What is a normal resting heart rate? The short answer: about 50 to 100 beats per minute. Unless you fall dramatically above or below these numbers, then you're probably "normal."
If you're worried that your resting heart rate and/or blood pressure is too high, check out this great report on how to lower both.
But, to understand more about heart rate and what factors can affect your beats per minute, let's look at how the heart works.
Whether you're Lance Armstrong or Larry Buttbig or simply a Wii Fitness game expert, your heart is constantly pumping blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout your entire body.
Theoretically, the higher your resting heart rate, or the more times it beats per minute, the harder and more often your heart has to work to do its job.
Conversely, a lower heart rate implies that it's more efficient and doesn't need to pump as often. Lance Armstrong's is said to be about 30-35 beats per minute!
There are several other variables that affect your heart rate, so don't feel bad if you're ticker is working two or more times harder than Lance's. Physical fitness, exercise intensity, training frequency, and of course — the uncontrollable — genetics.
How to Measure Your Heart Rate
You may have no point of reference for the above BPM numbers, so to give you an idea, try measuring your own resting heart rate now.
For an optimal measurement, you should check it first thing in the morning while still lying in bed. This will provide you with the truest "resting" rate, but as long as you haven't been overly active in the last hour or so, the number shouldn't vary by more than 5 or 10 beats.
- Find a pulse point, either on the inside of your wrist or your neck.
- Stand in front of a clock with a second hand, or use a stopwatch.
- Count your pulses for 60 seconds (this number is your BPM, or normal resting heart rate).
- Repeat 2-3 more times, and take the average for more accurate results.
So, what's your normal resting heart rate? Leave your BPM numbers below in the comments!
Normal Resting Heart Rate Report
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I'm 18, 53 kg, 166 cm tall and I timmed my resting heart rate at 53 but I think it's wrong, could be lower, because I think it's more accurate when someone else does it, as I tend to muck it up especially with the 'thousand and one…'
I know that I'm so fit now and I use to hate physical activity. When I was in primary school I played soccer, waterpolo and hockey but when I got to high school I ditched all sports and didn't join any. :O Last year though, my final high school year, I joined my local gym and have been going for about 8 months now. I can tell I'm fitter because after working out, I can feel my heart going back to normal – not pounding- and my breathing go normal a lot quicker. I was in town at a place today and my parents had to pick me up, they thought I was gonna be like a hour there, so they went to kill time at the dog part on the other side of town. My thingy ended up only taking like 10 mins, and I didn't wanna wait for them outside for like an hour, so I alternated between running and walking to the dog park. My parents were really suprised when they saw me!
It's suprising…or maybe not, that so many people have such high resting heart rates. I think last time mine was taken, before I went to the gym and got fit, it was in the 60s or 70s. Anyway, regular work outs and running will lower it drastically, keep you fitter, slimmer, healthier and happier. You feel soo good after a good work out, like you can do anything.
hi im 19 years old and i am 200lbs it is normal that my resting heart rate is betweem 98 10 100 and one time it was 104
I am 41, weigh 195 lbs. I used to be an active swimmer, but is more relaxed these days. Ny RHR has shown to go down to 30 while I sleep. Some doctors are concerned, but my cardiologist says it is OK. I feel light headed once in a while. I have been told to eat more salt, which I do.
hello. I'm 19 years old and I weigh 176.5 lbs. I used to run every day, but now I'm not as active as I'd like. I don't smoke, drink or do any drugs. I am currently taking Amoxicillin to get over a cold, I take calcium every day, and drink a lot of milk. I was wondering what would be a healthy weight for me? I'm concerned because I have a heart condition, and I don't want to get overweight and risk an MI or stroke.
