Low or High Heart Rate? What Is Actually Normal and When to Worry!

Have  you every wondered what is heart rate? Why You feel your pulse and find out that it’s 58 beats per minute? Is this good or dangerously low?

Some other day, your smartwatch shows you that your heart rate is 104 while you are sitting down. Should you be concerned?

Most people have come across two assumptions:

• Over 100 bpm is bad news
• Under 60 bpm is a sign of bad health

In reality, neither theory is correct.

The truth is that a normal heartbeat depends on many factors, such as your level of activity, your fitness level, your heart rhythm, and the medications you take as well as the signs you are having like dizziness or chest pain.

In this guide, you will find everything you need to know about heartbeat rate, its normal indicators, reasons to worry, the abilities and limitations of wearables, and how doctors determine whether a heart rate is normal.

What Does Heart Rate Mean?

Heart rate is expressed in beats per minute (bpm) and denotes the rate at which the heart contracts in a minute.

With the need for more oxygen, the heart beats faster while slowing down in the absence of oxygen.

This brings us to the fact that a healthy heart rate is not a fixed number but varies with one’s physical state such as sleep, exercise, stress, illness, and even digestion.

What Is a Normal Resting Heart Rate?

Normal resting heart rates for almost all adults typically range from 60 to 100 bpm, although the general resting heart rate among healthy individuals is found to be in the range of 55 to 85 bpm.

Please note that the phrase “at rest” is of critical importance here. A heart rate of 120 bpm while working out is perfectly normal, but a heart rate of 120 bpm when the subject has been sitting quietly for 15 minutes needs to be considered when consulting their primary healthcare provider.

Is a Heart Rate Below 60 Dangerous?

A heartbeat rate below 60 does not mean trouble; in many healthy, fit individuals, it is quite a common occurrence.

This condition is referred to as bradycardia by doctors.

Exceptions that are commonly safe:

• Physical activity is a constant part of your routine.
• You are a person trained in endurance sports.
• You are feeling fine.
• You got a normal ECG.

A low heart rate can become an issue if accompanied by some symptoms such as:

• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Unusual fatigue
• Lack of breath
• Pain in the chest
• Confusion

For instance, if a marathon runner’s heart rate is 48 bpm, that may be absolutely fine. But if someone feels faint just standing up and has the same heart rate of 48 bpm, it very well may be indicating a problem with the heart.

Why Do Fit People Have Lower Heart Rates?

Those who are physically fit enjoy low heart rates due to their hearts’ capacity to pump out more blood in every beat.

Aerobic exercises generally build up the heart’s muscle; this allows the heart to function well with fewer beats required to perform the same level of oxygen supply.

This condition is known as athletic bradycardia, which accounts for a significant portion of cases of low resting heart rates in healthy individuals.

Is a heartbeat Rate Over 100 Dangerous?

A heartbeat rate more than 100 bpm can sometimes be benign and at other times signify a health problem. All of which depends on whether the condition is temporary or persistent and whether it is accompanied by symptoms.

A resting heart rate above 100 is called tachycardia.

Some of the causes that result in a benign elevated heartbeat rate include:

• Exercise
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Caffeine
• Fever
• Dehydration
• Pain

However, there are situations in which a rapid heart rate could indicate the presence of a more concerning condition:

• Thyroid issues
• Anemia
• Infections
• Heart rhythm issues
• Certain medications
• Heart diseases

If your heartbeat rate lies between 105 and 115 bpm, while resting in a seated position, accompanied by palpitations, chest pain, or shortness of breath, you might want to check with your doctor.

Can an Average Adult Have Heart Disease With a Normal Heart Rate?

Certainly could be true. Just because one has a normal heartbeat rate doesn’t mean they are not suffering from a heart illness.

One may suffer from any of the following health conditions,

• Coronary artery disease
• Hypertension
• Aortic Insufficiency
• Signs of heart failure
• Heart rhythm disorder

while maintaining a resting heart rate of 72 beats per minute.

However, remember that heart rate is but one vital sign when assessing heart health.

Is an Irregular Heartbeat More Important Than a Fast or Slow heartbeat Rate?

In many situations, it is more serious to have any of the irregular rhythms than to have a heartbeat rate too high or too low.

Some of the common irregular rhythms include:

• Atrial fibrillation
• PACs (premature atrial contractions)
• PVCs (premature ventricular contractions)
• Heart block

You must pay strict attention if your pulse:

• Feels unusually irregular
• Is skipping beats repeatedly
• Is fast and then suddenly stops
• Makes you feel dizzy.

What Heart Rate Should You Have During Sleep?

A heartbeat of 40-65 bpm is considered normal in people who are generally healthy.

When a person falls asleep or enters deep sleep, the body enters relaxation mode and causes a slowdown of the heartbeat rate.

Thus, a person with high physical fitness may experience periods of heart activity of 35-45 bpm during sleep without any discomfort or a health problem.

How Should Heart Rate Change With Exercise?

It should be mentioned that, during exercise, a person’s heartbeat rate ought to increase and decrease shortly after an exercise is over.

If one’s heartbeat rate is as follows:

• Does not increase with activity,
• becomes very high when performing light activity,
• or remains elevated for a significant period after stopping the exercise,

means that there may be health concerns about fitness level, medications taken, dehydration, or sometimes heart issues.

