What is a normal heart rate?

Your heart rate changes as you age, so an ideal heart rate depends on how old you are. Young children naturally have much higher heart rates than adults. As we get older, both our resting heart rate and our maximum achievable heart rate change.

A person’s estimated maximum heart rate is generally calculated as 220 minus their age. This maximum heart rate is typically reached only during intense, maximal exercise.

In general, a normal resting heart rate for adults is considered to be between 60 and 100 beats per minute. A resting heart rate below 60 beats per minute is called bradycardia while a resting heart rate above 100 beats per minute is called tachycardia.

There is a wide range of what may be normal for different individuals. People who exercise regularly and maintain a high level of physical fitness often have lower resting heart rates. On the other hand, certain medical conditions can cause the heart rate to be higher than normal.

Overall, a resting heart rate between 60 and 100 beats per minute is considered normal with about 80 beats per minute often cited as an average resting heart rate.