The heart rate is one of the human body’s ‘vital signs,’ indicating the health condition of the heart. It calculates the amount of time the heart contracts or beats per minute. When an individual is at rest, the human heart pumps the least quantity of blood to supply the oxygen it required. While a normal heart rate does not guarantee that a person is healthy, it is a valuable benchmark for detecting a variety of health problems.
A normal resting heart rate for adults usually lies between 60 and 100 beats per minute. A lower resting heart rate usually indicates that your heart is performing more efficiently and is in better shape. An athlete, for example, may have a resting heart rate of roughly 40 beats per minute.
Steps to follow to check a normal heart rate:
- Take a seat and relax for 5 minutes
- Rotate your wrist so that your palm is facing up
- Check your wrist for a pulse on the thumb side
- Count how many times you sense a beat in 30 seconds after you’ve felt it. Then double that by two
There are numerous types of abnormal cardiac rhythms. Atrial fibrillation is the most prevalent abnormal rhythm. factors that influencing the heart rate are:
- Age
- Physical fitness
- Temperature
- Body position (standing up or lying down, for example)
- Mental/ Emotional status of the mind
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Caffeine intake
- Cardiovascular disease
- Thyroid disorders.
A healthy heartbeat is essential for maintaining cardiac health. While exercise is vital for maintaining a good heart rate, there are various other things a person may do to protect their heart health. These include:
- Stress reduction: Stress can cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. Deep breathing, yoga, mindfulness training, and meditation are all effective stress-reduction techniques.
- Tobacco abstinence: Smoking causes an increase in heart rate, which can be reduced to a normal level by quitting.
- Losing weight: Having more body weight requires the heart to work harder to give oxygen and nutrients to all regions of the body.
- Sleep: A good 7-8 hours of sleep in a day is suggested to maintain a good heart health.
The resting heart rate varies from person to person and is influenced by numerous factors. An adult’s normal resting heart rate (non- athlete) is between 60 to 100 beats per minute. Children’s typical heart rates alter as they get older. Tachycardia (rapid heart rate) and bradycardia (slow heart rate) are both common symptoms of other health problems. They can lead to potentially catastrophic health consequences if left untreated.
If an individual is experiencing a heart rate that is persistently too high or too low, it’s advised to consult the doctor right away because there are several possible causes. While not all these causes are serious, some may indicate heart problems.