If you don't know your resting heart rate, you should, especially if you're sedentary. Your heart rate can tell you important information about your health, including if you need to see a doctor. Keeping track of your heart rate as you transition to a more active lifestyle is equally important, as it helps you ensure you are getting the most out of your workout.
Normal Heart Rate
Heart rate varies -- there isn't one "normal" heart rate. However, experts such as Edward R. Laskowski, M.D., a Mayo Clinic rehabilitation specialist, do recognize a normal range. For most adults, according to Dr. Laskowski, 60 to 100 beats a minute is considered normal, with middle-aged sedentary individuals being most likely to report a resting heart rate close to 100 beats per minute, according to Montana State University.
Heart Rate and Health
Your heart rate may serve as a measurement of your health. Sedentary individuals, those not getting enough exercise, tend to have higher resting heart rates than athletic individuals. Heart rate can also signal a health problem. Dr. Laskowski recommends consulting your physician if your resting heart rate is consistently above 100 beats per minute, a condition medically known as tachycardia, or if your resting heart rate is consistently below 60 beats per minute, known as bradycardia.
Measuring your Resting Heart Rate
Montana State University recommends taking your pulse as soon as you wake in the morning, since having engaged in vigorous work or exercise during the preceding four hours, or having eaten in the previous two hours can affect your pulse. Take your pulse for 10 seconds, then multiply the result by six get your heart rate per minute.
Target Heart Rate During Exercise
If you're interested in transitioning from a sedentary lifestyle to a more active one, you'll need to keep tabs on your heart rate during exercise. The American Heart Association recommends keeping your exercise heart rate at 50 to 85 percent of your maximum heart rate. Use MayoClinic.com's target heart rate calculator to figure out your exact target heart rate based on your age (see Resources), or use the American Heart Association's "conversation" test: if you can talk during exercise, you're about right; if you can't hold a conversation, you're working too hard.
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