Your sitting, or resting, heart rate is the number of times per minute your heart beats after you have been at rest. You can take your resting heart rate after only 10 minutes of resting, but for the most accurate count, take it first thing in the morning after a good night's sleep and before sitting or standing up.
Normal Heart Rate
Your resting heart rate may vary substantially depending on your health, age and activity level. Children have a higher average resting heart rate than adults, and illness can make your resting heart rate higher than normal. Athletes often have lower heart rates than their less-active peers. A healthy adult's resting heart rate is usually between 60 and 100 beats per minute. A heart rate under 60 beats per minute is called bradycardia, and over 100 beats per minute is called tachycardia.
Procedure
To find out your resting heart rate, first rest for at least 10 minutes, or plan to check your pulse immediately upon waking. Find your pulse either in your wrist below the fleshy pad at the base of your thumb or in your neck to one side of your Adam's apple. Feel with your index and middle finger for your heart beat. If you can not find it, you can measure your heart rate by feeling your chest and counting the beats. Use a stopwatch and count the beats for a full minute. If you prefer, you can count the beats for 30 seconds and multiply the number by two.
Considerations
Many factors can cause your resting heart rate to be higher or lower than what is normal for you. Medications may speed up or slow down your heart rate, as can cigarettes, alcohol, stress, air temperature and whether you are sitting or lying down. Herbal remedies and caffeine can also affect your heart rate, and your heart may beat more or less quickly in response to weight gain or loss.
Warnings
If your heart rate is irregular, over 100 or under 60 beats per minute or feels as though it is pounding, check with your physician. This is especially important if you have symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness or feeling faint. While many arrhythmias are benign and go away on their own in time, some may indicate a potentially serious health problem and should be evaluated.
Member Comments