Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Heart Rate MeansHeart Rate vs PulseIdeal Heart RateMeasuringMaintaining a Normal Heart RateUnsure About Your Heart Rate?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Heart Rate Means
Heart Rate vs Pulse
Ideal Heart Rate
Measuring
Maintaining a Normal Heart Rate
Unsure About Your Heart Rate?
Heart rate varies with activity, sleep, hormones, and stress. Certain medications and medical conditions may affect heart rate.
What Heart Rate Means: Defining Good vs Abnormal or Dangerous Readings
A heart rate above 100 bpm is known astachycardia, and a heart rate below 60 bpm is known asbradycardia. However, this is not to say that heart rates above 100 bpm or below 60 bpm are necessarilydangerous.
Your heart rate depends on many factors, including:
Heart rates naturally increase when:
This is a completely normal response that ensures the heart gets enough blood and oxygen to the rest of the body.
Additionally, resting heart rates a bit lower than 60 bpm may be completely normal. This is particularly true in young, healthy, and fit individuals and also during sleep. These slower heart rates have to do with the conditioning of the heart that occurs with regular physical exercise.
However, problems can arise when heart rates are extremely low or high, both of which may affect the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively. There is no strict cutoff on what heart rate is too high or low; this will depend on a person’s age and overall situation, as well as if there are any symptoms, such as lightheadedness, dizziness, palpitations, or fainting. Very high or low heart rates are usually due to an arrhythmia or an abnormal heart rhythm.
What Is an Arrhythmia?An arrhythmia is a problem that occurs in the heart’s specialized electrical system. Normally, specialized cells called the sinus node in the heart’s upper right chamber give a rhythmic signal for the heart to contract. This electrical signal flows down to another group of cells called the atrioventricular node (AV node) and down to the ventricles. The result is a synchronized and rhythmic contraction of the heart.In arrhythmias, there is a problem with this system. The electrical impulse may be blocked anywhere along its path (heart block), resulting in bradycardia. Or, the electrical impulse can start outside or propagate outside the sinus node, resulting in tachycardia.
What Is an Arrhythmia?
An arrhythmia is a problem that occurs in the heart’s specialized electrical system. Normally, specialized cells called the sinus node in the heart’s upper right chamber give a rhythmic signal for the heart to contract. This electrical signal flows down to another group of cells called the atrioventricular node (AV node) and down to the ventricles. The result is a synchronized and rhythmic contraction of the heart.In arrhythmias, there is a problem with this system. The electrical impulse may be blocked anywhere along its path (heart block), resulting in bradycardia. Or, the electrical impulse can start outside or propagate outside the sinus node, resulting in tachycardia.
An arrhythmia is a problem that occurs in the heart’s specialized electrical system. Normally, specialized cells called the sinus node in the heart’s upper right chamber give a rhythmic signal for the heart to contract. This electrical signal flows down to another group of cells called the atrioventricular node (AV node) and down to the ventricles. The result is a synchronized and rhythmic contraction of the heart.
In arrhythmias, there is a problem with this system. The electrical impulse may be blocked anywhere along its path (heart block), resulting in bradycardia. Or, the electrical impulse can start outside or propagate outside the sinus node, resulting in tachycardia.
Bradycardia due to heart block or sinus node dysfunction can be serious and result in loss of consciousness due to lack of blood flow to the brain.
Tachycardia can happen from a number of arrhythmias, and very fast heart rates can be dangerous when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Arrhythmias that may cause abnormal heart rates include the following conditions:
Some arrhythmias, such asventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, can lead tosudden collapseand death if not treated.
A Word From VerywellYour heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute. A normal resting heart rate ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Though it is normal to have variability in your heart rate, arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) can also cause significant variability. Getting regular exercise and eating a heart-healthy diet can help prevent heart disease and the risk of arrhythmias.—CHRISTOPHER LEE, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Your heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute. A normal resting heart rate ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Though it is normal to have variability in your heart rate, arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) can also cause significant variability. Getting regular exercise and eating a heart-healthy diet can help prevent heart disease and the risk of arrhythmias.—CHRISTOPHER LEE, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Your heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute. A normal resting heart rate ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Though it is normal to have variability in your heart rate, arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) can also cause significant variability. Getting regular exercise and eating a heart-healthy diet can help prevent heart disease and the risk of arrhythmias.
—CHRISTOPHER LEE, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
How Heart Rate vs Pulse Differ
Heart rate is a measure of how fast your heart is beating, given as the number of times your heart beats per minute or “bpm.”
Pulse, on the other hand, is the place on your body where you can feel your heartbeat. You can feel a pulse at different points overarteriesin your body. For example, on the wrist below the thumb, you can feel your radial artery pulsating. In the neck beneath the jaw on either side, you can feel your carotid artery pulsating. By placing your finger on one of these points, you can feel your pulse and count the number of times your heart beats per minute to obtain your heart rate.
Ideal Heart Rate During Rest vs Exercise
During rest, a normal heart rate is considered between 60 to 100 bpm. However, numbers less than 60 bpm may also be normal at rest, particularly during sleep or in young, healthy, and fit people. Studies have shown that higher resting heart rates are linked to worse outcomes.
The target heart rate during moderate-intensity exercise is about 50% to 85% of your maximum predicted heart rate. Here is how you calculate your heart rate for moderate-intensity activity: (0.5) X (220 - age) to (0.85)X (220 - age).
How to Measure Your Heart Rate
Fitness trackers worn on the wrist, finger, or chest can measure heart rate during periods of rest and during exercise.