I am 58 years old, i have high blood pressure and am on beta blocker with that it is under control. My heart rate is what im concerned with, it has always been around 52 to 65, is that normal? I am average weight, I am not active
Hi there,
Im 22 years old 5'3" and 190 lbs. I am currently loosing weight through weight watchers and walking on my treadmill as well as using my wii fit. I had a pulmonary embolism about a year ago ( blood clot in lung) caused by a side effect to birth control. I had many tests on my heart blood work, ultra sound, ekgs and monitors just to be sure I have no issues. I suffer anxiety now because of my post traumatic stress. I was always very healthy aside from being over weight but when i had this traumatic event i became very anxiety prone!!!! I have a watch that tells me my heartrate if I push a button. I noticed that whilst laying on the couch about to fall asleep, when i pushed the button my heart rate went as low at 54… but seemed like it averaged more between 57 and 59. I am anxious over this. I know that i have been checked out and i apparently have a very strong healthy heart… but is it really ok to be under 60??? My anxiety affects my hr a lot, my resting during the day can be between 75 and 85 at the computer working… however if i am stressed it will be higher at around 95-100. I have had panic attacks where my hr is 110 or so, but once i take my anxiety medication it will dip back down to 90 or so and then get back to normal. There was one time that i had a very bad panic attack and my hr was 120, i went to the er to be safe and they gave me some anxiety meds after doing many tests to make sure i was ok. Anyways… i know what all of my drs have told me which is "I am perfectly fine with a healthy heart, and i should focus on relaxing and destressing… loosing some weight" I am working on loosing weight, i have lost 10 lbs already in the last 4 weeks working to get down to a healthy weight.
I guess im just looking for reassurance that im ok… i know i should listen to my drs. but i want to make sure that being in the 50s at night during relaxation… almost sleeping is ok?
Sorry for rambling!!!
I am 41 and I walk/run at least 2 a week. I walked today on the treadmill (at 3.5 miles an hour) with weights in my hands and when I was done they have a heart sensory testing and it said "90". That seems low because when I run it's more like 117. Anyway, I was just sitting down and tested my heart rate and it was around 83. Why is it the same as just sitting there?
opps I for got some details. I walked an hour at the gym and I weight 145 pounds and I am 5'10".
For as long as I remember I have always been hyper-active – generally speak quickly, doing everything quickly, and have a subtle, anxious feeling all the time, and my heart goes about 90 in a minute, and I am pretty much always tense. Any suggestions? I exercise and eat well, but something must not be right because that feeling…
I am a 39 year old man. I have high blood pressure but it is under control. I have historically had a RHR between 55 and 60 bpm. I was once very athletic and was in the U.S Army for 4 years. I am currently not that active and I am about 20-25 pounds overweight. Recently I felt light headed and went to the emergency room. The doctors felt I was fine but my RHR was going as low as 46 bpm. Should I be worried?
I'm a 19 year old girl, 150 lbs, and 5'6. I run about 4 or 5 times week, 3-5 miles at a time. I just had my pulse taken today at the doctor's office and my RHR was 58. I think that's good? Apparently it's bad if you're not physically active, but I think it's a sign that your heart doesn't have to work as hard if you are an athlete.
I am 36 years old, is 5'11 and weighs almost 200 lbs.
I hit the gym 2-3 times a week, running 3 miles and doing weight training for an hour each time. My RHR is 54. I am aiming to hit 50 or so. According to a chart I saw before, that's an athlete's resting heart rate…. =)
Hi, I'm 25years old 6'2 and weigh 150lbs. I was run over as a pedestrian 3 years ago by an 8 ton utility truck and now have implanted titanium rods in both legs. I just recently started having "panic attacks" and the first one I thought I was having a heart attack and was sure I was dying. I have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress and am often worried about having more. My resting heart rate is 60 but if I stand up it can jump to 100 within seconds. I also feel as if sometimes my heartrate won't change but I can feel it beating "stronger". I have been prescribed xanax for the panic but I honestly think that is not the problem. If anyone has any suggestions on what I should do I would gladly and very much so appreciate it. I check my heartrate it seems as every minute of every hour, and am very concerned. Thank you for your time. Calikeezy@gmail.com
Myself Roshan from India. My uncle who is 58 yrs old has a unusual problem. For the last 2 months, it has been observed that his heart pumping rate has gone down to 20 which is very unusual since the normal pumping rate should be between 60 & 80. He has been hospitalised thrice in these 2months coz when he is brought back home, he is not able to keep himself well. Doctors in India seems are not able to find a solution to this problem.
Is there any solution to this problem. I am very concerned reg this. Thank you for your time. roshaninindia@gmail.com
I'm 56 years old and still run 3 miles a day. I also bike and kayak. My resting heart rate always seems high to me between 90 and 110. I have noticed that the higher my resting heart rate is the lower my blood pressure is. And the converse is true. Is this normal? What is the relationship between resting heart rate and blood pressure? Thanks to anyone who might know the answer.
