Resting Heart Rate Calculator
Your Resting Heart Rate:
Understanding Your Resting Heart Rate
Your resting heart rate (RHR) is the number of times your heart beats in one minute when you are completely at rest. It's a key indicator of your cardiovascular health. A lower resting heart rate generally suggests a more efficient heart, meaning it can pump more blood with each beat. This is often seen in individuals who are physically fit.
The typical RHR for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm). However, factors like age, fitness level, medications, body temperature, and even stress can influence this number. Athletes, for instance, might have an RHR as low as 40 bpm.
How to Measure Your Resting Heart Rate:
- Choose a time when you are relaxed and have not recently exercised or consumed stimulants like caffeine. First thing in the morning, before getting out of bed, is ideal.
- Find your pulse on your wrist (radial artery) or neck (carotid artery).
- Use your index and middle fingers to gently press on the artery.
- Count the number of beats for a specific period, usually 60 seconds (1 minute). For more accuracy, you can count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4, or count for 30 seconds and multiply by 2.
This calculator simplifies the process. Just enter the total number of heart beats you counted and the duration in minutes for which you counted them, and it will provide your calculated resting heart rate.
Example: If you count 15 heart beats in 1 minute, your resting heart rate is 15 bpm. If you count 20 beats in 30 seconds, you would double that to get 40 bpm.