Resting heart rate is an important marker of our general well-being and an indicator of the risk of heart disease. It is the number of times your heart beats per minute at rest, when it is not in any activity. A normal resting heart rate should be between 60 and 100 beats per minute. However, each individual has their own functional heart rate, and a resting heart rate range between 50 and 60 is considered the desired health limit.
A slower resting heart rate may be normal for some people, mostly athletes, where it is an indication of a higher degree of physical fitness, which in turn is associated with a lower risk of a cardiac event. A slower heart rate can also happen to those taking medication such as beta blockers. It is also not abnormal to have a lower heart rate at night.
Although a low resting heart rate in healthy individuals may not seem worrisome, at other times, especially when accompanied by extreme fatigue and dizziness, it indicates some underlying heart condition. This may be due to aging or the heart not sending electrical signals correctly. When this condition persists, it is time to consult your doctor.
A high resting heart rate means you should get into a regimen to bring it down instead of panicking in general. This means your heart has to work extra hard even at rest, which can affect its overall functionality in the long run. Existing research indicates that a resting heart rate near the upper end of the 60 to 100 spectrum increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Fortunately, you can correct your resting heart rate through lifestyle changes and exercise. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise regimens have been shown to be effective in lowering resting heart rates. This means any workout that sweats you out quickly because you’re doing it at a very intense level and then slows down your body’s recovery, is followed by another round of high-intensity exercises. Such routine, done four days a week, usually gets your heart rate down for mostly 20 to 25 days.
Overall, don’t obsess over the numbers, as each individual has their own functional heart rate. Instead, focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and physical fitness, which would contribute to lower resting heart rates and a lower risk of heart disease.
