Children Have Higher Resting Heart Rates Than Adults
According to Purvi Parwani, MD, director of Womens Heart Care at Loma Linda University International Heart Institute, children tend to have a higher resting heart rate than adults because of a faster metabolism. For example, a newborn heart rate of 100 to 150 bpm is considered normal, Parwani says.
However, the average resting heart rate of a child also depends on age and activity level during the day. According to the US National Library of Medicine, the resting heart rate range for children changes every few years until around 10 years old:
- Newborns 0 to 1 month old: 70 to 190 bpm
- Infants 1 to 11 months old: 80 to 160 pm
- Children 1 to 2 years old: 80 to 130 bpm
- 3 to 4 years old: 80 to 120 bpm
- 5 to 6 years old: 75 to 115 bpm
- 7 to 9 years old: 70 to 100 bpm
- 10 years and older: 60 to 100 bpm
How To Take Your Pulse
Although you may be able to feel your blood pumping in a number of placesyour neck, the inside of your elbow, and even the top of your footyour wrist is probably the most convenient and reliable place to get a good pulse.
Press your index and middle fingers together on your wrist, below the fat pad of your thumb. Feel around lightly until you detect throbbing. If you press too hard you may suppress the pulse. You can probably get a pretty accurate reading by counting the number of beats in 15 seconds and multiplying that number by four.
The best time to get your resting heart rate is first thing in the morning, even before you get out of bed. To gauge your maximum heart rate, take your pulse immediately after exercising as vigorously as possible.
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Is 149 A Good Heartbeat For A Baby
There is no agreement on what constitutes a normal fetal heart rate. Current worldwide standards offer differing baseline ranges for normal fetal heart rate of 110 to 150 beats per minute or 110 to 160 bpm. The range varies depending on how soon after pregnancy the FHR test is done and whether the woman is having problems with her pregnancy. A FHR below 140 bpm can be normal, but pediatricians tend to recommend that women have their FHR checked if it’s below 180 bpm for more than 20% of measurements.
The FHR monitor used to measure this rate is called an obstetric stethoscope and sounds pulses into the skin of the mother’s abdomen. The FHR can be measured several times during each visit to the doctor’s office or hospital.
The FHR should be checked regularly during all trimesters of pregnancy and in labor. Abnormal rates may indicate risk to the fetus. Women who are experiencing frequent headaches or pain in their pelvis may need additional testing. A higher-risk patient may require monitoring throughout the entire pregnancy and delivery.
It is important to understand that the FHR is merely a number that describes how fast your baby’s heart is beating. It has no real meaning by itself.
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Maximum Heart Rate For People Older Than 50
The formula for maximum heart rate works well for people under 40 but for older people it may overestimate their maximum heart rate, Bauman said. For older people, a much better formula for the optimal heart rate is:
- You can either manually compute your heart rate during exercise or use heart rate displays that wrap around the chest, or are consisted of in sports watches.
- Nevertheless, thats not to say that working out without getting the heart rate up to the target zone has no advantage, Bauman said.
So many individuals just arent doing any workout that I worry less about them reaching their target heart rate and more about them getting out and moving their body, Bauman said.
Reducing a fast heart rate.
Pulse rates can spike due to anxiety, stress, dehydration and overexertion. Taking a seat and taking sluggish, deep breaths can normally decrease your heart rate. Working out and getting trimmer will usually reduce heart rate, too.
What Is The Heartbeat Of A 6
The baby’s heart rate At 6 to 7 weeks, your baby’s heartbeat should be between 90 and 110 beats per minute . Your baby’s heartbeat should be 140â170 beats per minute by the ninth week. Around 10 million babies are born each year, so you can imagine how many heartbeats there are in the world!
How do you know if your baby is healthy? A healthy baby will move his or her body and breathe regularly. If your baby isn’t moving or breathing, call 911 immediately.
Most health problems occurring before 28 weeks of pregnancy can be diagnosed with simple tests performed during a physical examination or by using specialized tools. Later in pregnancy, when your baby is growing more rapidly, certain problems can be identified by ultrasound or other scans. Even after birth, most infants continue to develop for several months after they are born. That’s why it’s important to receive regular checkups while pregnant.
Are there risks involved in knowing your baby’s heartrate? Yes. There are risks associated with every test done during prenatal care visits.
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Whats A Normal Resting Heart Rate
For adults, a good resting heart rate varies from person to person and depends on various factors: whether youre on medication, laying down or standing up, standing still or on-the-move, stressed or relaxed.
While the average adults resting heart rate should range between 60 and 100 bpm, anything over 90 bpm is considered high. Generally speaking, lower heart rates are considered better as it means that the heart muscle doesnt have to work as hard to keep a strong, steady rhythm.
