Understanding Your Basal Heart Rate
Your Basal Heart Rate (BHR), also known as your resting heart rate (RHR), is the number of times your heart beats per minute when you are completely at rest, typically measured first thing in the morning before you get out of bed. It's a key indicator of your cardiovascular health and fitness level.
A lower resting heart rate generally indicates a more efficient heart. This is because a stronger heart can pump more blood with each beat, meaning it doesn't have to work as hard to circulate blood throughout your body when you're at rest. Athletes, for example, often have very low resting heart rates, sometimes in the 40s or 50s.
Factors that can influence your BHR include:
- Fitness Level: The fitter you are, the lower your BHR tends to be.
- Age: BHR can sometimes increase slightly with age.
- Medications: Certain medications can affect heart rate.
- Emotions: Stress, anxiety, or excitement can temporarily raise your heart rate.
- Body Temperature: Fever or illness can increase BHR.
- Hydration: Dehydration can impact heart rate.
- Genetics: There's also a genetic component to heart rate.
While there isn't a single "ideal" number, a typical healthy resting heart rate for adults is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Consistently measuring your BHR can help you track changes in your fitness and overall health over time.
Basal Heart Rate Calculator
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