RESTING HEART RATE
Resting heart rate (RHR) is the number of times your heart beats per minute while at rest. Per Harvard Health Publishing, a normal RHR is 60 – 100 beats per minute (BPM), but the range for most healthy adults is 55 – 85 BPM.
A lower RHR is often healthier. This often means the heart is strong, so it needs fewer beats to pump blood throughout the body. The amount of blood pumped per beat is called stroke volume.
However, a higher RHR outside of the healthy range often indicates less healthy. This often means the heart is not as strong, so it needs to beat faster to pump blood throughout the body.
DETERMINE & CLASSIFY YOUR RESTING HEART RATE
Step 1: Do this in the morning when you wake while you’re in bed. Or rest for 5 minutes first by lying down.
Step 2: Locate your pulse by placing your index and middle finger on your wrist, thumb side. Move your fingers around that area to feel where the pulse is strongest. Now you know where it is.
Step 3: Set a 1 minute timer on your phone.
Step 4: Count the number of beats during that minute. That’s your RHR.
Step 5: Look at the RHR charts above. See what classification your RHR falls under.
IMPROVE YOUR RESTING HEART RATE
Reach out if you’d like help improving/lowering your RHR through an exercise program and diet.
OVERALL HEALTH
RHR is 1 indicator of health. For a more accurate overall condition of your health, do more health assessments. Next, do assessment 2 of 7, Body Mass Index (BMI).