Normal Heartbeat
Having a normal heartbeat is an important indication of a healthy lifestyle. Any deviation from the normal range indicates an underlying problem. Find out how many times your heart should beat per minute, by going through the article that follows.
In medical terms, heart rate refers to number of heartbeats per minute, and theoretically it should be between 70-75 beats per min (bpm). However, anything between 60 and 100 is considered normal. Having a regular heartbeat is essential for the well-being of the body. It is a commonly used parameter for checking heart health as well as general health of an individual. The heartbeat is called normal when it is rhythmic (not irregular) and has a low value during the resting condition.
Factors Affecting the Heartbeat
A heartbeat is triggered by the sinoatrial node or the pacemaker of the heart, and the rate with which the heart beats depends on how fast electrical signals are generated at this node. Besides this major factor, there are several others which affect the beating of the heart. They are:
- Stress
- Feelings
- Temperature of the surroundings
- Level of activity of an individual
- Presence of underlying medical conditions
- Use of certain medications
- Size of an individual's body
Measuring the Pulse of an Individual
A person's pulse tells about the number of times his heart beats in one minute. It can be determined easily by a simple test. There are quite a few points on the body from where the pulse can be determined. Common ones are; wrist (radial artery), neck (carotid artery), behind knees (popliteal artery), temple (superficial temporal artery), groin (femoral artery), foot (dorsalis pedis), etc.
Use the index and middle finger to perform the test. To determine pulse from the wrist, place these two fingers on the lower side of the wrist, with the thumb on the upper side. Press the fingers lightly until the pulse is felt. Set a timer and count the number of beats felt in one minute. As said before, anything between 60 - 100 beats per minute falls within the normal range.
Normal Heartbeat Range
| Age Group | Beats Per Minute |
| Babies (under 1 year) | 100 to 160 |
| Children (1 to 12 years) | 60 to 140 |
| Children (above 12 years) and Adults | 60 to 100 |
| Well-trained athletes | 40 to 60 |
Significance of Resting Heart Rate
Resting heart rate is the number of times the heart beats in one minute, when a person is in the resting or sleeping condition. For adults, it can be anywhere between 60 to 100 bpm. It denotes the efficiency of your heart and lungs. Some athletes record less than 50 bpm in resting conditions. As fitness level increases, the heart becomes more efficient in pumping blood to various parts of the body. Rise in efficiency means the heart has to beat less number of times, especially, when you're resting. The higher your resting heart rate, harder is the level of work done by your heart. Newborns and infants have resting heart rates between 100 to 160 bpm. As the child grows, resting heart rates gradually decrease, and by the age of 12 to 15 years, the rate touches the resting heart rate for adults.
A resting heart rate falling within the normal range is alright, but one must make sure that it is not on the higher side. Being towards the higher end could indicate greater risk of developing serious cardiovascular problems. Therefore, the best way to avoid any problem is by keeping a regular check on the heartbeat, and consulting a physician if any deviation is observed.
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