I am 50 year old female, 5'3" weighing 132 lbs. I consider myself extremely fit. I work out 6 days a week for min 60 minutes per day. I am surprised as my resting heart rate is approx 60; this seems very high for my fitness level?
I'm a 45 year old male, 5'10", 188lbs. Not very active any more. Measured my RHR this morning while still lying in bed, before even sitting up, at 78. That seems 'high normal'. However last night while sitting in the recliner watching TV it was 110. Why so much higher? Is that a 'normal' difference?
I am a sitter for an elderly man and i take his vitals every mornig before breakfast.a few weeks ago he scared me because after lunch out of nowhere he began feeling ill sick to his stomache and having a major headache,but when i checked his vitals they were nothing out of the ordinary.but since then ive ben on close watch paranoid id even saY. this morning when taking B/p His pulse read 50 so i looked back to previous days and monday it was 69 TUesday 59, Wed 56 and this Morn 50, I was concerned THAT, that might not be good so before he ate breakfast i retook them and it was 58.Is that out of the ordinary should we get that checked out? Does anyone know or have any thoughts?I'd apreciate any input that couldnbe helpful.. THANK YOU GOD BLESS
If an elderly mans pulse rate it 54 one morning aND 50 the next should i be worried
I'm a 35 year old female, 5'8" tall, weigh 155, and my resting heart rate is 45 bpm. Seems low, but I guess it works. :)
Recently when I had had a seizure and passed out the my friend had taken my pulse. He said my pulse was 210 per minute is this normal?? if not does any one know the normal heart rate per/ minute
Hi, my resting heart rate measured this morning upon waking, about 10 mins ago, was 168 bpm.
I'm feeling a bit light headed, and came onto the site to check again where it should be. Whats the emergency number in this country?…..been trying to ring
is it 911? its not that….fk american tv!!
I'm 56 and workout nearly every day, bike ride when I can and play racquetball. My resting rate is down to 43 bpm. When I was in good shape from cycling mostly and in my 30's, my rate was about 56.
I am 35 year old female fairlyu active i bike about 30-50 milesw a week. I eat healthy and have a resting heart rate of 90-100 (this is when im sitting thorought the day) not lying in bed. I am under a lot of stress my bp is 107/75. Should i be concerned about this??????????????
Hellow every body I am 42 my weght is 115kg and height is 172 cm . Some times while laying at rest my herat rate is between 56 and 62 and some I have tachycardia and herat rate reaches to 116 bpm.
I am taking medications for blood pressure . Undert normal conditions my heart rate remains between 72 and 80 . please tell me is it a normal ?
Hellow every one I am 42 my weght is 115 kg, height is 172 cm . At rest my heart rate is between 56 and 62 bpm but some times I get panic when my heart rate increases suddenly and reaches 116 bpm. I am take anti hypertensive medications . In normal conditions my heart rate is 64 to 80 bpm . please tell is a normal ?
At morning my resting heart rate in 56 bpm . Is it a normal or not
Hello , I am 20 yrs old 182 lbs , 5ft10 inches , my RHR is 38 , my motivation is to feel good , be healthy and to look good and not follow my parents path who have had some health problems recently i think due to inactivity , a poor diet and stress. I PT with my unit 3 times a week mon , wed and friday mornings and i go to the gym at night 6 times a week. I like to lift weights and do alot of cardio. I use to hate running but ever since i joined the Corps it has became a daily routine and a passion of mine! I use to weight 247 lbs and i never want to go back to it ever again! My goal is to get a RHR of 30 and drop down to 170 lbs, and Run a Marathon in the next year!
My heart beats 87 times pr minute. I'm 17 and weigh 107 pounds and my blood pressure is 104/62. Is that normal?
oh and I'm a female with a height of 5feet and 6.5 inches
Hi Robert! I'm 5ft 9inches and 180 lbs, I'm doing cardio only for 3 months, and my absolute lowest RHR was 54 :))) RHR 38 sounds very good, I can only dream about that number :)))) btw. for everybody, here you can measure your current heart rate http://www.heartratenow.com
I am 33 years old, 6'0" tall and weigh 200 pounds. My resting reart rate is 44 bpm. I workout by doing crossfit for three on and one off, every day. Is this good.
I'm male and 36, I run about 30 miles a week. My RHR is usually 36-38. Although this is quite low, I'm no fitter than anybody else who does the same amount of exercise.
