Heart rate 142 on an adult - what does it mean?

Where 142 bpm sits on the adult scale

What a resting pulse of 142 means

If you just climbed stairs, exercised or are very anxious, a pulse of 142 can be a normal response and should fall within minutes. A fast rate that persists at rest can come from fever, dehydration, blood loss or anemia, an overactive thyroid, or a heart rhythm disorder such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter or supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).

An irregular pulse at this speed is a typical sign of atrial fibrillation, which raises stroke risk and should always be evaluated.

Ranges apply to adults and children aged 10 and older, measured at rest (American Heart Association). By the numbers: at 142 bpm the heart beats about every 0.42 seconds — roughly 204,480 beats a day.

An infection and a pulse of 142: thinking about sepsis

Most infections stay where they start: a sore throat, a urinary infection, a cut that turns red. Sepsis is what happens when the body’s reaction to an infection runs out of control and begins to harm its own organs. Blood pressure can fall, the kidneys, lungs and brain receive less blood, and without fast treatment it can become life-threatening within hours.

A racing pulse is one of the earliest signs, because the heart tries to keep blood moving as the vessels widen and leak. A resting rate of 142 during an infection is far more than fever alone usually explains. It should make you look carefully for the other signs below.

Signs that point toward sepsis

Sepsis Alliance uses the word TIME to help people remember:

• T – Temperature: higher or lower than normal. Shivering and feeling very cold count too.
• I – Infection: a known infection, or signs of one such as a cough, burning urine or a hot, swollen wound.
• M – Mental decline: confusion, unusual sleepiness, being hard to wake or not making sense.
• E – Extremely ill: severe pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, or a feeling that “I might die”.

Other clues include fast breathing, cold, pale or blotchy skin, and passing very little urine. Not everyone has a fever, especially older adults.

Who is most at risk and what to say

Anyone can develop sepsis, but it is more likely in adults over 65, babies, people with diabetes, kidney or lung disease or cancer, people whose immune system is weakened by illness or medicines, and anyone recently in hospital or after surgery. Pneumonia, urinary infections, skin and wound infections and abdominal infections are frequent starting points.

If an infection comes with a pulse this fast and any TIME sign, call 911 or go to the emergency room now. Say plainly: “I am worried about sepsis.” That phrase helps staff think of it early. Treatment, usually antibiotics into a vein and fluids, works best when it starts quickly.

If you feel unwell but none of the signs fit, rest, drink fluids and re-check after fifteen minutes. A rate that stays above 120 still needs a doctor today, and a pulse that keeps rising while you feel worse means going to the emergency department or calling 911. The normal adult heart rate page shows how far this value is from usual.

For a reliable resting value, sit quietly for five minutes first and average a few mornings: Resting Heart Rate: What It Says About Your Health. You can also measure by tapping along on the start page.

Nearby values

• 137 bpm
• 138 bpm
• 139 bpm
• 140 bpm
• 141 bpm
• 143 bpm
• 144 bpm
• 145 bpm
• 146 bpm
• 147 bpm

Measured on a child instead? See heart rate 142 in a child.

Sources: American Heart Association: All About Heart Rate · MedlinePlus: Pulse · ACSM position stand on exercise intensity (2011)

This page explains a single reading in general terms. It is not a diagnosis. Heart rate alone cannot tell whether the rhythm is regular or whether the heart is healthy — if you are worried, talk to a doctor.