Heart rate 97 on an adult - what does it mean?

Where 97 bpm sits on the adult scale

What a resting pulse of 97 means

That is still normal. Studies have linked a resting heart rate that stays in the upper part of the range (above about 80 bpm) with a somewhat higher long-term cardiovascular risk, so if yours is consistently here, regular aerobic exercise, sleep and stress management are the usual first steps.

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 97 bpm the heart beats about every 0.62 seconds — roughly 139,680 beats a day.

A teenager at 97 bpm: reading the adult scale for ages 10 and up

From about age 10, doctors use the same resting range as for adults: 60 to 100 bpm. A pulse of 97 in a 13-year-old or a 16-year-old is therefore inside normal limits, just as it is for a grown-up. Younger children have faster hearts and their own scale, so the same 97 means something different in a six-year-old.

Teens often sit higher in the band than the adults around them. Growth, a busy nervous system, irregular sleep, energy drinks, and the jitters of being measured all play a part. Many teenagers are also less active than they were as younger children, and lower fitness shows up as a higher resting rate.

On average, girls tend to sit a few beats higher than boys, much like the small difference seen between adult women and men. Measuring at a doctor’s office can add more, since many teens feel self-conscious there. A home reading taken calmly is often several beats lower than the one recorded at a check-up.

Common reasons a teen’s pulse runs fast

• Caffeine: energy drinks, sodas and coffee drinks can contain a lot of it.
• Short sleep: late nights with phones or games and early school starts.
• Stress: exams, social pressure or sports competitions.
• Nicotine and vaping: nicotine speeds up the heart.
• Medicines: asthma inhalers and ADHD stimulants can raise the pulse.
• Not enough food or fluid, including during intense dieting or long training sessions.

A teen who trains seriously for sport may show the opposite, with a resting rate well below the average for their age.

When parents should ask a doctor

For a fair reading, have your teen sit quietly for five minutes and measure in the morning on a few days. A resting rate that stays in the high 90s or above is worth mentioning at a regular check-up.

Some signs deserve a sooner visit: fainting or near-fainting, especially during exercise; chest pain; a racing heart that comes on suddenly and stops suddenly; or feeling dizzy each time they stand up. On standing, a sustained rise of 40 bpm or more within 10 minutes in a teenager is the threshold doctors use when they consider POTS. A sudden faint during sport always needs a medical check before returning to play. The bigger picture is on our human heart rate page.

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

• 92 bpm
• 93 bpm
• 94 bpm
• 95 bpm
• 96 bpm
• 98 bpm
• 99 bpm
• 100 bpm
• 101 bpm
• 102 bpm

Measured on a child instead? See heart rate 97 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.