Research has shown that a higher resting heart rate is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
If youre worried about resting heart rate being consistently too high or too low, and youre not sure why, its a good idea to consult with your doctor about what may be causing it.
What Can Resting Heart Rate Readings Indicate
Resting heart rate is an indicator of fitness and general health. They are:
- In adults, a lower heart rate is correlated with a higher degree of fitness and a lower incidence of cardiac events, such as heart attacks.
- Highly trained athletes can have an RHR as low as 40. This may be because the lower rate translates to a heart muscle that is stronger and can pump blood more efficiently. Another explanation is that with vigorous exercise, there is the release of nitrous oxide in the hearts blood vessels, which increases the blood supply to the heart.
- However, a consistently higher heart rate has been associated with cardiovascular issues and premature death.
- A 2013 research that studied 3000 men for 16 years found that men with RHR greater than 90 were associated with triple the risk of death when compared to men with RHR below 80.
- An observational study conducted in Norway that looked at 20,000 participants found similar results, even when controlled for factors, such as body mass index and life.
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Dangers Of High Blood Pressure
Dangers of untreated high blood pressure include stroke, heart attack, heart failure, vision loss, kidney failure, vascular dementia and sexual dysfunction, says Dr. Desai. Its one of the top risk factors for developing atrial fibrillation, which is the most common heart rhythm disorder worldwide and can lead to stroke, heart failure and reduced quality of life.
Irregular Heart Rate Causes
The most common cause of arrhythmia or irregular heart rate is atrial fibrillation, which can cause a fast heart rate.
Other factors may contribute to an abnormally high heart rate, including:
- Age Your heart rate will increase as you age.
- Medications Some medications block adrenaline, slowing your heart rate.
- Fitness level The more physically active you are the better your hearts fitness and the lower your heart rate.
- Stress level Being stressed can lead to a higher heart rate.
- Body mass Being overweight or obese can lead to a higher heart rate.
- Body position Standing up may result in a higher heart rate than lying down.
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What Is A Good Heart Rate For My Age 80
1-3 years: 80-130 bpm. 3-5 years: 80-120 bpm. 6-10 years: 70-110 bpm. 11-14 years: 60-105 bpm.
Is 80 resting heart rate bad?
The average healthy adult will have a resting heart rate of 60 bpm or higher. Although in clinical practice, the resting heart rate between 60 and 100 bpm is considered to be normal, people with a resting heart rate higher than 80 bpm could have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
What Your Heart Rate Says About Your Cardiovascular Health
Your heart is responsible for pumping blood and oxygen throughout your body and if youre having heart troubles, the rest of your body will be impacted too.
A higher resting heart rate can be dangerous because it taxes the heart, making it work harder. This is linked to a higher risk of heart disease and death, just like high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Resting heart rates that near or exceed 100 should be brought to the attention of your doctor.
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Your Thyroid Is Under
Your thyroidthe butterfly-shaped organ in your neckproduces hormones that help your body function correctly. If its not making enough, it means you have hypothyroidism, which could cause your heart rate to be low, says Taub.
On the other hand, if its overperforming and pumping out extra hormones, you have hyperthyroidism, which can raise your heart rate. Your doctor can test your thyroid function with a blood test.
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Measuring Resting Heart Rate
Though there are a number of products, like smartwatches and heart rate monitors, that can measure resting heart rate, all you need is a watch with a second hand.
To measure your heart rate, place a finger over the radial artery or carotid artery. The radial artery is found at the base of the wrist on the side of the thumb. The carotid artery is found on the neck, to the side of the windpipe, just under the angle of the jaw.
Once you have located the artery, place your index and middle fingers over it and count the number of pulsations in one minute. A quicker method is to count the number of beats over 15 seconds and multiply this by 4 to determine beats per minute.
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What Is A Good Heart Rate For My Age
A good heart rate differs from individual to individual, and it depends upon your age and the kind of physical work you do.
Given below is the chart showing normal heart rates by age.
Heart Rate by Age Range
| Approximate Age Range | |
| 15 years or older | 60-100 |
However, a heart rate that is lower than 60 per minute does not necessarily mean that it is abnormal. If you are an athlete or someone who is engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity, you may have your heart rate between 40 and 60 per minute.
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Why Is It Important To Get It Checked
Often an irregular pulse is harmless. However, it’s important to get it checked by a health professional, because sometimes it’s a sign of a heart condition.
The most common kind of heart rhythm condition is atrial fibrillation , which can put you at greater risk of having a stroke. Fortunately, if you have AF, there’s medication you can take to help significantly reduce this stroke risk.
Your doctor can do a simple test called an ECG to further check your irregular pulse.
