What is the normal human heart rate?
A healthy adult human heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute.
What does one’s resting heart rate indicate?
One’s resting heart is generally an indicator of physical fitness. A lower resting heart rate is often a result of regular exercise due to the fact exercise makes the heart muscles much more efficient. Athletes often have resting heart rates around 40 beats per minute due to their lifestyle habits. Generally, one should not be overly concerned about their resting heart rate unless they are experiencing additional symptoms along with the heart rate, such as dizziness or fatigue.
What factors can change one’s heart rate?
– Age:
As one ages, it is normal for the heart rate to slow. For those 15 and younger, a
a heart rate of 70 to 100 beats per minute is normal.
– Body size and weight:
The heart must work harder in larger individuals, whether they are taller or weigh
more.
– Physical fitness:
The more one exercises (cardiovascular exercise in particular), the more efficient the
heart muscles become.
– Medications:
Certain medications can slow or speed one’s basal heart rate. One should consult their
doctor if their medication changes their heart rate drastically.
– Emotional changes:
Certain emotion states, such as anxiety, stress, anger, excitement, sadness, and
boredom can affect the heart rate.
– Air temperature:
Temperatures of under 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 Celsius) result in increased heat
loss. Therefore, the heart compensates by beating faster, not only to maintain your
core temperature, but also to keep blood flowing throughout the body and to the organs.
– Position of the body:
Different body positions affect the heart’s output. For example, standing will require
more energy than sitting down.
The human heart rate and exercise
During exercise, the heart rate will increase. This is known as one’s active heart rate. Just as one’s resting heart rate is affected by factors such as age and weight, so does one’s active heart rate.
The heart often exerts itself during exercise. It is important to monitor one’s heart rate during physical activity. When one’s heart rate is too high, it can be dangerous. An ideal active heart rate is 60 to 80 percent of one’s maximum heart rate. A person’s maximum heart rate can be calculated by subtracting their age from 220.
How does one measure their heart rate?
To measure one’s pulse, a person should place their index and ring fingers on their windpipe. One may also place their fingers on their wrist, on the space between the bone and the radial artery. This is located on the same side as your thumb on the wrist. A timer should be used for accurate results. While watching the timer, one should wait until ten seconds have passed, then multiply that number by six to get one’s beats per minute.