Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Contents
Understanding What Is A Good Resting Heart Rate
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. 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 disease or other medical condition.
Your Resting Heart Rate
When you are at rest, your heart is pumping the lowest amount of blood to supply the oxygen your body needs. Although the official normal resting heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute, the range for most healthy adults is between 55 and 85 beats per minute. Factors such as stress, anxiety, hormones, medication, and physical activity level can affect your resting heart rate.
How to Take Your Pulse
One simple thing people can do is to check their resting heart rate. It’s a fairly easy task, and having this information can be beneficial in the long run. To check your pulse, you can place your index and middle fingers together on your wrist, below the fat pad of your thumb. The best time to get your resting heart rate is first thing in the morning, even before you get out of bed.
What Is A Good Resting Heart Rate?
There is no specific good resting heart rate. Well-trained athletes can have numbers in the 40s. But a heart rate that slow for the average person would be concerning and should prompt a call to your doctor’s office, especially if you felt weak, lightheaded, or short of breath. On the other end of the scale, a resting heart rate that is consistently above 90 beats per minute is also something your doctor should be aware of.
Your Maximum Heart Rate
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. Several studies have shown that a high aerobic capacity is associated with a lower risk of heart attack and death. Your maximum heart rate also depends on multiple factors, including age.
How Exercise Affects Heart Rate
Vigorous exercise is the best way to both lower your resting heart rate and increase your maximum heart rate and aerobic capacity. Setting a percentage of your maximum heart rate as a target during exercise is advisable. 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%. Consult with your doctor before setting a target heart rate if you don’t exercise regularly, as some medications can lower your heart rate.
