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?
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