The normal heart-rate range varies widely. But learning about the normal range and what constitutes a healthy heart rate can help you to determine if yours is abnormal. Because each person's normal heart rate is different, it is important that you consult your physician if you believe your heart rate is abnormal, even if it falls in the normal range. Heart-rate abnormalities may be a sign of other serious health problems.
Step 1
Acknowledge the age of the person whose heart rate you are evaluating. Children ages 6 to 17 have an expected resting pulse of 70 to 100 beats per minute. Adults have an expected resting pulse of 60 to 100 beats per minute.
Step 2
Consider the physical fitness of the person whose heart rate you are evaluating. Athletes tend to have lower resting pulses, with heart rates as low as 40 beats per minute normal for some highly trained athletes. Sedentary people tend to have heart rates closer to the upper end of the normal range of 100 beats per minute.
Step 3
Check to see if the person whose heart rate you are evaluating is taking any medication that would impact his resting pulse. Stimulant medications, for example, tend to raise both the pulse and the blood pressure. You may find that an athlete taking stimulant medication may have a higher pulse than you would otherwise expect.
References
- "Foundations of Nursing"; Lois White, et al.; 2010
- "Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing"; Adrianne Dill Linton; 2007
