Your resting heart rate, or RHR, is a great way to determine your health.
When reting, your heart should be within the range shown, or you may suffer short as well as long term effects.
Your RHR is how fast your heart beats when you are relaxed. Check the resting heart rate chart below to see how you compare to your age group.
Your Resting Heart Rate is how many times your heart beats per minute while you are resting.
A normal resting heart rate is between 60 bpm and 100 bpm.
Having a high resting heart rate increases the risk of serious diseases and speeds up the aging process.
You can lower your resting heart rate with exercise, relaxation, and eating beans.
How to Measure Resting Heart Rate
To take your pulse, place your index finger and your middle finger on one of your pulse points and count the number of heartbeats for 15 seconds, then multiply by four.
Wait until you are relaxed. If you’ve just finished exercising or you’re stressed, your RHR will be elevated.
When Should You Check Your Resting Heart Rate?
The best time to check your resting heart rate is when you wake up in the morning before you get out of bed. Check your RHR at the same time and rested state every day to get an accurate reading.
You can also measure your heart rate (HR) right after exercise to track your maximum heart rate.
What Are the Best Places to Check Pulse?
The best places to check your heart rate are your wrist, the side of your neck, the inside of your elbow, and the top of your foot.
Heart Rate Monitors
You can track your heart rate with a wrist monitor (such as a smart watch that monitors heart rates)
Heart rate monitors make it easier to track your heart rate consistently and learn which activities raise or lower it the most.
| Age | Target HR Zone 50-85% | Average Maximum Heart Rate, 100% |
|---|---|---|
| 20 years | 100-170 beats per minute (bpm) | 200 bpm |
| 30 years | 95-162 bpm | 190 bpm |
| 35 years | 93-157 bpm | 185 bpm |
| 40 years | 90-153 bpm | 180 bpm |
| 45 years | 88-149 bpm | 175 bpm |
| 50 years | 85-145 bpm | 170 bpm |
| 55 years | 83-140 bpm | 165 bpm |
| 60 years | 80-136 bpm | 160 bpm |
| 65 years | 78-132 bpm | 155 bpm |
| 70 years | 75-128 bpm | 150 bpm |