I find it very hard, even on hill runs, to get my heart over 160.
I'm 20 and 5' 3.5", weigh 128-130 and my resting heart rate was 55 after being awoken by someone walking into my room which wakes me up instantly, so it's a bit off. I walk a lot, but don't have a work out schedule or regular work out. I dance as often as I can though and was a dancer for 7 years.
I am 6 ft 5, 198 lbs, and RHR of 131.. This is okay :) but when I exercise my HR goes down to 7 BPM. :) This is fantastic. Thank you
I am 17, 110lbs and 5' 5.5." My resting heart rate is 85 BPM
I'm 19, 98 pounds, 5'4" and my heart rate was 74 a few minutes ago, but I've been drinking diet Coke so that's probably a bit high.
Hello,
I am 21, 5'8, 162 pounds with a resting heart rate of 45. I work out every now and then, run once or twice every week. I also have an occasional arrhythmia. I've been to the doctor and he says i have Bradycardia, but since they were never able to record my arrhythmia i was never diagnosed with that. From what the doctor told me, 45 isn't normal but it's safe for someone my age; it becomes more of a problem later in life, around 60 when chronic heart diseases are more likely to be diagnosed.
Hope this helps someone!
i am 29 years old , 6 ft hight, HBR 60 , frequently coming small heart pain,continuesly i am having tablets for increasing heart beat
I'm a 20 yr old female, 5'2", between 110 and 115 lbs. I just started vyvanse for my ADD back in October and since then my resting heart rate has been between 90 and 110, even when I'm off my meds for a couple of days (usually the weekend when I don't have so much school work to do). My body doesn't feel weird, but my increased heart rate has me concerned and I'm scared to exercise because I don't want to push my heart too far. any suggestions or comments?
My 13-year-old son has a "stand-around" heart rate of 50, so I'm guessing that his RHR is a bit lower, probably 40. While these numbers seem extremely low for a child this age based on the expected averages, he is a phenominal cyclist and we had measured his V02 (University of MN ergometer estimate – not breath analysis method) to be around 81-85 (Lance Armstrong's V02 was measured at 88), so it is no surprise that his RHR is very low. Just goes to show that RHR is a very individual thing.
I am a 45 year old male who is a very active runner, biker, swimmer (triathlete) and weight lifter. I am preparing for my first marathon having done a lot of half marathons. My resting heart rate is under 50 which is a function of a very efficient heart, however there is a downside. Often, when I get up quickly from my desk to walk to the copier or even if I stand up to yell at a basketball game, I become light headed and dizzy. It passes very quickly, but I always worry that I am going to pass out (never have). For active athletes, a low (<55) resting heart rate is a sign of fitness. For those who are sedentary, a low resting heart rate may be a symptom of an underlying problem that is worth have investigated by your physician.
I am a 51-tear-old male who does a lot of endurance exercise activity (esp. cycling) and my resting HR is 38-42 and my max is about 180. In warm weather, I will ride 200-250 miles a week. I am not a competitive athlete – I just really like to exercise, and apparently there is a benefit. However, I have been waking up with headaches lately. I had a suspicion, so I bought a pulse oximeter to measure my blood O2 saturation. Sure enough, I am seeing levels of 90-91% at waking, which puts me in a stage of hypoxemia. I had experienced similar headaches several years ago while climbing above 13,000 ft. Now I guess I have to deal with the hypoxemia!
I am 19, 195 pounds and 6 feet tall, my resting at this time is 73, is that high
I'm 22, my weight fluctuates between 167 and 190 for absolutely no reason, and my resting heart rate is between 88 and 100 bpm. When I do any kind of physical exertion, even walking up a dozen stairs, my heart rate goes up to about 110-140 bpm.
I also drink 1-3 cups of coffee a day, so that probably doesn't help lower my heart rate or my pre-hypertension blood pressure.
I'm 28 6'1 215 pounds. My body fat is somewhere around 18-20%. My resting heart rate is 90. I go to the gym daily for at least an hour. Sometimes when lying in bed my heart beats so hard than my arms will pulsate with my heart beat. Advce please
HEY …IM A 33 YER OLD MALE…MY RHR IS 40….BUT WHEN IM STANDING OR SITTIN UP ITS 85-95,….IS THIS NORMAL??
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