What should resting pulse be for a woman

One of the vital signs a nurse checks when you visit the doctor is your heart rate, along with temperature, blood pressure and respiratory rate. Your heart rate, which is measured by your pulse, is an important indicator of your overall health and fitness level. It can signal certain medical conditions or a need to adjust lifestyle habits that elevate your heart rate above the normal range determined by your age.

The normal resting heart rate (when not exercising) for people age 15 and up is 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm). 

However, your heart rate may vary slightly from the norm due to several factors, including regular exercise, a medical condition, stress and use of some over-the-counter medications.

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What should resting pulse be for a woman

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Partner Offers feature brands who paid Forbes Health to appear at the top of our list. While this may influence where their products or services appear on our site, it in no way affects our ratings, which are based on thorough research, solid methodologies and expert advice. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services

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How To Lower Your Resting Heart Rate

When your resting heart rate is in the normal heart rate range for your age, your heart muscle doesn’t have to work as hard to pump enough blood to keep a steady beat.

If someone notices an increase in their heart rate within a certain period—after not being physically active for a year or two, for example—but other things haven’t changed much with their health, the elevated heart rate could indicate they may need to be more active to lower the heart rate, says Dr. Tilahun.

If your resting heart rate is higher than the normal adult heart rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute, regular activity is key to bringing the heart rate down. “That activity could be exercise, but it doesn’t have to be dedicated exercise. It could be walking, gardening, mowing the lawn or other regular activities,” says Tilahun.

“When you’re doing the activity, the heart rate is going to be higher, and people sometimes get worried. But that’s not an issue—it’s what’s supposed to happen. Over time, regular activity will lower the heart rate for most people,” he adds.

When to See a Doctor About Your Heart Rate

If a higher heart rate is a result of being under stress or consuming a lot of alcohol or caffeine, that’s not typically a cause for alarm. However, these situations still warrant a discussion with your clinician, as they can discuss with you how to best address any necessary lifestyle changes.

Meanwhile, adults without an acute condition that might cause an elevated heart rate may also want to contact their doctor if their resting heart rate remains above 100 beats per minute for a few days, says Dr. Tilahun.

“If the heart rate is persistently elevated for more than a few days and there is absence of a clear thing that can explain it, that should be a time to talk to your doctor,” he says.

Your pulse rate, also known as your heart rate, is the number of times your heart beats per minute. A normal resting heart rate should be between 60 to 100 beats per minute, but it can vary from minute to minute.

Your age and general health can also affect your pulse rate, so it’s important to remember that a ‘normal’ pulse can vary from person to person.

What is a fast pulse rate?

If your heart rate is over 100 beats per minute when you are at rest, this is considered fast.

A rapid heart rate, also known as tachycardia, can be related to many different health conditions. It’s normal for your heart rate to increase when you’re exercising or if your body is fighting off an infection.

If you have noticed a sudden increase in your heart rate and are also feeling dizzy, faint or having palpitations (a feeling of being aware of your heartbeat, or that your heart is pounding or beating irregularly), you should speak with your GP.

What is a slow pulse rate?

A heart rate below 60 beats per minute when you are at rest is considered slow (bradycardia).

A slower heart rate can be normal for some people, including athletes, fit and healthy young adults, or those taking medications like beta-blockers. For example, it is common for someone who exercises a lot to have a resting heart rate of 60 beats per minute or less.

However, if a slow heart rate is not normal for you, especially if you feel unwell with it, this could indicate a problem with your heart. If you notice your heart rate is slower than usual, and you are feeling faint, fatigued or dizzy, you should talk to your GP.

Is it normal for my heart rate to speed up when I'm exercising?

Yes, it’s normal for your heart rate to increase to 130 to 150 beats per minute or more when you exercise – this is because your heart is working to pump more oxygen-rich blood around your body.

  • Use our target heart rate tool to find out the beats per minute you should aim for during exercise

What can cause my heart rate to change?

As well as exercise, there are many other reasons why your heart rate may suddenly change. Some common reasons include illness or fever, dehydration, anxiety, medications, as well as other health conditions.

Dehydration

When you are dehydrated, the volume of your blood decreases and your heart needs to work harder to pump blood around your body. You may notice a faster heart rate and palpitations (a feeling of being aware of your heartbeat, or that your heart is pounding or beating irregularly).

Staying hydrated is an important way to regulate your heart rate and has many other health benefits. Women should aim to drink 6-8 glasses of water per day (or 1.6 litres), and men 8-10 glasses (or 2 litres).

Infection or fever (including Covid-19)

It’s common for your pulse rate to increase in response to an infection or fever. This happens as your heart pumps harder to deliver oxygen and immune cells around your body, helping to fight the infection. Viral infections such as the flu or Covid-19 may cause your heart rate to increase.

  • Learn more about how Covid-19 affects your heart

Medication

Some medications can also cause changes to your heart rate. For example, certain asthma medications can cause your heart rate to speed up, while heart medications (like beta blockers) can make your heart rate slow down.

If you notice sudden changes to your pulse rate after starting a new medication, and you are not feeling well, it’s best to speak to your GP.

Heart conditions

In some cases, an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) can be caused by a problem with your heart’s electrical conduction system. This can cause your heart to beat more slowly, quickly, or in an irregular way. Some arrhythmias are more serious than others, and some may be related to more serious heart conditions.

  • Learn more about heart conditions that can cause arrhythmias

Other health conditions

There are many other conditions, which aren’t heart or circulatory diseases, which can cause changes to your heart rate - including infection, anaemia, or disease of the thyroid gland.

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Find out how to check your pulse

If you know how to check your pulse, you may be able to recognise changes to your heart rate or rhythm.

  • Learn how to check your pulse

Why do I need to check my heart rhythm?

When you’re checking your pulse, you can also check whether your heart rhythm is regular or irregular. An irregular heart rhythm can be caused by a number of heart rhythm disturbances - the most common is atrial fibrillation, which puts people at a higher risk of a stroke. If you have atrial fibrillation, blood clots are more likely to form in the heart, and if one is pumped out of the heart and travels to the brain, it can cut off the blood supply and cause a stroke. Anticoagulant medication can reduce that risk.

You can ask your doctor to check your heart rhythm, or you can check it yourself at home. If you develop any new symptoms or suspect your pulse is irregular, let your doctor know.

When should I speak to my GP?

It’s important to remember that not all changes to your heart rate mean something is necessarily wrong. If you do notice that your heart rate is consistently fast, slow or irregular (especially if you are feeling faint or dizzy), it’s best to speak to your GP. They will be able to check your heart rate and arrange further tests if needed.

If you have any questions you can call our Heart Helpline on 0300 330 3311 between 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday, to speak to one of our cardiac nurses.

What is a good resting heart rate by age?

Normal Heart Rate by Age Chart.

What is a normal pulse rate for a woman by age?

Maximum Heart Rate Decreases as We Age One of the easiest ways to calculate your max heart rate is to subtract your age from 220. Using this formula, a 40-year-old's max heart rate is estimated at 180 bpm. Women may want to use the Gulati formula (206 – 0.88 x age) instead for a closer approximation.

What is a good resting heart rate for a 60 year old woman?

The normal resting heart rate for adults over the age of 10 years, including older adults, is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm).

Is 120 pulse rate normal for a woman?

If your heart rate is over 100 beats per minute when you are at rest, this is considered fast. A rapid heart rate, also known as tachycardia, can be related to many different health conditions.