The normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. However, the range for most healthy adults is between 55 and 85 beats per minute. Other factors can affect your resting heart rate, such as stress, anxiety, hormones, medication, and physical activity level. Well-trained athletes can have resting heart rates in the 40s, but a heart rate that slow for the average person would be concerning and should prompt a call to the doctors office, especially if they feel weak, lightheaded, or short of breath. On the other end of the scale, a resting heart rate that is consistently above 90 beats per minute is also something the doctor should be aware of, although it is still formally normal.
To check your heart rate, you can put your finger over your pulse and count the number of beats in 60 seconds. The best places to find your pulse are the wrists, inside of your elbow, side of your neck, and top of the foot. Your resting heart rate is the heart pumping the lowest amount of blood you need because you’re not exercising. If you’re sitting or lying and you’re calm, relaxed, and aren’t ill, your heart rate is normally between 60 and 100 beats per minute. However, a heart rate lower than 60 doesn’t necessarily signal a medical problem. It could be the result of taking a drug such as a beta-blocker. A lower heart rate is also common for people who get a lot of physical activity or are very athletic. Active people often have a lower resting heart rate (as low as 40) because their heart muscle is in better condition and doesn’t need to work as hard to maintain a steady beat.
