Resting heart rate (RHR) is the number of times your heart beats per minute while you are at complete rest. It is a powerful indicator of your cardiovascular health and overall fitness level. Generally, a lower RHR indicates more efficient heart function and better cardiovascular fitness.
How to Measure Your RHR Correctly
To get an accurate reading, it is best to measure your pulse in the morning, immediately after waking up and before getting out of bed. Follow these steps:
Find your pulse on your wrist (radial artery) or neck (carotid artery).
Use your index and middle fingers (not your thumb).
Count the beats for 60 seconds, or count for 30 seconds and multiply by 2.
Avoid caffeine or exercise for at least 2 hours before measuring if doing it during the day.
Average Resting Heart Rate Chart
Age
Athlete (BPM)
Excellent (BPM)
Average (BPM)
Poor (BPM)
18-25
49-55
56-61
70-73
82+
36-45
50-56
57-62
71-75
83+
56-65
51-56
57-61
72-75
82+
Factors That Affect Heart Rate
Several factors can influence your heart rate at any given moment:
Stress and Anxiety: High stress triggers the release of adrenaline, which raises BPM.
Temperature: In high heat or humidity, the heart pumps more blood to cool the body.
Medications: Beta-blockers can slow the heart, while some asthma medications may speed it up.
Hydration: Dehydration reduces blood volume, forcing the heart to beat faster to maintain pressure.
function calculateRHRScore() {
var age = parseInt(document.getElementById('rhr_age').value);
var gender = document.getElementById('rhr_gender').value;
var bpm = parseInt(document.getElementById('rhr_bpm').value);
var resultBox = document.getElementById('rhr_result_box');
var statusText = document.getElementById('rhr_status_text');
var description = document.getElementById('rhr_description');
if (!age || !bpm || age < 1 || bpm = 18 && age <= 25) {
if (bpm <= 55) { status = "Athlete"; cssClass = "status-athlete"; }
else if (bpm <= 61) { status = "Excellent"; cssClass = "status-excellent"; }
else if (bpm <= 69) { status = "Good"; cssClass = "status-good"; }
else if (bpm = 26 && age <= 35) {
if (bpm <= 54) { status = "Athlete"; cssClass = "status-athlete"; }
else if (bpm <= 61) { status = "Excellent"; cssClass = "status-excellent"; }
else if (bpm <= 70) { status = "Good"; cssClass = "status-good"; }
else if (bpm = 36 && age <= 45) {
if (bpm <= 56) { status = "Athlete"; cssClass = "status-athlete"; }
else if (bpm <= 62) { status = "Excellent"; cssClass = "status-excellent"; }
else if (bpm <= 70) { status = "Good"; cssClass = "status-good"; }
else if (bpm = 46 && age <= 55) {
if (bpm <= 57) { status = "Athlete"; cssClass = "status-athlete"; }
else if (bpm <= 63) { status = "Excellent"; cssClass = "status-excellent"; }
else if (bpm <= 71) { status = "Good"; cssClass = "status-good"; }
else if (bpm = 56 && age <= 65) {
if (bpm <= 56) { status = "Athlete"; cssClass = "status-athlete"; }
else if (bpm <= 61) { status = "Excellent"; cssClass = "status-excellent"; }
else if (bpm <= 71) { status = "Good"; cssClass = "status-good"; }
else if (bpm <= 75) { status = "Average"; cssClass = "status-average"; }
else { status = "Below Average / Poor"; cssClass = "status-poor"; }
} else {
if (bpm <= 55) { status = "Athlete"; cssClass = "status-athlete"; }
else if (bpm <= 61) { status = "Excellent"; cssClass = "status-excellent"; }
else if (bpm <= 69) { status = "Good"; cssClass = "status-good"; }
else if (bpm = 18 && age <= 25) {
if (bpm <= 60) { status = "Athlete"; cssClass = "status-athlete"; }
else if (bpm <= 65) { status = "Excellent"; cssClass = "status-excellent"; }
else if (bpm <= 73) { status = "Good"; cssClass = "status-good"; }
else if (bpm = 26 && age <= 35) {
if (bpm <= 59) { status = "Athlete"; cssClass = "status-athlete"; }
else if (bpm <= 64) { status = "Excellent"; cssClass = "status-excellent"; }
else if (bpm <= 72) { status = "Good"; cssClass = "status-good"; }
else if (bpm = 36 && age <= 45) {
if (bpm <= 62) { status = "Athlete"; cssClass = "status-athlete"; }
else if (bpm <= 66) { status = "Excellent"; cssClass = "status-excellent"; }
else if (bpm <= 74) { status = "Good"; cssClass = "status-good"; }
else if (bpm = 46 && age <= 55) {
if (bpm <= 63) { status = "Athlete"; cssClass = "status-athlete"; }
else if (bpm <= 67) { status = "Excellent"; cssClass = "status-excellent"; }
else if (bpm <= 76) { status = "Good"; cssClass = "status-good"; }
else if (bpm <= 79) { status = "Average"; cssClass = "status-average"; }
else { status = "Below Average / Poor"; cssClass = "status-poor"; }
} else {
if (bpm <= 64) { status = "Athlete"; cssClass = "status-athlete"; }
else if (bpm <= 68) { status = "Excellent"; cssClass = "status-excellent"; }
else if (bpm <= 76) { status = "Good"; cssClass = "status-good"; }
else if (bpm <= 79) { status = "Average"; cssClass = "status-average"; }
else { status = "Below Average / Poor"; cssClass = "status-poor"; }
}
}
resultBox.style.display = "block";
resultBox.className = "rhr-result " + cssClass;
statusText.innerHTML = "Your Category: " + status;
description.innerHTML = "At " + bpm + " BPM, your resting heart rate is categorized as " + status + " for a " + age + " year old " + gender + ".";
}