Accurately What Is Normal Heart Rate?

Many people say that their hearts beat more rapidly when they’re head over heels in love. Not surprisingly, that’s because the heart is almost similar with love. That’s the romantic side of the heart. But medically speaking, has anyone ever wondered, “What is the normal heart rate?”

Heart rate is known as the number of heart beats for every minute. The simplest way to determine your heart rate is by locating your pulse. The pulse reveals the rate of a person’s heart beat. Therefore, a regular pulse rate means a regular heart rate. Two of the most usual areas used to determine your pulse rate are one, around the wrist area, the side just beneath the thumb and two, on either side of the neck where you can sense the carotid arteries. The second you find your pulse, count the number of beats for a minute in order to get the heart rate.

The normal heart rate of a resting adult is 60-100 beats per minute (bpm). Okay, that’s what traditional teaching would say. Yet the question, “What is normal heart rate?” is in truth an extremely tough question to respond to since heart rate is impacted by a multitude of factors. Nearly all reference books would tell you that the normal heart rate is 60-100 bpm. On the other hand, this heart rate may not be the normal heart rate for some, just as with the well-conditioned marathon runners who can have as low as 40 bpm and babies who can have up to 180 bpm. Also, it is not uncommon for a sleeping adult to have a heart rate of around 50-90 bpm. When an adult is performing some physical activity, alternatively, it is not unusual to have a heart rate that is over 100 bpm. That said, precisely what is normal heart rate?

Heart rate is absolutely not like a lab value which has a “set value”. As pointed out previously, heart rate is influenced by quite a few factors which include age, weight, physical activity, caffeine, alcohol, medications and the list goes on. A 25-year old adult’s heart’s rate is considered normal if it falls within 60-100 bpm. However, you cannot rely on an 85-year old senior to have the exact same rate because as a consequence of the normal aging process, older people are anticipated to have a lower heart rate, usually 50-70 bpm. Directly back to the main question: “What is normal heart rate?” You better consult the doctor about this.