Resting Heart Rate Chart

Heart rate is nothing but the number of times your heart beats per minute. Resting heart rate, as mentioned earlier, is the heart rate when our body is resting. Resting heart rate is also known as RHR and the unit used to measure it, is beats per minute (bpm). This resting heart rate reflects the health of a person and hence is an important health factor that should be measured. RHR tells, how efficiently do our heart and lungs work. Lower the resting heart rate, healthier is the person. There are certain factors that govern one's resting heart rate, they are, sex, age, physical fitness, anxiety, medication, etc. Heart rates vary from person to person and according to some scientific studies, resting heart rate does not determine a person's health. Read more on healthy pulse rates.

Resting heart rate should be measured early in the morning before you get out of your bed. Once you get out of your bed the heart rate will increase due to the daily activities. Even getting up and walking in your bedroom can increase your heartbeat, hence early morning is the best time to measure resting heart rate. Measuring resting heart rate at regular intervals, can give you an idea of your current health status, also indicating where one needs improvement, if you are under any health training program.

How to Measure Resting Heart Rate
Measuring your resting heart rate is a very simple process. Remember, that early morning is the best time to measure your resting heart rate. Follow the steps given below to measure your resting heart rate.

• After you wake up, give sometime to your body to rest for a while.
• Do not suddenly start measuring the RHR after waking up.
• Lie down at least for 15 minutes before measuring the RHR.
• There are two methods of measuring RHR. One is to measure radial pulse (wrist) and other is to measure carotid pulse (neck).
• Radial Pulse - Place your index fingertip and third fingertip on the thumb side of any one of your wrist. You will sense the beats; hold the fingertips gently. Then, with the help of a clock, measure the pulse for 10 seconds. Multiply the result by 6.
• Carotid Pulse - Place your index fingertips and third fingertips below your jaw, along the windpipe and throat. Hold it gently using the fingertips of first and second finger. Then with the help of clock measure the pulse for 10 seconds. Multiply the result by 6.

The result you get after multiplying with 6 is your resting heart rate. You should always take an average reading to measure your RHR. To get this average reading, measure your RHR for at least thrice a week.

What is Resting Heart Rate Chart
Resting heart rate chart is a simplified chart that will let you know if your RHR is in proper zone. Other factors that rule RHR are smoking, illness, fatigue, medication and over training. Many health professionals find, that keeping an eye on the resting heart rate is one of the best ways to monitor your health progress. When you are under physical training, the resting heart rate chart helps you monitor your health improvement. With physical training, the efficiency of the heart increases and hence your RHR also improves. RHR should always be 20 bpm lower than your normal heart rate. The average resting heart rate for women is different from that of men. Read more on pulse rate chart.

Resting Heart Rate Charts
Presented here are two charts, for women and men respectively, that enlist and elucidate the ideal resting heart rate. Seven levels of fitness have been mentioned. Find out where you 'fit' in.

Pulse Rate Chart for Women

Age	Fitness Quotient
Your Innings	Survival of the Fittest!	Fit as Fiddle	Fit and Fine	Just Fine!	Middling at best!	Not up to the Mark	Run for your Life!
18-25	54-60	61-65	66-69	70-73	74-78	79-84	85+
26-35	54-59	60-64	65-68	69-72	73-76	77-82	83+
36-45	54-59	60-64	65-69	70-73	74-78	79-84	85+
46-55	54-60	61-65	66-69	70-73	74-77	78-83	84+
56-65	54-59	60-64	65-68	69-73	74-77	78-83	84+
65+	54-59	60-64	65-68	69-72	73-76	77-84	84+

Pulse Rate Chart for Men

Age	Fitness Quotient
Your Innings	Survival of the Fittest	Fit as Fiddle	Fit and Fine	Just Fine!	Middling at best!	Not up to the Mark	Run for your Life!
18-25	49-55	56-61	62-65	66-69	70-73	74-81	82+
26-35	49-54	55-61	62-65	66-70	71-74	75-81	82+
36-45	50-56	57-62	63-66	67-70	71-75	76-82	83+
46-55	50-57	58-63	64-67	68-71	72-76	77-83	84+
56-65	51-56	57-61	62-67	68-71	72-75	76-81	82+
65+	50-55	56-61	62-65	66-69	70-73	74-79	80+

Your fitness levels and your age are determinants of your RHR. It is through this that you would understand the category you belong to, at present, and where you should be... for the good!