Re: Heart rate at rest
Re: Heart rate at rest
Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on February 24, 1998 at 11:30:57:
In Reply to: Heart rate at rest posted by Scott Townsend on February 16, 1998 at 01:31:02:
: I've noted in your defenition of hear rate "Normal heart rate for an average sized adult is in the
range of 60-85 beats/minute." I'be been looking for fitness information on the web and a few places talk about resting heart rate
My resting heart rate is about 84. I know is in the "normal" range, though its at the upper end.
Is it better to have a higher or lower resting heart rate? How would I lower it. I'm not as active
as I would like to be and plan on joining a gym soon. Thanks,
Scott<-
_Scott, thank you for your question. Your resting heart rate will vary throughout the day
depending on what recent activities you have done, the time of day, and whether you've had
any caffeine. At a heart rate of 84, your rate is normal but it may be lower at some
times if you checked it frequently during the day. Elite athletes have resting heart rates
in the 50-60 range because they are so well conditioned that their hearts don't need to
beat as fast at rest - in medical terms, we call this functional bradycardia. If you
would like to lower your heart rate, a sustained exercise program and avoidance of caffeine
and tobacco would be the most effective ways to do it. I suggest that you get a complete
fitness assessment when you join a gym and develop a supervised exercise program to meet
your fitness goals. Additionally, if you use caffeine or tobacco, you should cut back
or stop all together. Overall, your resting heart rate of 84 is no cause for concern though. Information provided in the Heart Forum is for general purposes only. Specific diangoses
and therapies can only be obtained from your physician.
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