Heart rate 23 on an adult - what does it mean?
A resting heart rate of 23 bpm is very low for an adult. Outside of elite endurance athletes and deep sleep, a pulse under 40 is unusual and should be checked by a doctor.
Where 23 bpm sits on the adult scale
- Very low
- Low (bradycardia)
- Slightly low
- Normal
- Elevated (tachycardia)
- High
- Very high
What a resting pulse of 23 means
Very slow resting rates in people who are not highly trained can mean the heart's electrical system is not keeping pace — for example sinus node dysfunction or a heart block — or can be a medication effect (beta blockers, some calcium channel blockers, digoxin). An underactive thyroid, low body temperature and electrolyte problems are other causes.
Rule out a measuring error first: a weak or irregular pulse is easy to undercount by hand, and some wrist wearables miss beats. Count for a full 60 seconds at the wrist or use a chest-strap or blood-pressure monitor.
Ranges apply to adults and children aged 10 and older, measured at rest (American Heart Association). By the numbers: at 23 bpm the heart beats about every 2.61 seconds — roughly 33,120 beats a day.
23 bpm during exercise
23 bpm is below half of the estimated maximum heart rate at every adult age, so it is a resting-range value, not an exercise intensity. During light activity most adults are already above 90 bpm.
How to get an accurate resting reading
- Sit or lie quietly for 5 minutes. No caffeine, nicotine or exercise in the 30 minutes before.
- Place two fingertips (not your thumb) on the inside of your wrist below the thumb, or gently beside your windpipe on one side of the neck.
- Count the beats for 30 seconds and double it — or count a full 60 seconds if the beat feels irregular.
- Repeat on a few mornings before getting up and use the average.
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Nearby values
Measured on a child instead? See heart rate 23 in a child.
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.