The human heart beats approximately 100,000 times a day, 35 million times a year and over 2.5 billion times in an average lifetime, according to PBS.org. The heart rate is the amount of times a heart beats in a set period of time, and typically is measured per minute. To assess a heart rate---often a necessary step in diagnosing and treating medical problems or exercising effectively---a person must first know what is normal and healthy.
Average Resting Heart Rate
The normal heart rate for a person at rest depends on factors such as age and size. According to Medline Plus, newborn infants may have a resting pulse of between 100 and 160 beats per minute. Children ages 1 through 10 generally have a resting pulse rate of 70 to 120 beats per minute. Children over 10 and adults tend to have a resting pulse rate of between 60 and 100 beats per minute, and well-trained athletes may have a resting pulse of 40 to 60 beats per minute.
Maximum Heart Rate
A person's maximum heart rate is the highest heart rate she can achieve with maximal exercise. A way to predict this is to subtract a person's age from the number 220, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A 20-year-old, for example, would have a predicted maximum heart rate of 200. However, some health conditions and medications may alter a person's actual maximum heart rate, and only a medically supervised graded exercise test can confirm a person's true maximum heart rate.
Other Influencing Factors
Other factors beyond age and size can influence a person's heart rate. According to the Mayo Clinic, these factors include activity level, the air temperature, the position of the body, level of physical fitness, emotional status, health and use of medications.
Target Heart Rate
The Cleveland Clinic recommends exercising within a target heart rate to reap the most benefits of exercise without risking injury. Although most people should reach a heart rate between 60 and 80 percent of their maximum pulse rate, a doctor may recommend to certain people that they shouldn't go beyond a lower percentage, the Cleveland Clinic says. Overall, most people shouldn't go beyond 85 percent of their target heart rate.
Abnormal Heart Rate
The Mayo Clinic recommends consulting a doctor if your resting heart rate is consistently above 100 beats per minute, called "tachycardia," or below 60 beats per minute, called "bradycardia." Other symptoms of concern include a firm or irregular pulse, dizziness, fainting and shortness of breath.