Whether or not we experience arrhythmias that cause very low or sudden high heart rates is not always in our control. Some people are born with congenital problems of the heart or have medical conditions that increase their risk for arrhythmias. Arrhythmia risk also increases with age.
However, there are steps you can take to prevent certain types of heart disease that can lead to arrhythmias. These include:
If you notice heart rates that seem too high or low, or experience symptoms of an arrhythmia, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider. Symptoms include:
When to Seek Emergency Medical AttentionArrhythmias can be dangerous in their own right when the heart is beating too fast or slow to deliver blood to the body effectively. Arrhythmias can also be the result of serious problems like a heart attack. Serious symptoms that should prompt immediate medical attention include:Sudden loss of consciousnessChest painDifficulty breathing
When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention
Arrhythmias can be dangerous in their own right when the heart is beating too fast or slow to deliver blood to the body effectively. Arrhythmias can also be the result of serious problems like a heart attack. Serious symptoms that should prompt immediate medical attention include:Sudden loss of consciousnessChest painDifficulty breathing
Arrhythmias can be dangerous in their own right when the heart is beating too fast or slow to deliver blood to the body effectively. Arrhythmias can also be the result of serious problems like a heart attack. Serious symptoms that should prompt immediate medical attention include:
To diagnose a potential arrhythmia, your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam, which includes measuring your heart rate and blood pressure. They will also look at the heart’s rhythm using anelectrocardiogram. They may recommend heart rhythm monitoring at home using a device such as a patch or Holter monitor, which you can wear for days or weeks to look for signs of arrhythmia.
Summary
Heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute. A normal resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 bpm. Resting heart rates of less than 60 bpm are also normal during sleep and in physically fit individuals. Heart rates below 30 bpm or above 250 bpm are typically due to an arrhythmia and are potentially serious.
See your healthcare provider if you experience symptoms of arrhythmias, such as palpitations, lightheadedness, or exercise intolerance. Seek immediate medical attention for serious symptoms like chest discomfort, difficulty breathing, or loss of consciousness.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.Target heart rate charts.American Heart Association.All about heart rate.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Arrhythmias.American Heart Association.What is an arrhythmia?American Heart Association.Tachycardia: fast heart rate.Kusumoto FM, Schoenfeld MH, Barrett C, et al.2018 ACC/AHA/HRS Guideline on the Evaluation and Management of Patients With Bradycardia and Cardiac Conduction Delay: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society.Circulation. 2019;140(8):e382-e482. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000628Ventricular tachycardia. In: Crawford MH, Aras M, Sanchez JM.Quick Dx & Rx: Cardiology. McGraw Hill; 2018Sobieraj P, Siński M, Lewandowski J.Resting heart rate and cardiovascular outcomes during intensive and standard blood pressure reduction: an analysis from SPRINT trial.J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3264. doi:10.3390/jcm10153264American Heart Association.Life’s essential 8.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.Target heart rate charts.American Heart Association.All about heart rate.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Arrhythmias.American Heart Association.What is an arrhythmia?American Heart Association.Tachycardia: fast heart rate.Kusumoto FM, Schoenfeld MH, Barrett C, et al.2018 ACC/AHA/HRS Guideline on the Evaluation and Management of Patients With Bradycardia and Cardiac Conduction Delay: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society.Circulation. 2019;140(8):e382-e482. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000628Ventricular tachycardia. In: Crawford MH, Aras M, Sanchez JM.Quick Dx & Rx: Cardiology. McGraw Hill; 2018Sobieraj P, Siński M, Lewandowski J.Resting heart rate and cardiovascular outcomes during intensive and standard blood pressure reduction: an analysis from SPRINT trial.J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3264. doi:10.3390/jcm10153264American Heart Association.Life’s essential 8.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Heart Association.Target heart rate charts.American Heart Association.All about heart rate.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Arrhythmias.American Heart Association.What is an arrhythmia?American Heart Association.Tachycardia: fast heart rate.Kusumoto FM, Schoenfeld MH, Barrett C, et al.2018 ACC/AHA/HRS Guideline on the Evaluation and Management of Patients With Bradycardia and Cardiac Conduction Delay: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society.Circulation. 2019;140(8):e382-e482. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000628Ventricular tachycardia. In: Crawford MH, Aras M, Sanchez JM.Quick Dx & Rx: Cardiology. McGraw Hill; 2018Sobieraj P, Siński M, Lewandowski J.Resting heart rate and cardiovascular outcomes during intensive and standard blood pressure reduction: an analysis from SPRINT trial.J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3264. doi:10.3390/jcm10153264American Heart Association.Life’s essential 8.
American Heart Association.Target heart rate charts.
American Heart Association.All about heart rate.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Arrhythmias.
American Heart Association.What is an arrhythmia?
American Heart Association.Tachycardia: fast heart rate.
Kusumoto FM, Schoenfeld MH, Barrett C, et al.2018 ACC/AHA/HRS Guideline on the Evaluation and Management of Patients With Bradycardia and Cardiac Conduction Delay: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society.Circulation. 2019;140(8):e382-e482. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000628
Ventricular tachycardia. In: Crawford MH, Aras M, Sanchez JM.Quick Dx & Rx: Cardiology. McGraw Hill; 2018
Sobieraj P, Siński M, Lewandowski J.Resting heart rate and cardiovascular outcomes during intensive and standard blood pressure reduction: an analysis from SPRINT trial.J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3264. doi:10.3390/jcm10153264
American Heart Association.Life’s essential 8.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
