resting heart rate

Hi,
I hope this does not sound like a stupid question because many people here have more serious problems.  I am 25 yr old male.  I am about to start an exercise regime and am trying to establish a resting heart rate.  I bought a heart monitor but was surprised how much the thing jumped around.  I have just worn it for 24 hours and am surprised by the findings.  Just after waking up in the morning my heart rate was between 60 and 74 (jumping around alot).  During the afternoon, just sitting at my desk, it was between 80 and 106 (jumping around).  Every time I walk it is between 80 and 130 (up to 140 when going up stairs).  In the evening it went back down to 60 - 76.  A couple of questions.

1. I know the normal range is between 60 and 100 but I always thought each person had a specific resting heart rate within this range e.g. 72. Does this range actually mean that the normal heart jumps about between 60 and 100 each day?

2. All of the forums I read people are talking about their resting heart rate.  They say that their heart rate might increase by 5-10 beats in the afternoon.  Why does mine increase by up to 30 beats?  Is that normal?

3.  Does anyone else here have a specific resting heart rate or does your HR vary alot like mine?

Thanks . Im really confused!!! Btw, I had a normal ECG 3 years ago.
Dan

[dmil241]

I don't know the answers to your questions. However I think those heart monitors are going to keep cardiologists very busy as people run back and forth worried about their readings from a device that was meant only for exercise-fitness monitoring. From what I hear, they are not very accurate.

[juniorfan32]

Don't worry, my heart fluctuates alot.  When I am relaxed its between 65-75 but if I get stressed it can be 110 easy.  Also if you are moving around your rate is gonna go up.   I wouldn't worry.  Exercising is the best thing you can do for  your heart.  Just start out easy and work your way up.

[dmil241]

LOL-I guess I did say that before. Please disregard that second post. I'm just having a mental lapse this afternoon! :)

[dmil241]

OOPS-I meant to type that I hear they are very inaccurate! SORRY!

[LikeSudoku]

My heart rate is very similar to yours: in the morning it's about 90-95, and in the evening it's about 80-85.  I've been worried because I thought my resting heart rate should be in the 60's or 70's (not 85), but now I feel better knowing I'm not alone.  Did your doctor say why your heart rate is higher in the morning?  I'm just curious.  Thank you for posting!

[hockeycrazy3033]

My heart rate jumps around a lot and quite frequently. Before I sleep as im laying in bed it's around 80...and 75 at the least. When I wake up and get ready it's 90ish. As I start doing things..walking..ect..it's in the late 90's. If I walk from my car to class which is a long way..it'll jump to 100 and then second I sit down it'll slowly get back to normal which for me is around 85-90. If I have an anxiety attack it's easily in the 120's. So yeah..mine varies too. I went to a cardiologist twice and had everything done and he said I was fine.

Don't worry! Your HR seems pretty normal to me. Everyone's rate jumps around a bit depending on what they are doing..whether they are relax, stressed, working, sleeping..etc.

[hockeycrazy3033]

Hey there!

No my Doc didn't tell me why. He ran a bunch of tests on me and found everything to be normal. He actually told me that I have a *nervous personality* and that's why my HR would skyrocket which is pretty much true. To tell you the truth I've always been an anxious person and the second I noticed my heart beating fast I'd get an anxiety attack which would make things much more of course!

My heart rate being around 90 is a blessing to me! LOL for the past 6 months it was always in the 100's because I freaked myself out. I even stopped eating because I was so antsy and anxious all the time that I couldn't do anything. Finally, the past few months I've started eating right, and excercising, relaxing, and not being stressed and it's been great for me.

How old are you, if you don't mind me asking. Just wondering because if your heart jumps to around 85-90 that's perfectly normal. The normal heartrate is suppose to be anywhere from 70-100.

[LikeSudoku]

I'm female, and I've just turned 39.  I walk at a good pace 30 minutes a day for my exercise.  I can get my heart up to 130 or so when I walk, and it goes up to 110 - 140 when I'm anxious.  I also have palpitations from time to time, and my doctor said not to worry about those PVCs.

