coronary disease or structural heart disease need to be concerned about keeping their heart rate below a certain level. Keep it up! Related QuestionsA normal resting heart rate is between 60 (beats per minute) and 100 (beats per minute) for people 15 years and older. According to the American Heart Association, a normal resting heart rate is between 60 (beats per minute) and 100 (beats per minute) for people 15 years and older. However, a low heart rate can also be common in athletes, people who are physically fit, or people who take medications such as beta-blockers. The chart below shows normal heart rates by age. Normal Heart Rates By Age
What Are Maximum and Target Heart Rates by Age?The American Heart Association recommends people exercise according to their specific target heart rate zone. Target heart rate zone refers to a safe heart rate range during exercise, and it differs by age. It is calculated as a percentage (usually between 50 and 85 percent) of your maximum heart rate. Exercising below 50 percent may not help you reach your desired goals of fitness, whereas exercising beyond 85 percent may cause common problems such as sore muscles to something as serious as a heart attack. How to Calculate Your Maximum Heart Rate and Target Heart Rate Here are steps to calculate your maximum heart rate and target heart rate zone:
Below age-based maximum heart rate and target heart rate zones are listed.
What Is Heart Rate?The heart rate, also called the pulse, is the number of times the heartbeats per minute (BPM). To find your heart rate, check your pulse, which can be felt on your:
Place your finger (not your thumb) over your pulse and count the number of beats in 60 seconds to get your heart rate. QUESTIONIn the U.S., 1 in every 4 deaths is caused by heart disease. See AnswerFromReviewed on 4/6/2022 References Image Source: iStock Images https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/the-facts-about-high-blood-pressure/all-about-heart-rate-pulse https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2172054-overview#a2 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 Target Heart Rates Chart https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/target-heart-rates What is a good pulse rate by age?Normal Heart Rate by Age Chart. What is a good pulse rate for a 70 year old?60 years: 80 to 136 beats per minute. 65 years: 78 to 132 beats per minute. 70 years: 75 to 128 beats per minute.
What is an unhealthy pulse 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 heart rate is too high for my age?You can estimate your maximum age-related heart rate by subtracting your age from 220 . For example, for a 35-year-old person, the estimated maximum age-related heart rate would be calculated as 220 – 35 years = 185 bpm.
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