The heart rate, or pulse, is the rate at which the heart beats. A heart rate can quickly determine the status of a person's health. A normal resting heart rate for an adult is 60 to 80 beats per minute (BPM), according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Physically active people typically have a lower heart rate. Change in pulse occurs when the body's need for oxygen changes.
Why the Heart Rate Increases
As we exercise our blood transports oxygen from the lungs to the muscles. During intense physical activity, our muscles need more oxygen, causing our heart to beat faster to move more oxygenated blood to the muscles.
Target Heart Rate
When we exercise, reports the AHA, our pulse should stay within 50 to 85 percent of our maximum heart rate. The target heart rate during physical activity varies based on age. For example, at 20 years old the target heart rate is between 100 and 170 BPM; for a 50-year-old, the target heart rate is between 85 and 145 BPM.
Rapid Heart Rate
It's not unusual for a rapid heart rate to occur during exercise, according to the National Institutes of Health, but if the heart rate does not come down when the intensity is minimized, it could be a symptom of a health problem. A bounding pulse, called an arrhythmia, could be a sign of high blood pressure, too much fluid---which is associated with heart failure---kidney failure or other conditions.
Palpitations
A heart palpitation is the sensation of having a rapid or pounding heartbeat. The Mayo Clinic reports that palpitations, which are usually harmless, can be triggered by exercise. Palpitations during intense activity can also be caused by caffeine, nicotine, hormone fluctuations--during menstruation, for instance--or cough medication.
When to Worry
A doctor should be consulted when an arrhythmia or palpitation is accompanied by dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort or fainting. These symptoms could be indicative of an underlying problem like an overactive thyroid or abnormal heart rhythm.
How to Take a Pulse
To measure someone's heart rate, place the index and third finger on the side of neck near the windpipe, or the inside of the wrist over the large blood vessels. Using the second hand on a watch, count the heartbeat for one minute. A normal resting heart rate for adults, reports Edward R. Laskowski, M.D. physical medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic, is between 60 to 100 BPM. A good rule of thumb for determining your maximum heart rate, according to the AHA, is to subtract your age from 220.
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