Heart rate varies by age, gender, and fitness level. Normal resting heart rate for adults is 60-100 bpm, while fetal heart rate is 120-160 bpm. Children’s heart rate ranges from 100-160 bpm in the first year, and 60-140 bpm at age 10-14. Athletes may have lower heart rates. Gender also affects heart rate, with new formulas showing women’s maximum heart rate is different from men’s. Factors like physical activity, stress, and medication can affect heart rate, and significant changes should be checked by a doctor.
One of the simplest body functions to measure is your heart rate or pulse, which is the number of times your heart beats per minute. Normal heart rate, also called resting heart rate, can be measured after the patient has rested for 10 minutes. Factors such as age, gender, and fitness level all come into play in determining a person’s normal pulse. Typically, however, an adult should have a resting heart rate between 60 and 100 beats per minute.
The normal heart rate for fetuses is higher than that. Fetal movement can temporarily increase the heart rate. When the mother experiences contractions, the fetus may show a decreased pulse. A range of 120 to 160 beats per minute is considered a normal rate while in utero. This may indicate that the fetus is growing well and is not in distress.
During the first year of life, the normal heart rate range expands from 100 to 160 beats per minute. A slightly lower heart rate of 60 to 140 is typical in children aged 10 to 140. Deviations from the normal rate for babies can be caused by anemia, fever or breathing problems.
Beginning around age 11 and continuing into adulthood, the normal heart rate stabilizes at between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Athletes often have pulse rates below this range, with values of 40 to 60 beats per minute acceptable. If a person isn’t a well-trained athlete and has a heart rate in this range, however, it could indicate a serious health problem.
In the past, heart rate studies relied mostly on male-only studies. However, recent studies indicate that there are variations in heart rate depending on gender. This may be of particular interest when calculating your maximum heart rate. New formulas that take into account gender show that the maximum heart rate for women is not the same as for men. As an example of a gender-sensitive calculation, a 40-year-old woman’s maximum heart rate is 171. Since most trainers recommend calculating 65%-85% of your maximum heart rate for your target training rate, your target heart rate would be between 111-145 beats per minute. However, each individual is also advised to consult a physician before estimating target heart rates for exercise. Doctors may consider factors beyond gender, such as overall health and weight, to recommend the most ideal target heart rate for exercise. It should be noted that understanding your exercise capacity is essential for reducing your risk of heart problems while exercising.
Factors such as physical activity, stress and extreme heat can temporarily raise the pulse above the normal range. Excessive weight, smoking, and the use of certain medications can cause long-term increases in heart rate. A long-term increase in heart rate can be a cause for concern, just as an exceptionally low heart rate can be. Patients who notice a continuous or extreme change in their heart rate should consult their doctors as soon as possible to rule out health problems such as anemia, infections or inflammatory diseases.
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