Heart Rate

Original Editor - Lucinda hampton

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Introduction[edit | edit source]

Heart location

Heart rate is the number of heartbeats per minute. The heart rate is based on the number of contractions of the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart).

  • The heart rate may be too fast (tachycardia) or too slow (bradycardia), types of Heart Arrhythmias
  • The pulse rate is a bulge of an artery from waves of blood that course through the blood vessels each time the heart beats. The pulse is often taken at the wrist to estimate the heart rate"[1].

Normal resting heart rate (RHR) is an indicator of both general health and physical health. Values can range from anywhere between 60-100 beats per minute (bpm). RHR value decreases as cardiovascular fitness increases[2].

A healthy heart is not a metronome, the oscillations being complex and non-linear. Mathematical chaos is a good way to describe a healthy heart’s beat-to-beat fluctuations. This variability provides the flexibility to rapidly cope with an uncertain and changing environment, whilst maintaining homeostasis.[3]

Resting Heart Rate[edit | edit source]

Normal resting heart rate (RHR) is an indicator of both general health and general health. Values can range from anywhere between 60-100 beats per minute (bpm). RHR value decreases as cardiovascular fitness increases as shown in tables below[2].

Resting Heart Rate for MEN

Age 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 65+
Athlete 49-55 49-54 50-56 50-57 51-56 50-55
Excellent 56-61 55-61 57-62 58-63 57-61 56-61
Good 62-65 62-65 63-66 64-67 62-67 62-65
Above Average 66-69 66-70 67-70 68-71 68-71 66-69
Average 70-73 71-74 71-75 72-76 72-75 70-73
Below Average 74-81 75-81 76-82 77-83 76-81 74-79
Poor 82+ 82+ 83+ 84+ 82+ 80+

Resting Heart Rate for WOMEN

Age 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 65+
Athlete 54-60 54-59 54-59 54-60 54-59 54-59
Excellent 61-65 60-64 60-64 61-65 60-64 60-64
Good 66-69 65-68 65-69 66-69 65-68 65-68
Above Average 70-73 69-72 70-73 70-73 69-73 69-72
Average 74-78 73-76 74-78 74-77 74-77 73-76
Below Average 79-84 77-82 79-84 78-83 78-83 77-84
Poor 85+ 83+ 85+ 84+ 84+ 84+

[4]

Maximum Heart Rate[edit | edit source]

Heart-rate-variability

Age-predicted maximal heart rate (HRmax) is an essential measure for healthcare professionals in determining cardiovascular response to exercise testing, exertion, and prescription[5]. It is possible for a maximum heart rate to reach a dangerously high number if a person is in poor condition or the exercise is too strenuous.

The traditional formula for determining HRmax is "220 minus age", can underestimate HRmax by up to 40 beats per minute in seniors. In fact, the method is inaccurate already at an age of 30–40 years, and gets more inaccurate the older you are.[6]

Maximum heart rate calculation has changed some in recent years as the need to adjust the calculation for older individuals surfaced. Although multiple age predicted HRmax prediction equations have been validated for specific populations, the accuracy of each within a general population is still in debate. A common formula for calculating maximum heart rate is: MHR = 208 – 0.7(age).[7][5]eg 57 year old female: 208 - (57 x .7) equals 168.1.

Target heart rate is a range of numbers that reflect how fast the heart should be beating during exercise. Target heart rate during moderate intensity activities is about 50-70% of maximum heart rate, while during vigorous physical activity it’s about 70-85% of maximum.[8]

A general guide is shown below.

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

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Medicinenet Definition of heart rate Available:https://www.medicinenet.com/heart_rate/definition.htm (accessed 20.2.2022)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Medicine net What is a good resting heart rate Available:https://www.medicinenet.com/what_is_a_good_resting_heart_rate_by_age/article.htm (accessed 20.2.2022)
  3. Shaffer F, Ginsberg JP. An overview of heart rate variability metrics and norms. Frontiers in public health. 2017:258. Available:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5624990/ (accessed 20.2.2022)
  4. Top end sports resting heart rate table Available: https://www.topendsports.com/testing/heart-rate-resting-chart.htm(accessed 20.2.2022)
  5. 5.0 5.1 Shookster D, Lindsey B, Cortes N, Martin JR. Accuracy of commonly used age-predicted maximal heart rate equations. International journal of exercise science. 2020;13(7):1242.Available:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7523886/ (accessed 21.2.2022)
  6. NTNU Max heart rate calculator Available: https://www.ntnu.edu/cerg/hrmax#Test%20yourself(accessed 21.2.2022)
  7. Work place MHR Available: https://www.workplacetesting.com/definition/799/maximum-heart-rate-mhr(accessed 21.2.2022)
  8. Heart org Target Heart Rates Chart Available: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/target-heart-rates(accessed 21.2.2022)