Heart rate – or pulse rate – is the number of times which your heart beats in a minute. It is a straightforward measure to know how much your heart is working during rest or activities. Heart rate is one of the important signs that are checked frequently when you visit your doctor, or when you are admitted to the hospital.
Your heart rate is much lower when you are at rest and higher when you are performing any type of activity or happen to be feeling stressed or anxious. When you are engaged in exercise, your heart is required to work harder, which boosts your heart rate. As soon as you break, the heart rate begins decreasing gradually and returns to its normal level, usually within an hour.
What Is An Ideal Heart Rate?
At Rest
A standard resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm) for most adults. However, some people have heart rates outside of these ranges and are still perfectly healthy. For example, an elite athlete might have a very low resting heart rate of 40 bpm.
While Exercising
The heart rate significantly increases when a person is very active or exercising. The highest rate a person’s heart can safely reach is their maximum heart rate. This declines with age. The ideal heart rate, or target heart rate, for exercise also declines with age.
How To Measure Your Heart Rate
You are able to check your heart rate by counting the pulse. A pulse may be felt at various sites on the body such as over the sides of the neck, the wrist as well as the top of the foot. In order to check your pulse on the wrist with the assistance of your middle finger and index finger, you required to:
- Hold your middle finger and your index finger over the innermost part of the wrist (thumb side) and keep on pressing gently until you are able to feel your pulse. You will be able to feel your pulse in your radial artery.
- After you have sited your pulse, look at your watch, and begin counting the beats for approximately half a minute. Doubling this count will provide you your heart rate. You are even able to count the beats for 10 seconds and then multiply the number by six in order to get your heart rate.
- If you find that the rhythm of your heartbeat to be slightly irregular, you will need to count the beats completely until 60 seconds. You will need to visit your doctor if you keep getting a fast and irregular heart rate constantly.
You need to visit your doctor if your heart rate is constantly above 100 beats per minute or below 60 bpm (and you are not an athlete). In addition to your heart rate, you should look out for additional symptoms such as:
- Being short of breath
- Fainting
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Feeling fluttering or palpitations in your chest
- Having pain or discomfort in your chest
Contact Trifocus Fitness Academy
If you want to become an exercise specialist, then you should really consider becoming a personal trainer. The absolute best way to do this is by studying for our Personal Training Diploma. Find out more about it here.
