Vital Sign - Heart Rate, What is my normal?
A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats a minute.
Generally, a lower heart rate at rest implies more efficient heart function and better cardiovascular fitness. For example, a well-trained athlete might have a normal resting heart rate closer to 40 beats a minute.
To measure your heart rate, simply check your pulse. Place your index and third fingers on your neck to the side of your windpipe. To check your pulse at your wrist, place two fingers between the bone and the tendon over your radial artery — which is located on the thumb side of your wrist.
When you feel your pulse, count the number of beats in 15 seconds. Multiply this number by 4 to calculate your beats a minute.
Keep in mind that many factors can influence heart rate, including:
Activity level
Fitness level
Air temperature
Body position (standing up or lying down, for example)
Emotions
Body size
Medications
Although there's a wide range of normal, an unusually high or low heart rate may indicate an underlying problem. Consult your doctor if your resting heart rate is consistently above 100 beats a minute (tachycardia) or if you're not a trained athlete and your resting heart rate is below 60 beats a minute (bradycardia) — especially if you have other signs or symptoms, such as fainting, dizziness or shortness of breath.
Recognize your risks
Being aware of your risk factors — the physical and lifestyle attributes that can make you more likely to develop high blood pressure — can help you identify changes you can make to avoid the threats to your health that can result from your blood pressure being too high for too long.
