Heart Rate
Your heart rate—or pulse—is the number of times your heart beats in a minute. When you're calm and not moving around, this is called your resting heart rate. It’s one of the easiest ways to get a sense of how your heart is doing.
A normal resting heart rate varies by age, and for most adults, it’s between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm). Having a heart rate outside this range doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong, but it’s worth paying attention to—especially if you also have risk factors like obesity.
Normal Resting Heart Rate by Age
While many factors affect heart rate, here are general guidelines for what’s considered normal:
A normal resting heart rate varies by age, and for most adults, it’s between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm). Having a heart rate outside this range doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong, but it’s worth paying attention to—especially if you also have risk factors like obesity.
Normal Resting Heart Rate by Age
While many factors affect heart rate, here are general guidelines for what’s considered normal:
- Newborns (0–1 month): 70–190 bpm
- Infants (1–12 months): 80–160 bpm
- Children (1–10 years): 70–120 bpm
- Children 10+ and Adults: 60–100 bpm
- Well-trained Athletes: 40–60 bpm
What impact does obesity have on resting heart rate?
Obesity can lead to a higher resting heart rate, because the heart has to work harder to move blood through the body. Over time, this added strain can increase the risk of:
Obesity can lead to a higher resting heart rate, because the heart has to work harder to move blood through the body. Over time, this added strain can increase the risk of:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
What Causes Abnormal Heart Rates?
Resting heart rates outside the normal range can be caused by:
Resting heart rates outside the normal range can be caused by:
- High heart rate (tachycardia): stress, dehydration, fever, certain medications, or underlying heart conditions
- Low heart rate (bradycardia): excellent physical fitness, some medications, or heart rhythm issues
Symptoms of an abnormal resting heart rate may include dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue, or chest discomfort—but some people have no symptoms at all.
What You Can Do
Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, managing stress, and staying hydrated can all help regulate your heart rate and support overall heart health. Small changes can make a big difference over time.
References:
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). (2022). Arrhythmias - Types. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov-health-arrhythmias-types
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). (2022). How the Heart Beats. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov-health-heart-heart-beats
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). (2022). Overweight and Obesity - What Are Overweight and Obesity?.https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov-health-overweight-and-obesity
Disclaimer
The contents of this article the intellectual property of Alula Health and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Alula. The information provided in the articles is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of diseases or other medical conditions. Although some content may be generated by AI (ChatGPT (Open AI, https://chat.openai.com)), all articles are critically reviewed and approved by skilled human editors to ensure its accuracy, authenticity and validity.
What You Can Do
Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, managing stress, and staying hydrated can all help regulate your heart rate and support overall heart health. Small changes can make a big difference over time.
References:
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). (2022). Arrhythmias - Types. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov-health-arrhythmias-types
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). (2022). How the Heart Beats. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov-health-heart-heart-beats
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). (2022). Overweight and Obesity - What Are Overweight and Obesity?.https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov-health-overweight-and-obesity
Disclaimer
The contents of this article the intellectual property of Alula Health and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Alula. The information provided in the articles is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of diseases or other medical conditions. Although some content may be generated by AI (ChatGPT (Open AI, https://chat.openai.com)), all articles are critically reviewed and approved by skilled human editors to ensure its accuracy, authenticity and validity.