Your heart rate gives a glimpse of your overall health and helps you spot potential health problems. You might think your heart ticks like clockwork, but how fast it beats changes throughout the day. It goes
faster when you exercise or are nervous. It slows down when you’re relaxed or sitting still. Also known as your pulse, this is the number of times your heart beats per minute when you're at rest.
For adults, the normal range is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. A resting heart rate varies from person to person. It depends on things like: Even emotions, temperature, and humidity outside can affect your pulse rate. A lower resting heart rate is usually better when it comes to your health. It’s typically a sign your heart is working well. When it's lower, your heart pumps more blood with each contraction and easily keeps a regular beat. On the flip side, a high resting heart rate may mean your heart
works extra hard to pump blood. If your pulse is consistently more than 100 beats per minute at rest, it’s a good idea to see your doctor. Over time, a high resting heart rate may affect how your heart works. A high rate can also raise your chances of cardiovascular disease. A slower than normal pulse is common in people who are physically fit. If your resting heart rate is regularly
below 60 beats per minute but you’re not active, see your doctor, especially if you feel dizzy or short of breath. The best time to measure your pulse is in the morning, before you get out of bed and before you've had your morning coffee or
tea. You can check your heart rate at your wrist. Lightly place your second and third fingers of one hand on the inside of your other wrist, below the base of your thumb. You should feel your pulse under your fingertips. Count the number of beats
in one minute. Repeat to make sure you get a consistent reading.Your Resting Heart Rate
How to Measure Your Heart Rate
There are several ways you can do this to help your heart stay healthy: Exercise. Physical activity strengthens your heart just like other muscles in your body. It trains your heart to be more efficient so it doesn’t work as hard when you’re at rest. A walk, bicycle ride, or
yoga class can all help. Quit smoking.Smoking causes your
arteries and veins to get smaller. This can lead to a higher heart rate. Nixing tobacco products can bring your pulse down to a healthier level. Relax.Stress can send hormones like adrenaline and cortisol racing through your blood, which can raise your heart rate. Things like
meditation and yoga can help lower stress levels. Over the long term, they can lower your resting heart rate, too. Eat more
fish. A healthy diet is the cornerstone of heart health. In addition to
fruits and vegetables, which are rich in vitamins and minerals, add
fish to your menu. Eating it regularly can help lower your heart rate. Sometimes, your pulse might jump up for a little while. Most of the time, your heart will slow down naturally. If not, or if it happens regularly, get medical help right away. A doctor may suggest one of the
following.Lowering Your Heart Rate
When Your Heart Rate Spikes
Vagal maneuvers: These physical actions can reset your heart rate. For example, hold your nose and breathe out of your mouth. It’s similar to when you want to pop your ears when you’re on an airplane. Or you can put your face in ice-cold water for several seconds or cough forcefully.
Medication: Your doctor may prescribe it to help treat an abnormal heart rate. Things like beta-blockers may help prevent future episodes.
Pacemaker: This small device can sense a rapid heartbeat. When it does, it sends an electrical signal and helps the heart return to normal. Your doctor would implant it under your skin.
Catheter ablation: Sometimes the cause of your racing pulse may be an extra electrical pathway in the heart. Your doctor would perform this procedure, which makes it so the extra circuit no longer sends signals. It doesn’t require surgery. Usually, this is suggested only when medicines don't work.
You’ve probably noticed that your heart rate rises when you exercise and that it drops when you’re lying in bed. But does your heart rate ever feel elevated for no apparent reason?
Having an increased heart rate isn’t a health condition in and of itself; rather, it’s a symptom caused by any number of circumstances. It may be a reaction to something that’s happening in your life, or it may be caused by a health condition.
“When you feel your heart pounding in your chest unexpectedly, don’t jump to conclusions that there’s something wrong with your heart, but if the problem continues without an explainable and simple cause, see a doctor to discuss your concerns,” says interventional cardiologist, Ali Moosvi, M.D.
A high heart rate (also called tachycardia) may not be related to your heart
These are common reasons why your heart rate may be high:
- Stress. When your body responds to something stressful, frightening or upsetting, you may get a jolt of adrenaline, which increases your heart rate.
- Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Having too much thyroid hormone in your system makes your heart beat faster than it should, increasing your heart rate.
- Anemia. If you have anemia, you don’t have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen around your body to your organs. Your heart may beat more rapidly to compensate for this, in an attempt to help whatever oxygen-rich blood you have to reach your organs more quickly.
- Medication side effects. A number of drugs may cause your heart rate to increase, including some medications that treat colds, asthma, anxiety, depression and high blood pressure.
- Addictive substances. Caffeine, cigarettes and high levels of alcohol may cause your heart rate to rise after you use those substances. Additionally, illegal drugs like cocaine may also have this effect on your heart rate.
- Strenuous physical activity. When you exert more than your body is prepared for, the heart rate increases to meet the higher demand.
When an elevated heart rate is caused by lifestyle factors, managing stress or limiting caffeine and other vices may help you stop feeling that your heart is beating too quickly. If you’ve noticed a change in heart rate shortly after you’ve begun taking a new medication, ask your doctor if the drug could be responsible for the change and if an alternative medication or a dosage change is available. When your higher-than-normal heart rate is caused by a condition like anemia or hyperthyroidism, seeing your doctor and managing those conditions should help your heart rate return to normal.
Heart conditions that can cause a high heart rate
Some people who are born with congenital heart conditions may experience an elevated heartbeat. Other people who develop heart disease over time may notice that their heart rate feels high. When something gets in the way of the heart working properly, it may have to beat more quickly to pump blood more efficiently.
Heart conditions which may cause an elevated heart rate include:
- Heart failure
- Heart rhythm problems
- Heart valve problems
- Coronary artery disease
- Scar tissue that forms after heart surgery
If you have been diagnosed with a heart condition and you’ve noticed that your heart rate has become higher than usual, make an appointment to talk to your doctor about the change.
When to seek emergency care for a high heart rate
Get immediate medical help if your heart rate seems too high and you have these symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Weakness
- Feeling faint, or fainting
- Chest pain or discomfort
Next Steps & Resources:
- Meet our source: Ali Moosvi, M.D.
- To make an appointment with Dr. Moosvi, or a doctor near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.