# How fast/slow is your heart rate? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 4, 2023, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738 "2023-03-04T22:45:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/1 "2023-03-04T22:45:20Z")
Mine is around 60 at home. In a doctor’s office, its a little higher. When should you worry? I feel fine. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/2 "2023-03-04T23:01:30Z")
Do you exercise regularly(particularly aerobic)? I’m almost 63 and my resting HR is 50-52. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/3 "2023-03-04T23:04:29Z")
I walk often, and take medicine for hypothyroidism. ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/4 "2023-03-04T23:11:40Z")
mine is usually mid-50s (just checked and it’s 56) Normal is between 60 and 100. I think one should worry if it’s below 40 (unless you are an athlete) or over a hundred. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/5 "2023-03-04T23:35:01Z")
It’s been a steady 60 all my adult life. I don’t know how accurate that is, mostly it was measured with a finger and a wristwatch at doctor’s offices. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/6 "2023-03-04T23:41:23Z")
My resting heart rate is 60 BPM. I am considered healthy for my age and moderately exercise daily. During exercise I get my heart rate over 135 BPM for 10-15 minutes at a time. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/7 "2023-03-04T23:51:13Z")
RHR averages about 57-58, though at times I’ve spot checked my heart rate at 52 or so. Some days, or series of a few days, usually involving stress or disruptions from my routine I’ve seen it go into the mid 60s. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/8 "2023-03-04T23:52:16Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > When should you worry? An excellent question for your doctor at your next visit. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/9 "2023-03-05T00:31:54Z")
My resting heart rate is 42. Has been for decades. I am 63. Exercising I have gotten up to a heart max of 163 on a heart rate monitor during all out intervals. Probably add two for what is true heart rate max. My doctor is fine with my heart rate. FWIW my regular exercise probably is not the cause; I exercise but I’m not doing half Ironmans lately. I think it is just familial high parasympathetic tone, a conclusion supported by the fact that one son also has a resting heart rate in the low 40s. (And does powerlifting more than endurance.) Lower heart resting heart rate, 50s or less, is associated with greater longevity, and higher shorter life expectancy. > **[Mid-life resting heart rate of 75 plus beats/minute linked to doubling in...](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190415200241.htm)** > > A resting heart rate of 75 beats per minute in mid-life is linked to a doubling in the risk of an early death from all causes -- at least among men. > [@](#): > > a resting heart rate of 75+ bpm in 1993 was nevertheless associated with around a twofold higher risk of death from any cause, from cardiovascular disease, and from coronary heart disease, compared with a resting heart rate of 55 or below. > > And a resting heart rate that was stable between 1993 and 2003, when the men were aged 50 to 60, was associated with a 44 per cent lower risk of cardiovascular disease over the next 11 years compared with a resting heart rate that had increased over this period. > > What’s more, every additional beat increase in rate was associated with a 3 per cent higher risk of death from any cause, a 1 per cent higher risk of cardiovascular disease, and a 2 per cent higher risk of coronary heart disease. You should worry about a low heart rate if you are symptomatic with it. And a resting heart rate over 75 is an alarm bell. ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/10 "2023-03-05T00:35:31Z")
My resting HR is likewise in the 40s and has been since I was a teenager. I was finally able to convince my cardiologist to stop the beta blocker when it consistently dropped into the 30s. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/11 "2023-03-05T03:20:19Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > When should you worry? Was this a separate question? ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/12 "2023-03-05T08:24:07Z")
Hmmm, my RHR is around 68-70. I thought it was fine but reading the posts above, I’m not sure anymore. I’m 48, exercise moderately (4-5 yoga sessions/week), walk briskly for about 40 minutes/week day. During Covid I cycled a lot and did 3-mile runs occasionally. I’m planning on resuming those activities as soon as the weather allows it. Non-smoker, and I haven’t drunk alcohol in over 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/13 "2023-03-05T09:43:02Z")
High 50’s for me. I’m 60, exercise consists of cycling (Zwift until the weather improves) for 45-60 minutes most days and walking between 2 to 5 miles daily. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/14 "2023-03-05T11:09:26Z")
60 most of the time. It has recently (post-Covid) dropped to the low 50s, occasionally drifting as low as 48. Cardiologist is aware and has changed meds along with scheduling several tests to evaluate this. ---
**Author:** ![WalterBishop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@WalterBishop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WalterBishop)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/15 "2023-03-05T11:37:45Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Lower heart resting heart rate, 50s or less, is associated with greater longevity, and higher shorter life expectancy. That’s interesting. Apart from disease, obviously, does it matter _why_ the heart rate is low? For instance, I have a low heart rate (45 - 60), but that’s because I take a daily low dose beta blocker because of severe anxiety. Would this association be true for someone like me? ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/16 "2023-03-05T11:42:29Z")
Like many stats - BP, heart rate, blood sugar, etc. It’s how much different it is from ‘normal’ that really matters. I have a higher-than-average BP and that’s been the case for over 50 years. Nurses sometime tut when they see it, but when I tell them that this is “normal for me”, they usually accept it. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/17 "2023-03-05T12:09:57Z")
> [@WalterBishop](#): > > Apart from disease, obviously, does it matter _why_ the heart rate is low? [Unclear](https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/435947). Suggestively lowering heart rate by therapeutic intervention may increase life expectancy some, still I’d WAG the why matters ---
**Author:** ![WalterBishop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@WalterBishop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WalterBishop)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/18 "2023-03-05T12:53:05Z")
Very interesting article. Thanks 👍 ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/19 "2023-03-05T13:48:00Z")
Mine tends toward 80s or so left to my own devices. My doctor has me on metoprolol, which keeps me in the 60s or 70s, which she prefers. I also do have blood pressure issues, but apparently cannot handle lisinopril side effects (even at the lowest dosage they make). Not sure how we’re going to address that. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738/20 "2023-03-05T16:12:29Z")
RHR in the 40s? Amazing. Maybe it’s genetic? Mine is about 60. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-slow-is-your-heart-rate/980738.md?page=2)