What Is Heart Rate Recovery and Why Does It Matter?

Heart rate recovery is one of the most valuable yet simple measures of cardiovascular fitness.

A self-performable simple test:

• Exercise for a few minutes.
• When you stop, note down your heart rate.
• Check your heartbeat rate again 1 minute later.

An average person’s heartbeat rate drops by 12 beats or more which would be very reassuring. In even healthier individuals there may be a higher variation drop of more than 12 heartbeats.

What Happens to Heart Rate When You Stand Up?

When people transition from sitting or lying down to standing up, there is often a rise in their heart rate by 10 to 20 beats per minute (bpm).

In some cases, however, the heart may beat far quicker than that. If the heartbeat rate increases by over 30 bpm in the first ten minutes after standing, especially with symptoms like:

• dizziness
• tightness in the chest and/or heart racing
• excessive tiredness
• brain fog

The cause could be a condition known as POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome).

Can Dehydration Cause a Fast Heart Rate?

Indeed! One of the most prevalent non-life-threatening causes of increased heartbeat rate is dehydration.

Fluid loss results in decreased blood volume, which makes the heart beat faster.

The following signs can be observed:

• Dark urine
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness on standing
• Increased thirst
• Faster-than-normal pulse

Does Fever Increase Heart Rate?

Fever usually does increase the heart rate and is mostly a normal response of the body.

As temperature rises, the heart beats faster to meet the metabolic demands.

For example, even at a heartbeat rate of 105 during a fever, there is less cause for alarm than at 105 when not suffering from a fever.

Can Medications Affect Heart Rate?

Yes. Numerous everyday medications can either increase or decrease the heart rate.

Medications that could decrease heartbeat rate:

• Beta blockers
• Diltiazem
• Verapamil
• Digoxin

Medications that could increase heart rate:

• Decongestants
• Stimulants
• Some asthma inhalers
• Excess thyroid hormone

In some cases, patients on Sildenafil-based medications for treating Erectile Dysfunction can occasionally experience mild changes in pulse or blood pressure; they are not usually used to control heartbeat rate.

Always interpret heartbeat rate in the context of the medications you take.

Are Smartwatch Heart Rate Readings Accurate?

Smartwatches can track heartbeat rates, but they cannot match a medical ECG in terms of accuracy.

They are typically useful for:

• Resting heartbeat rate
• Trends in exercise
• Evaluating possible atrial fibrillation in supported devices

They may not be accurate with:

• Weight training
• Quick arm movements
• Poor skin contact
• Cold hands

Think of the unusual readings as a reason for retesting rather than as a diagnosis.

What Is Heart Rate Variability (HRV)?

Heart rate variability is different from heart rate: this indicator measures the variability in the time intervals between heartbeats.

• Heartbeat rate: 60 BPM is 60 beats per minute.
• Heart rate variability: this measurement indicates how variable the time intervals between heartbeats are.

Higher heartbeat rate variability indicates better recovery and adaptability of the autonomic nervous system. However, it is important not to over analyze HRV readings.

What Is a Healthy Heart Rate for Most Adults?

Most adults have heartbeat rates in the 50-85 bpm range. Highly active individuals may have an even lower heart rate than this.

Use this table below as a guide:

When Should You Consult a Medical Professional?

It is wise to turn to a physician if your heart rate is either abnormal or you suffer from symptoms that make you suspicious.

In case you experience any of the following signs, make sure to schedule an appointment with your doctor:

• Consistent heartbeat rate readings above 100 bpm.
• Resting heartbeat rate below 50 bpm with no athletic background or if not physically active.
• Frequent palpitations
• Unexplained tiredness
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath

If you experience any of the following signs, seek immediate medical assistance:

• Fainting
• Pain in the chest
• Severe shortness of breath
• Confusion
• Bluish lips
• An unexplained irregular heartbeat

The Most Useful Thing You Can Learn About Your heart beat

Find out what your individual heartbeat rate baseline is instead of using other people as a standard.

Track for a week:

• Morning heart rate at rest
• Heartbeat rate while walking normally
• Heartbeat rate after workout or physical activity

An unusual difference of 10-15 bpm from your normal baseline may indicate:

• Illness
• Stress
• Lack of sleep
• Excess training
• Dehydration
• Medication reactions

The Real Meaning of a Healthy Heart Rate

A normal heartbeat rate is not the same as simply being “between 60 and 100 bpm”.

While the heartbeat rate number is important, it is not all that counts for doctors; they are more interested in the following:

• If the rhythm is regular
• If there are any symptoms experienced
• If the heartbeat rate in this situation is correct
• How heartbeat rate changes while exercising
• How long it takes to recover from exercise
• Overall heart condition

If a person has a resting heartbeat rate of 54 but no symptoms, it may in fact be a healthier indicator than another person’s resting heartbeat rate of 78, if this other person has high blood pressure, diabetes, smoked in the past, and does not engage in any exercise.

Instead of asking “Is my heart rate good?”, you should ask:

• Is it normal for me?
• Is it regular?
• Is it right for my body?
• Do I feel fine when I have this heartbeat rate?

That is the same question doctors are trying to answer when they evaluate a heart rate.