My heart rate is 90-100 bpm when I’m just doing mundane shit like typing SDMB OP’s or watching TV. This seems high to me. Especially considering I’m 21, 5 foot 10 & 12 stone. What should my heart rate be?
That seems a little high. How good a shape are you in? If you are atheletic your heart doesn’t have to work as hard and doesn’t beat as fast (at least that’s how the doc explained to me why my heart rate was low when I used to run every day). Conversely, if you are out of shape your heart rate will be faster. 50 to 100 is the normal range according to the american heart association but anything over 70 indicates a higher probability of heart disease.
I smoke and eat a little too much junk food than is good for me but I’m not that out of shape. I could probably stand to lose 5lbs. Still, at 21 Don’t you think I’m a little young for heart disease?
Nicotine and caffeine both raise your heart rate. Usually not quite as much as yours is though. I’d probably have a visit with a Dr, may be nothing, but I’d want to be sure.
IANAD, but before I went on my diet and started working out my resting HR was about 82, and I am 52 years old.
Now that I have lost weight and have been working out, my resting HR is about 60.
You may be further out of shape than you think.
Please remember that a fast heart rate can be due to more than poor physical fitness. There are a number of medical conditions associated with an elevated heart rate such as anemia, hyperthyroidism, infection, dehydration, low oxygen, heart disease itself. <== incomplete list for illustrative purposes only
And, as mentioned, many drugs also bump up the heart rate. Medicines used for asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, depression, cold remedies, … as well as some illicit ones come to mind.
I just clocked in at 84.
Weight != fitness
Even if you’re within you’re ‘ideal weight’ bracket, that’s no evidence that you’re fully healthy. You’ve already mentioned two risk factors, and I’m guessing you don’t exercise, either.
Not that I can preach about this…
Yes. That’s why you should take this seriously.
For me, that’s the tip-off. When I was still smoking, my resting pulse was usually around 90. Now, having quit smoking 5 years ago, and getting regular exercise (walking about at least 5 miles a day, plus getting into the gym 4-5 times a week for a mix of weight training and aerobic exercise), my resting pulse is down in the 60s somewhere.
Stop smoking now!!! My lung capacity will never fully recover from the damage done by 27 years of smoking, and there’s no telling what it did to my cardiovascular system. It was the stupidest thing I ever did, and I regret it every day.
My heart rate, as of 30 seconds ago, was 72. I’m 6’4", 264lbs, 25 year-old male.
I work out frequently. Today I did 40 minutes on one of those eliptical machines (1000 calories if the counter on the machine can be believed), and just over 1/2 mile in the pool.
I’m really glad this thread is here, because I’ve been wondering about this exact thing…
I’m 25, 6’0’’, somewhere between 150-155 pounds very consistently, and I exercise frequently. I don’t smoke or do any (illegal) drugs. Ever since 8th grade (when we took our pulses in gym class), mine has been high (around 80) - it was 83 according to the machine at the Seattle museum. I am asthmatic - I use an inhaler, and take allergy medication, and drink coffee frequently (all of which, according to this thread, can increase heart rate)
I go to the doctor frequently, and they’ve never said anything about my heart rate…but does the mere fact that my heart works more than other people mean that I may not live as long? (that may be a dumb question, but I’ve been genuinely wondering about it)
My resting heart rate is normally (now), in the 60s and 70s, but I’ve had it all over the place. When I had horrible insomnia and nerves, it could be above 100. When I would do lots of exercise (such as walking a marathon or playing raquetball for 8 hours), it could stay really high for a long time–but then the next day it would be below 60, resting.
Go to the doc and get a checkup. You will probably need to quit smoking and start taking better care of yourself. In the meantime, don’t panic.
I’m in almost exactly the same position as you, and I’ve been wondering as well. 25, 6’0", 160-170 pounds, exercise fairly frequently. I’m not asthmatic, though. My resting heart rate is 80-85. Is this good? Bad? Neutral? Are aurelian and I doomed to early demises?
I don’t think an early demise would be for that reason alone. I have always had a heart rate in the low 80’s and I’m 81.
Clocking in at 57.
37y, 6’3", 15 stone (had to look up that unit :))
I typically run 15-20 miles per week.
My resting rate dropped substantially when I started exercising. I’d ask the doc about it if I were you. Probably means time to get down to the gym.
Of course I have always been worried about the other end of the spectrum: for my age, the machines tell me that my heart rate should be 129, but when I’m running, it’s usually far above that. Next time I have an opportunity, I’m going to ask my doc if I’m heading for disaster.
Yeah, maximum heart rates are mostly bunk. I did some research on it recently because I was concerned about the same thing. I’m 37 and my max is supposedly 183 (220 - my age) but I routinely see it over 200 and have hit 211 on one occasion. Turns out the formula was based on a very limited number of studies and a quick back of the envelope calculation. Here’s an interesting article about the subject.
From the article:
I haven’t seen an article on it, but I would bet resting heart rates have as much of a variation as do max heart rates. My resting is around 60 but that’s for a real resting heart rate, i.e. just after I’ve woken up. If I’m sitting up typing or watching TV, it’s anywhere from 80-90.