What is the average beat per minute

If your resting heart rate is consistently above 80 beats per minute, you might want to talk to your doctor about how your heart rate and other personal factors influence your risk for cardiovascular disease.

The rate at which your heart is beating when it is working its hardest to meet your body's oxygen needs is your maximum heart rate. Your maximum heart rate plays a major role in setting your aerobic capacity—the amount of oxygen you are able to consume.

Several large observational studies have indicated that a high aerobic capacity is associated with a lower risk of heart attack and death. And a small controlled trial demonstrated that men and women with mild cognitive impairment who raised their aerobic capacity also improved their performance on tests of memory and reasoning. Vigorous exercise is the best way to both lower your resting heart rate and increase your maximum heart rate and aerobic capacity.

Because it's impossible to maintain a maximum heart rate for more than a few minutes, physiologists have advised setting a percentage of your maximum heart rate as a target during exercise. However, if you don't exercise regularly, you should check with your doctor before you set a target heart rate.

Some medications—particularly beta blockers—can lower your heart rate. Your doctor can help you set realistic goals. Although you may be able to feel your blood pumping in a number of places—your neck, the inside of your elbow, and even the top of your foot—your wrist is probably the most convenient and reliable place to get a good pulse.

Press your index and middle fingers together on your wrist, below the fat pad of your thumb. Feel around lightly until you detect throbbing. If you press too hard you may suppress the pulse. You can probably get a pretty accurate reading by counting the number of beats in 15 seconds and multiplying that number by four.

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With Edward R. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Kenney WL, et al. Cardiorespiratory responses to acute exercise. In: Physiology of Sport and Exercise. Champaign, Ill. Know your target heart rates for exercise, losing weight and health.

American Heart Association. Accessed July 31, Sauer WH. Normal sinus rhythm and sinus arrhythmia. Fatisson J, et al. Influence diagram of physiological and environmental factors affecting heart rate variability: An extended literature overview. Heart International. Laskowski ER expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. There are many different types with different causes and effects. Some people tend to have heart palpitations after eating.

Discover common causes for palpitations after eating and learn when you should seek medical…. Even if you did not exercise regularly before you became pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about coming up with an exercise regimen.

What you eat is key to keeping your heart healthy. Here are the 6 best diets for heart health. A study shows that children who develop bad health habits at a young age may suffer from poor cardiovascular health later in life. The average resting heart rate is usually between 60 and 80 beats per minute, but some athletes have resting heart rates considerably lower. What is sinus rhythm? Learn how it differs from heart rate and what different rhythms could mean.

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Dr. Payal Kohli, M. What's a normal rate? What is a dangerous rate? Check your own heart rate What increases heart rate? How to check your own heart rate. The figures are averages, so use them as a general guide. You've got goals. So do we.

Donate Now. How do I find my pulse or heart rate? Use the tips of your first two fingers not your thumb and press lightly over the artery. Count your pulse for 30 seconds and multiply by 2 to find your beats per minute. What if my heart rate is too high or too low? Last Reviewed: Mar 9,