60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm) = normal resting heart rate for adults. This range is considered normal by the BHS and NHS.
In this article we will discuss normal human heart rate, factors that affect it, and how to take the pulse (and so measure the heart rate).
However, a ‘normal’ heart rate can vary from person to person and change every minute. Factors that can affect your heart rate include:
There is no accepted definition of these. But most doctors accept these values:
A bradycardia or tachycardia is not necessarily a disease.
Very fit athletes can have a pulse rate below 40 bpm and are normal.
Whilst doing exercise, a tachycardia of above 150 bpm is normal
Note. A resting pulse rate of 150 bpm is a disease, usually a supra-ventricular tachycardia (SVT).
A pulse can be felt anywhere on the body where an artery (taking blood from the heart to somewhere) is near the surface (skin) of the body.
This is how to take the pulse at the wrist, which comes from the radial artery. This is the commonest place people feel their pulse. It is not necessarily the easiest.
The wrist is not the only place you can feel a pulse. The picture below demonstrate where the main ones can be felt and their medical names.
The easiest ones to feel are the brachial, carotid or temporal (side of head) pulses, shown in this diagram.
Age has a significant effect on heart rate.
We have discussed normal human heart rate, factors that affect it, and where to feel the pulse(s). We hope it has been helpful.