Is my heart rate a concern?

[CarolMorris]

I am 175 lb 5 '5 woman who is 46.  I understand that I am overweight but my primary care dr is tossing around the idea of sending me to a cardiologist for my heart rate. Each office visit it is between 80-100.  I have elevated blood pressure for which I am being treated so that is normal.   I recently purchased a fit bit and my resting heart rate is usually between 75-80 and doing normal walking activity is between 90-120 beats per minute.  Is this really a concern or all normal? I am not currently diligent with exercising although I am active.  In my 30's, my resting beats per minute were closer to 60 but as I am aging, the 70-80's are normal the last 7 years or so.  Am I normal or is a cardiologist visit in order?Thanks

[itdood]

The rate is probably not even a factor in the referral.  Don't be so hung up on the resting rate, it will vary greatly throughout the day.  The family history and HBP are enough to warrant a referral to get checked out.  Echo, EKG, and stress test would all make sense to get a well check.

[Ger57]

Your initial question was about heart rate only. That did not seem so abnormal to me.
If you think you could be suffering from a heriditary heart disease, a visit to a cardiologist to check that out could be justified.
A few simple tests (i.e. echo doppler, ecg and stress test) will shed light on your heart's condition.

[CarolMorris]

I could reach 120 but just walking in the grocery store or doing activity that is day to day errands ect.  It sounds like you are thinking it is within normal.  Thank you.  I did answer another poster that perhaps my drs decision is not based on heart rate alone. It could be family history since my father died of a heart attack at 40 and even though I am on 3 high blood pressure meds, it is controlled

[CarolMorris]

It could be family history...my father died of a heart attack at 40

[itdood]

Are you sure it's based on the rate alone?  is there something else they're basing the recommendation on?

[Ger57]

A normal heart rate at rest for adults lies between 60 and 100, so your resting heart rate lies within normal parameters. That it is higher than you are used to have could be caused by less exercising.
90-120 sounds also ok to me. 90 is only little above your resting hr, so that will be reached by only very little activity. 120 I guess would be expected by a bit higher activity, lets say by a brisk walk.
At 46 and being a woman, your chances of having a heart problem are very, very small.