Is 73 a good resting heart rate

Q: What does a 72 resting heart rate mean?

A normal” RHR falls between 60 and 100 beats per minute. An RHR under 60 can indicate that youre more physically fit and may be associated with better heart function. An RHR that is above 100 beats per minute can reflect exposure to stress, excessive caffeine consumption or an illness.

One of the vital signs a nurse checks when you visit the doctor is your heart rate, along with temperature, blood pressure and respiratory rate. Your heart rate, which is measured by your pulse, is an important indicator of your overall health and fitness level. It can signal certain medical conditions or a need to adjust lifestyle habits that elevate your heart rate above the normal range determined by your age.

Table of Contents Show

How To Lower Your Resting Heart Rate
When to See a Doctor About Your Heart Rate
What is your pulse?
How do you find your pulse?
How do you check your pulse (heart rate)?
What is a normal heart rate?
What is an irregular pulse?
Why is it important to get it checked?
What are heart palpitations?
Exercise and heart rate
Is it OK to have a resting heart rate at 73?
Is a resting heart rate of 72 too high?
What is good resting heart rate by age?
What does a 72 resting heart rate mean?

The normal resting heart rate (when not exercising) for people age 15 and up is 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm).

However, your heart rate may vary slightly from the norm due to several factors, including regular exercise, a medical condition, stress and use of some over-the-counter medications.

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The easiest place to find your pulse is in your wrist.

Turn your hand so that your palm is facing upwards.
Now place the three middle fingers from your other hand on your wrist in the outside groove below the base of your thumb.
Press lightly to feel the pulse under your fingers. If you can't feel anything press slightly harder.

How do you check your pulse (heart rate)?

You can measure your heart rate manually by checking your pulse. Follow these three steps.

Find your pulse in your wrist (as explained above).
Count each beat for a total time of 30 seconds.
Double the number of beats you counted. This is your heart rate or pulse, measured in beats per minute.

Also make a note of whether your heart beats at an even or uneven rhythm. A normal heart beats in a steady rhythm like a clock, tick tock tick tock.

Some people like to use a heart rate monitor to measure their heart rate. These monitors are often included in fitness trackers, which are now widely available in sports stores and other retail outlets. However, their accuracy depends on the quality of the device.

If you've been active, or recently had a stimulant like nicotine or caffeine, you'll need to wait at least five minutes before taking your pulse.

What is a normal heart rate?

A normal heart rate, when you're not being active, is generally between 60 – 100 beats per minute. This is called your resting heart rate.

Athletes or people who are very fit may have resting heart beats of less than 60 bpm.

When you're active, your heart beats faster to get more oxygen to your working muscles. The harder your body is working, the faster your heart will beat. For example, your heart rate when you're sprinting will be much faster than your heart rate when you're walking. If you're exercising hard, it's normal for your heart rate to get up to 160 beats per minute or more.

There are other things that can make your heart beat faster, like caffeine, nicotine, recreational drugs and some kinds of medications. Your heart will also beat faster when you feel strong emotions, like anxiety, fear or excitement.

What is an irregular pulse?

An irregular pulse is when the heart doesn't beat in a regular, steady rhythm. This is also called an irregular heart rate or an arrhythmia.

If your heart rate is irregular, you may notice that your pulse:

seems irregular or is 'jumping around
is racing, even when you're at rest
seems unusually slow some or most of the time
seems to pause, add, or miss a beat.

Why is it important to get it checked?

Often an irregular pulse is harmless. However, it's important to get it checked by a health professional, because sometimes it's a sign of a heart condition.

The most common kind of heart rhythm condition is atrial fibrillation (AF), which can put you at greater risk of having a stroke. Fortunately, if you have AF, there's medication you can take to help significantly reduce this stroke risk.

Your doctor can do a simple test called an ECG (electrocardiogram) to further check your irregular pulse.

What are heart palpitations?

A heart palpitation is when you suddenly become aware of your heart beating, usually in an irregular way. Sometimes you can feel it in your ears, neck or chest when you’re lying down. Your heart beat may feel:

too fast or slow
like it’s fluttering
like it’s thudding, or pounding.

It is not unusual to feel heart palpitations occasionally and mostly they are harmless. However if you’re experiencing them on a regular basis, see your doctor.

Exercise and heart rate

Like any other muscle, your heart needs exercise to keep it fit and healthy. Regular exercise can help reduce your risk of heart disease and other health conditions, such as diabetes.

To keep your heart healthy, you should aim to do 150 minutes of low to moderate intensity exercise a week. If you have a heart condition, talk to your doctor about what exercise and target heart rates are safe for you.

One way to measure the intensity of your exercise is by using your heart rate. To exercise at a low to moderate intensity your heart rate should be at 50 to 70% of your approximate maximum heart rate.

The easiest way to get an approximate maximum heart rate (MHR) is to calculate 220 – your age. You then need to calculate 50 to 70% of your MHR.

For example, if you're 40-years-old:

your approximate maximum heart rate is: 220 – 40 = 180 beats per minute
50% of your MHR is 180 X 0.5 = 90 bpm
70% of your MHF is 180 X 0.7 = 126 bpm.

Alternatively, you can use our heart rate chart below to get a rough idea.

Remember if you're on medications to slow your heart rate down, you may not be able to meet these upper heart rates and the aim should be to exercise at a rate that makes you lightly puff.

Is it OK to have a resting heart rate at 73?

A normal adult heart rate is between 60 and 100 bpm while resting.

Is a resting heart rate of 72 too high?

The normal range is between 50 and 100 beats per minute. If your resting heart rate is above 100, it's called tachycardia; below 60, and it's called bradycardia. Increasingly, experts pin an ideal resting heart rate at between 50 to 70 beats per minute.

What is good resting heart rate by age?

Normal Heart Rate by Age Chart.

What does a 72 resting heart rate mean?

A “normal” RHR falls between 60 and 100 beats per minute. An RHR under 60 can indicate that you're more physically fit and may be associated with better heart function. An RHR that is above 100 beats per minute can reflect exposure to stress, excessive caffeine consumption or an illness.

good resting heart rate