[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/07\/healthy-resting-heart-rate\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/07\/healthy-resting-heart-rate\/","headline":"What Is a Good Resting Heart Rate?","name":"What Is a Good Resting Heart Rate?","description":"Updated: Learn about heart rate, including resting heart rates and active heart rates, and how to find out if yours is normal.","datePublished":"2015-07-11","dateModified":"2022-11-17","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","name":"Heart and Vascular Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/heart-and-vascular-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/pulse-check.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/pulse-check.jpg","height":527,"width":791},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/07\/healthy-resting-heart-rate\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Heart and Vascular Health"],"wordCount":964,"keywords":["heart","normal heart rate","pulse"],"articleBody":"Have you ever wondered what a normal heart rate is? Well, you aren’t alone. Your pulse, or heart rate, is the number of times your heart beats each minute.It is important to know that your normal heart rate can be different from other people’s.What Is a Healthy Resting Heart Rate?A resting heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute when you’re not engaged in a physical activity. What’s normal depends on your age and activity level but, generally, a resting heart rate of 60 to 80 beats per minute (BPM) is considered to be in the normal range. If you are an athlete, a normal resting heart rate can be as low as 40 BPM. Studies have shown that men tend to have higher maximum heart rates than women, however the same does not apply to resting heart rates.How To Calculate Resting Heart RateHere’s how to quickly check your normal resting heart rate.Take your pulse at either the base of your thumb on the palm side of your wrist or the base of your neck on the side of your windpipe.Using two or three fingers, not your thumb, press lightly on your skin until you can feel your pulse beating underneath.Count the beats for 10 seconds, then multiply that number by six. That number is your resting heart rate.Normal Resting Heart Rate by AgeFor most adults, the normal heart rate is 60 to 80 BPM. Well-trained athletes can have a normal heart rate of 40 to 60 BPM.AGEAVERAGE MAXIMUM HEART RATE, 100%20 years200 bpm30 years190 bpm35 years185 bpm40 years180 bpm45 years175 bpm50 years170 bpm55 years165 bpm60 years160 bpm65 years155 bpm70 years150 bpmWhat Should My Heart Rate Be When I Am Active?When you work out, your heart rate will get higher. This number is your active heart rate. Active heart rates, like resting heart rates, differ among people and change as you age.How to calculate your maximum heart rateGenerally, a healthy active heart rate is 60 to 80 percent of the highest your heart rate should safely go. The highest heart rate is called your maximum heart rate. A guideline for calculating your maximum heart rate is to subtract your age from 220, like this:\u00a0220 \u2013 your age = your maximum heart rateWhat is a Target Heart Rate?A target heart rate is usually expressed as a percentage of your maximum safe heart rate. The maximum rate is based on your age. The target ranges normally are:For moderate-intensity exercise\u201450 percent to 69 percent of maximum.For vigorous-intensity exercise\u201470 percent to 90 percent of maximum.How to find your target heart rateThis table shows estimated normal target heart rates for different ages. Your maximum heart rate is about 220 minus your age. The figures are averages, so use them as general guidelines.AGETARGET HR ZONE (50% TO 85%)20 years100-170 beats per minute (bpm)30 years95-162 bpm35 years93-157 bpm40 years90-153 bpm45 years88-149 bpm50 years85-145 bpm55 years83-140 bpm60 years80-136 bpm65 years78-132 bpm70 years75-128 bpmDoes Heart Rate Increase or Decrease With Age?Aging causes changes in the heart and circulatory system. As you age, your heart may not be able to beat as fast during times of physical activity or stress as it did when you are younger.Your resting heart rate, however, should not change significantly with normal aging.What is a Dangerous Heart Rate?There are two types of dangerous heart rates:Too high \u2013 Called tachycardia, it’s a heart rate consistently above 100 beats per minute.Too low \u2013 Called bradycardia, it’s a heart rate below 60 beats per minute (when you’re not an athlete).If your heart rate is too high or too low and\/or you are also experiencing shortness of breath, make an appointment with your health care provider.Irregular Heart Rate CausesThe most common cause of arrhythmia or irregular heart rate is\u00a0atrial fibrillation, which can cause a fast heart rate.Other factors may contribute to an abnormally high heart rate, including:Age \u2013 Your heart rate will increase as you age.Medications \u2013 Some medications block adrenaline, slowing your heart rate.Fitness level \u2013 The more physically active you are the better your heart’s fitness and the lower your heart rate.Stress level \u2013 Being stressed can lead to a higher heart rate.Body mass \u2013 Being overweight or obese can lead to a higher heart rate.Body position \u2013 Standing up may result in a higher heart rate than lying down.How to Lower Resting Heart RateIf you are having an episode of elevated heart rate, try the\u00a0Valsalva maneuver, a simple trick to relax your heart:Hold your nose tightly and breathe out forcefully through your mouth as if stifling a sneeze or blowing up a tight balloon.At the same time, bear down as if you’re having a bowel movement.This quick, full-body strain can trigger your heart to go back to a normal rhythm.Generally, a lower resting heart rate indicates that your heart is functioning efficiently. The ability of the heart to return to a resting heart rate quickly after exercise is an indicator of good cardiovascular fitness.If your resting heart rate changes drastically or you have a consistently elevated heart rate, talk to your provider. A higher resting heart rate can be a sign of a heart problem. If you are an adult with a resting heart rate between 80 to 100 BPM, you might be at risk.Keeping track of your heart rate can help you improve your overall health and adjust your exercise routine to stay healthy.Want to learn more about your heart? Visit the\u00a0UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute\u00a0online.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on July 11, 2015, and was last reviewed on April 6, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2015","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"07","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/\/07\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What Is a Good Resting Heart Rate?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/07\/healthy-resting-heart-rate\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]