Just as healthy blood pressure, i.e. what we consider normal blood pressure values, changes with age, so does the normal heart rate at rest, say experts from the Cleveland Clinic, adding that measuring the heart rate is otherwise a rather underestimated way to check our health. The younger you are, the faster your pulse, while it slows down with age. Resting heart rate (measured in beats per minute) is measured by placing your fingers (but never your thumb) on your neck or wrist, where you feel your pulse. You should do this more than an hour after exercising or drinking coffee, and you should also, according to the British Heart Association, sit quietly for five to ten minutes before taking your pulse. Measure your pulse for 30 seconds, and multiply the number obtained by two to get the number of beats per minute at rest. You will measure your resting heart rate more accurately if you do it several times over several days, at different times of the day.
What are the normal values by age group?
1. Newborns (from birth to 4 weeks of age)
- 100 to 205 beats per minute
2. Baby (from 4 weeks to 1 year)
- 100 to 180 beats per minute
3. Small children (from 1 to 3 years)
- 98 to 140 beats per minute
4. Preschoolers (from 3 to 5 years)
- 80 to 120 beats per minute
5. Pupils (from 5 to 12 years)
- 75 to 118 beats per minute
6. Teenagers (from 13 to 18 years)
- 60 to 100 beats per minute
7. Adults (18 +)
- 60 to 100 beats per minute
They also note that children's heart rate will probably be lower if they are sleeping while you measure.
When should you be concerned about your heart rate?
Experts from the British Heart Association say that the heart rate can change from minute to minute, and what is normal is different for each person, depending on their age and health. However, they also add that a heart rate above 100 beats per minute at rest is too fast for most people and could be a sign of infection, anemia or an overactive thyroid gland. On the other hand, a pulse of less than 60 beats per minute at rest indicates that you are either in excellent shape or, if it is accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue and fainting, that you need a medical examination, writes Živim.hr.
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