What Does My Resting Heart Rate Mean?
What is a “NORMAL” resting heart rate?
A normal resting heart rate for adults is between 60 to 100 bpm. Generally speaking, a lower resting heart rate is indicative of cardiovascular fitness and more efficient cardiac function. Whereas, a higher resting heart rate may be indicative of a less or deconditioned heart.
The human heart is an amazing organ. It beats approximately 100,000 beats a day, pumping approximately 2500 gallons of blood. It is a highly resilient and unique organ. Please check out our Health Topics videos section, where I will talk about the complexities of our heart, in a clear and easy to understand format. …
A resting heart rate above 100 can be assigned of many things. Including an infection, and underlying heart, arrhythmia, or worsening cardiac problem. We can also see it elevated due to stress, excessive caffeine consumption, illness and as a side effect of certain medications.
A resting heart rate below 60 beats a minute could be indicative of being more physically fit. However, it could also be a sign of a weakening underlying electrical circuit. If you are experiencing a resting heart rate of less than 60 beats a minute, and you have any dizziness, lightheadedness, feeling that you may pass out, or passing out, you should seek medical help. Exertional shortness of breath is also a symptom that can be associated with a slow resting heart rate, as well as inability to tolerate exercise and fatigue.
Some other factors can affect heart rate are: dehydration, electrolyte derangement, thyroid disease, anemia, medication, overuse of caffeine, use of alcohol and/or tobacco products, as well as herbal supplements and age.
TIP:
Your maximum heart rate is more personalized. Your maximum heart rate can be determined by subtracting your age from 220. Therefore, if you are 45 years old, your maximum heart rate would be 175. That said, your target heart rate is usually a percentage of your maximum heart rate. Typically between 50% to 85% of your maximum heart rate. Therefore, a 45 year old should aim for a target heart rate of 88 to 149 when exercising
.
*If you have any concern about your heart rate, please speak with a medical professional.
If you would like to learn more about healthy food choices, how to reduce inflammation and reduce your overall risk for chronic disease and cancer, as well as maximize your health and empower yourself. Please check out our podcast and sign up for our newsletter.