I had blood work to check out my thyroid hormone, and it was in range.  My doctor put me on atenolol to slow my heart down, and during those 2 weeks, I felt lack of oxygen all the time, so she took me off.  I had EKGs, and they were all normal, just showed fast heart rate.  As long as it does not do any damage in the long run, I think I can live with it :-), but I don't know for sure.  I have 2 young children, and I want to be there for them.  

[hockeycrazy3033]

I am walking as well everyday to get my heart rate lower during the rest of the day/night when im just relaxing and resting. When I walk my HR can be anywhere from 120-170. It's REALLY fast but I've asked my doctor about that as well. He was telling me when being active that's it's perfectly normal for it to be in that range. If working out..fast walking, running, jogging etc.. there's a formula for what your HR peak should be at the most. They use to say it was 220 minues your age, but now they are saying it's 180- your age which for you would be around 140. So you're normal! :)

I've never heard anything bad about someone having a rapid heart rate. Everyone's different. Your resting HR is definitely in the normal rage as well.

If it makes you feel better, my Mom is 50 and her HR is around 85 constantly. lol

[LikeSudoku]

Thank you very much!!!

[jsbrick]

I am 34 years old and looking for a little insight on what is wrong with my heart rate and fatigue.  I am 6'5", 205 lbs and have led a pretty healthy lifestyle.  I played college sports and worked out most of my life and have spent much time in the gym.  Although the past 6 months I havent spent as mush time working out due to a busy work schedule.  2 weeks ago I was battling a sinus infection but decided to play golf with a friend.  I had taken different cold medications the night before, ie. Afrin nose spray, mucinex, nyquil.  On the golf course I drank half a red bull and 4 hard alcohal (alcohol) drinks (stupid I know) anyway about 3 hours later just after I hit a tee shot I felt like I was going to pass out and then my heart rate skyrocketed.  I went directly to the ER where they measured my heart beat at 192 BPM.  Over the course of 2 hours my HR came back down on its own to normal.  They took a blood test which resulted in low potassium and dehydration. They did a chest x ray and a EKG which both came back normal.  They gave me an IV with fluids and potassium and then released me.  2 days later they checked my blood again, did another ekg and a echocardiogram all which cam back normal.  The Doctor said that any number of things could have caused the crazy heart rate (red bull, dehydration, alcohal (alcohol), sinus infection, cold medications ect.  
Since that episode (which is the only one I have ever had) I have been experiencing fatigue and and increased heart rate when I stand or exercise.  When I am lying down my heart rate is between 58-70, when I stand it is around 90-100 BPM and when I exercise it is even higher.  Because of the constant fatigue my Primary Care Physician ordered more blood tests and a echo stress test.  Yesterday morning I had my blood taken, urine test and then the echo stress test.  The stress went well or I should say most of it went well.  I completed the test and my heart rate got to 196.  The cardiologist said my heart looked good and I was in good shape.  However the issue happened just after the test.  After being on the treadmill they had me immediately lie down on the bed to do another echocardiogram to see pictures of a working heart.  The pictures again looked good to the cardiologist however my heart rate didnt come down fast or I should say it came down very slow.  It took about 45 mins to go from 196 to 120 then another 30 mins to go to 100 bpm.  As soon as it got to just under 100 bpm they asked me to stand up.  As soon as I stood up it went to 134 BPM.  As soon as I laid back down my heart rate went under 100. The cardiologist didnt know the cause.  So they administered me to the ER while they awaited the results of the blood tests.  This time they ordered a lot of tests to be done.  While in the ER my heart rate came down to around 80 then they gave me a drug to bring myheart rate down which brought it back to the 60's then released me.  The fortunate part was that all the blood tests came back normal and they ruled out a lot of bad things.  The ekg and echo again were normal.  The issue's that they could not address were the reason why my heart rate came down so slowly after the stress test and why did my HR go up when I sat up or stood up.  They say it is a different isse than what I dealt with on the golf course but I can't help to think that the 2 issues are related since this has been going since that episode on the golf course.  
Sorry for the long winded post but I wanted anyone with a similar issue to respond.  I have been online trying to self-diagnose and am probably causing myself more anxiety and stress.  

[Yooper74]

Thats awesome that you are starting an exercise program!!
Normal RHR is actually between 60-80 BPM for an average adult. If you are not sitting still your monitor is going to jump around and not display a constant number.