Heart rate 79 on an adult - what does it mean?

Where 79 bpm sits on the adult scale

What a resting pulse of 79 means

That is a healthy resting value. Within the normal range, lower resting rates generally go with better aerobic fitness; very fit adults often sit in the 50s or lower.

Your resting rate varies by several beats from day to day. Measure at the same time — ideally in the morning before getting up — and look at the average over a week rather than a single number.

Ranges apply to adults and children aged 10 and older, measured at rest (American Heart Association). By the numbers: at 79 bpm the heart beats about every 0.76 seconds — roughly 113,760 beats a day.

Was the 79 taken lying, sitting or standing?

Body position changes the pulse more than most people expect. The same person can read 66 lying in bed, 72 sitting at the kitchen table and 79 standing at the counter, all within a few minutes and all perfectly normal. Before you compare a 79 with yesterday’s number, check that both were taken in the same position.

The reason is gravity. When you stand up, roughly half a litre of blood shifts down into the legs and belly. Less blood returns to the heart, so each beat pushes out a little less. Pressure sensors in the neck and chest notice the change within seconds and tell the heart to speed up and the blood vessels to tighten. Standing typically raises the heart rate by about 10 to 20 beats at first, then it settles a little but usually stays higher than when sitting.

Comparing readings fairly

Lying flat gives the lowest value and is the classic way to measure a true resting rate, which is why the advice is to measure in bed before getting up. Sitting quietly for five minutes is the next best option and is what most clinics use. A standing reading is useful for some tests, but it should not be mixed into a resting log.

• Pick one position for your daily log and stick to it.
• After changing position, wait a few minutes before measuring; the first minute after standing is the most unsettled.
• Keep the arm with the watch or cuff at heart level and still.
• Note the position next to the number if you ever switch.

When standing raises the pulse too much

Some people feel dizzy, light-headed or foggy every time they stand, and their pulse climbs far more than usual. A doctor may check this with a simple test: heart rate and blood pressure lying down, then again over ten minutes of standing.

Two patterns matter. If blood pressure drops clearly on standing, that is called orthostatic hypotension and can come from dehydration, some blood pressure medicines or nerve problems. If blood pressure stays steady but the heart rate rises by 30 beats or more within ten minutes (40 or more in teenagers), doctors consider postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, known as POTS. Fainting or near-fainting when standing is always worth a medical visit.

For a steady routine that avoids these pitfalls, see the notes on measuring in resting heart rate.

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

• 74 bpm
• 75 bpm
• 76 bpm
• 77 bpm
• 78 bpm
• 80 bpm
• 81 bpm
• 82 bpm
• 83 bpm
• 84 bpm

Measured on a child instead? See heart rate 79 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.