Things That Contribute To A Healthy Heart Rate

Heart rate is the rate at which the heart beats for one full minute. The normal resting heart rate for adults is 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm), as what most books would say. Having said that, it is logical to think that a heart rate that goes within 60-100 bpm is a healthy heart rate and should cause no worry to an individual. But what happens if you’re an athlete and you have a heart rate of 50 beats per minute? Are you going to think of it as a healthy heart rate? There are certain situations or conditions that influence a person’s heart beat, such as age, exercise and fitness level.


A heart rate of 120-180 bpm, for example, is regarded as a healthy heart rate in babies. However, for a 5-year old kid, 80-120 bpm is what is considered a healthy heart rate. For elderly adults, it can go as low as 50 bpm due to the changes in the heart muscle as it ages. As you may have noticed, 60-100 bpm may not necessarily mean the same healthy heart rate range for people who belong in a different age group.


During the course of exercise, a person’s heart rate goes faster. Any form of exercise will require the muscles of the body to move. The muscles of the body will need to use more oxygen as a result of the increased movement. This greater need for oxygen makes the heart work at a much faster pace so that it can provide the muscles of the body with enough oxygen-rich blood. During exercise, a heart rate of 120 bpm therefore can be regarded as a healthy heart rate.


Working out on a regular basis makes the heart stronger which makes it capable of supplying the body with adequate amounts of blood even with fewer beats in a minute. This strength makes each heart beat able to sustain extreme physical exertion even at a slower rate. This is why well-conditioned athletes who have a low heart rate of 40-70 bpm are still considered as having a healthy heart rate.


So have you got a healthy heart rate? So long as the body is supplied with the right amount of blood that it needs, a heart rate higher or lower that 60-100 bpm can be viewed as a healthy heart rate.