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What Is Target Heart Rate
Your target heart rate is a range of numbers that reflect how fast your heart should be beating when you exercise. A higher heart rate is a good thing that leads to greater fitness, says Johns Hopkins cardiologist Michael Blaha, M.D., M.P.H. During exercise, you can monitor heart rate and try to reach this target zone. Doctors also use target heart rate to interpret the results of a cardiac stress test.
How To Lower Resting Heart Rate
If you are having an episode of elevated heart rate, try the Valsalva maneuver, a simple trick to relax your heart:
- Hold your nose tightly and breathe out forcefully through your mouth as if stifling a sneeze or blowing up a tight balloon.
- At the same time, bear down as if youre having a bowel movement.
This quick, full-body strain can trigger your heart to go back to a normal rhythm.
Generally, a lower resting heart rate indicates that your heart is functioning efficiently. The ability of the heart to return to a resting heart rate quickly after exercise is an indicator of good cardiovascular fitness.
If your resting heart rate changes drastically or you have a consistently elevated heart rate, talk to your provider. A higher resting heart rate can be a sign of a heart problem. If you are an adult with a resting heart rate between 80 to 100 BPM, you might be at risk.
Keeping track of your heart rate can help you improve your overall health and adjust your exercise routine to stay healthy.
Want to learn more about your heart? Visit the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute online.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on July 11, 2015, and was last reviewed on April 6, 2022
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When Should I Worry About My Heart Rate
Before you become worried over your heart rate, it is important to know the things that can increase or decrease your heart rate.
Your heart rate might be increased
- Soon after you consume coffee or smoke
- Whenever you feel scared, anxious, or stressed out
- If the climate is hot and humid
- If you are obese
- If you are on certain medicines like decongestants
- If you indulge in binge drinking frequently
Health conditions that may increase your heart rate and could be improved upon by treatment
- A thyroid disorder like hyperthyroidism
- Low hemoglobin level in the blood
Some conditions like supraventricular tachycardia may cause a sudden increase in your heart rate at rest. This is a medical emergency and needs immediate medical attention. This condition may lead to sudden death.
Consuming heavy amounts of alcohol frequently can lead to a fast and irregular heart rate . This again is a medical emergency.
A persistent high heart rate can also mean that the heart muscle is weakened, which forces it to pump harder to deliver the same amount of blood.
You may have a lower resting heart rate due to
- Exercising regularly
- Low levels of thyroid hormones in the body
Certain medications like beta-blockers, which are used for treating hypertension and anxiety
You should also be concerned about your heart rate if you notice your heart beating on an irregular rhythm frequently. This can be a serious condition known as arrhythmia for which you should see your doctor right away.
What Are My Target And Maximum Heart Rates
Your target heart rate is the ideal range to keep your heart in during moderate-intensity exercise. Moderate-intensity exercise is ideal because it is high enough that it is good for your heart but not so high that you strain yourself.
If you want to exercise very strenuously, you can go up to around 95% of your maximum heart rate. You should be careful not to go too high, however. If you go too high, the potential risks outweigh the benefits.
If you don’t exercise regularly, you should also talk to your healthcare provider before starting an exercise routine. This is especially important if you have any health problems, particularly problems with your heart, breathing or circulation. Your healthcare provider is the best person to guide you on safe, effective ways to stay active without putting your overall well-being at risk.
Use the following chart to find your maximum and target heart rates. The chart uses ages that are multiples of five, but the ways to calculate it yourself are also listed:
| Age |
|---|
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What Your Heart Rate Is Telling You
Your pulse, both at rest and during exercise, can reveal your risk for heart attack and your aerobic capacity.
Your grandmother may have referred to your heart as “your ticker,” but that nickname has proved to be a misnomer. A healthy heart doesn’t beat with the regularity of clockwork. It speeds up and slows down to accommodate your changing need for oxygen as your activities vary throughout the day. What is a “normal” heart rate varies from person to person. However, an unusually high resting heart rate or low maximum heart rate may signify an increased risk of heart attack and death.
One simple thing people can do is to check their resting heart rate. It’s a fairly easy to do and having the information can help down the road. It’s a good idea to take your pulse occasionally to get a sense of what’s normal for you and to identify unusual changes in rate or regularity that may warrant medical attention.
Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is known as the silent killer because it typically has no symptoms. In fact, most people dont even realize they have hypertension until their blood pressure is monitored.
Symptoms dont develop until the numbers get very high and organs get damaged, often irreversibly, says Dr. Desai.
If you have severe hypertension, you might notice the below symptoms, some of which were reported by patients in a study in the British Journal of General PracticeGoodhart A. Hypertension from the patients perspective. British Journal of General Practice. 2016 66:570. :
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