Normal Resting Heart Rate
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, 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!
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Some good points made.
I tend to use my index finger and middle finger to sense the pulse. Some people try it with their thumb which causing them to believe they have found a pulse when actually it's just the pulse of the thumb.
I don't look at a clock but set a stop watch. If i look at the clock i tend to self analyse, which leads to me to become anxious and increase my heart rate. By setting a stop watch i can relax and concentrate on counting the beats.
I agree with you that an average of 4 attempts is the best policy for a valid measurement.
It might be an idea to note down the strength of the pulse be it weak or strong so that over a few weeks you can learn more about your heart. This will help you to identify any problems, that may occur, early on.
Thanks for posting the article, I'm closet physiology nerd. lol
[...] Find your resting heart rate Your heart is arguably the most important part of your body. To find out how hard yours is working, use these simple steps to find and compare your normal resting heart rate… [...]
I walk 40 minutes a day and do weight training almost 5 times a week and my heart rate always been between 90-100. I live a healthy lifestyle, i dont smoke, dont drink etc. I am 1.70m tall and 61kg. Is this normal to have such a high heart rate? My pressure is 120 with 70 which i beleive is normal. Pleaase advise…
I was recently in the hospital with my Crohns. The nurses would keep asking me if I was an athlete. I am 55 yrs old and live in a 3 story five level house. So am I an athlete? No. I rarely sit tough and am always going up and down stairs, but even though I am in decent shape, as well as my weight, I don't really look the part of an athlete. My heart rate always read between 35 and 45. The doctor ordered a echo heart test thing. They told me after the echo that my heart was in good shape so they didn't know why my rate was always so low, but that I must be in good shape. They even had a problem with the machine constantly beeping to inform them that my heart rate was low. They even changed machines to re-test several times. Does this really mean that I have a healthy heart beat of an athlete, or are they just being too careless and not checking further? Could it also be a sign of something bad? Thanks
56 bpm rhr
i'm 6'1" 280. i bike almost on a regular basis. i'm definitely not "in shape" but i'm pretty healthy for a big guy. I smoke occasionally, drink socially.
ive just got my self a treadmill which has heart rate sensors on it, ive been on it for a month i always go on it for half an hour a day when i first go on the treadmill my heart rate is 60 which i think is good as i feal really relaxed after walking for 10 mins i run for 5 mins then i check my heart rate its norm in the 80's.
but i can get up to 140 when i walk faster and use the incline button. i am a life member at a gym but havent been for a year so got out of condition.
at one time my heart rate was always high as i suffered for years with anxity but now im exercising i feel great again.
Eh. I just took mine, it's at 54 I'm 17, and female. I do lots of exercises, and a matter of fact, have lost over 125lbs. It's not as low as I want it though. I want it around Shirely's. Heh. that'd be nice. I'm still 5'2 and 163-ish lbs. So. I mean I still have a great amount left to lose, I guess for being on the border of being considered obese. I've got a healthy heartrate. I'm going to take it in the morning before i get out of bed. See if it differs.
Hm, I just counted it at 95. I have been trying to keep it over 180 in the last two minutes of my intensity workouts (Body for Life), but it seems harder to do than before. When I was in high school, I used to stay a minute at 210 when doing my intensity training. I took some time off of working out when college got too busy and now I am 25 years old and already reminiscing about those days when I was in such great shape! :D Hey - maybe it's not too late to get it back.
I was sitting at the computer, in a total full-body lull after eating some sushi, and my heart felt over-exerted. Hmm, strange, so I tested, and it's at 100 bpm resting.
What are the signs of overtraining, and it's effect on the heart? I read that athletes keep close track of their resting h.r. to make sure they're not overtraining. Could it be that I have not been resting enough? I work out every day, 35-50 mins moderate to hard cardio, weight training also. I am 27, 5'11, and weight flux on a daily basis from 137-142. Normal? I have heart disease history in all sides of my family.
I'm 5'6" and about 160lbs. I run quite a lot but I haven't been properly for a couple of weeks so I can have a rest period. My rhr, first thing in the morning is only 46 and always quite weak - I struggle finding it. Is it a sign of fitness or something else?
I am a 49 year old female-140 pounds at 5' tall. I have been going to the gym for over 2 years three times per week for an hour each time. I had a ECG done this week and all was normal on it except my doctor said my heart rate was unusually slow at 50. Is this cause for concern?
had a stree test blood work everything came back normal going through meneapause but sometime my heart rate goes up to 105 to 110 but i have panicks a ttacks also, is that normal
Hi,
I dont really excercise much but my R.H.R is 68 Bpm sitting down, I smoke and also drink ocassionally? Is this okay?
Should I check my Resting Heart Rate first thing in the morning?
:)
Im 35 with a resting heart rate of 54 - 57 bpm. i smoke regularly, I don't drink, use to panic with a fast heart beat, now i panic with a slow heart beat. Im active, but considered obese 5'7 195lbs. Doctors did all the heart test, and I show a valve that doesnt shut completely with every beat, but says this is nothing to worry to much about, except to get it checked every 2 years. My panic attacks have gone away for the most part now that my heart rate slowed down, but did i learn to slow it down too much? Should I get a second opinion?
I am an athlete, and currently stuck in hospital with chicken pox, until i am non infectious, nurses come and take my heart rate and blood pressure with a machine every 4 hours, my rhr has been between 44 and 50 before i get out of bed, and then between 57-62 when i am sitting around in the hospital room using the computer. I generally train 6 days a week for 4-5.5 hours a day in 2 sessions, weights, cardio, and technical sessions.
My RHR is about 94. I am 40 yrs old, I run three times a week and the other days I do a light workout. I have no problems running and usually do a 8 minute mile (I run at least 4 miles) with no problems. I do not have any history of heart disease in my family. I just get a little worried when my RHR is so fast when I am not doing anything to make it do so. I am 5'10" weighing 148lbs. Is this normal?
@Kelley, has it always been this high? A 8 minute mile for a 40yr old female is really outstanding and it sounds like you are consistent with your workouts..BMI is really great maybe almost on the low side. I'm wondering though do you drink any type of caffiene, soda, coffee or even tea? This might have an effect. However if it has always been that high then it just might be hereditary. I know you don't have heart disease in your family but maybe their pulses are at the higher end too. My family has a history of low blood pressure and my RHR is 55. I workout for an hour a day, but no way could I run an 8 min mile. I hate running, I use strength training and I walk it out as fast as I can. I will run but only at a slow pace for about 10 min at a time, or a fast pace for 2 and then walk it out again. I am 5'6 and weight about 140. However my neighbor who also has low blood pressure is on the obese side (200lbs) and doesn't work out and her RHR is 68. So who knows?
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