Read this article to learn about heart rate:
- when is a high heart rate an emergency?
- what to do if you think your heart rate is high on your fitness tracker
- how to measure heart rate
- what is normal heart rate for different ages
- how tracking heart rate can help you improve your health
- more information about heart health and #knowyournumbers
When people talk about a normal heart rate for adults, they often mean their resting bpm — how many times the heart beats each minute when the body is relaxed. Your resting rate can tell you a lot about your general fitness and recovery, and it naturally changes with age, stress, sleep, and medication. Our heart rate chart below shows typical ranges by age, while your smartwatch or fitness tracker (like a Fitbit, Apple Watch, or Samsung Galaxy Watch) can help you spot trends and check heart rate accuracy over time.
When is a high heart rate an emergency?
If you suddenly notice a change in your heartbeat that is accompanied by any of the following:
• shortness of breath
• chest tightness, or pain dizziness or light-headedness
• fainting
Read on below to learn about normal heart rates and how to double-check your Apple Watch, Fitbit, Samsung, or other fitness tracker.
What to do if you think your heart rate is high on your fitness tracker
- If you are looking at your fitness tracker right now and worried about your resting heart rate, it would be worth double-checking that your fitness tracker is giving you an accurate reading.
- They can malfunction, I’ve had two trackers malfunction, and give heart-rate readings, double or triple what they should have been.
- The video below by eGPLearning shows how to check your heart rate manually.
How to manually check your heart rate
Normal heart rates for men of different ages
- Normal resting heart rate (RHR) values can range from anywhere between 60-100 beats per minute (bpm).
- As cardiovascular fitness increases, the resting heart rate value decreases.
- Resting heart rate is the number of beats per minute the heart takes while a person is fully rested.
- Resting heart rate is indicator of both fitness and general health.
| Men – Age (in years) verus resting heart rate | 18-25 | 26-35 | 36-45 | 46-55 | 56-65 | 65+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athlete | 40-52 | 44-50 | 47-53 | 49-54 | 51-56 | 52-55 | |
| Excellent | 56-61 | 55-61 | 57-62 | 58-63 | 57-61 | 56-61 | |
| Good | 62-65 | 62-65 | 63-66 | 64-67 | 62-67 | 62-65 | |
| Above Average | 66-69 | 66-70 | 67-70 | 68-71 | 68-71 | 66-69 | |
| Average | 70-73 | 71-74 | 71-75 | 72-76 | 72-75 | 70-73 | |
| Below Average | 74-81 | 75-81 | 76-82 | 77-83 | 76-81 | 74-79 | |
| Poor | 82+ | 82+ | 83+ | 84+ | 82+ | 80+ |
How tracking heart rate can help you improve your health
You can monitor your health and exercise, and thus avoid problems, with the simplest wearable health trackers, the advantages are:
- wearing a tracker on your wrist day-and-night means you get a good measure of resting heart rate from when you sleep
- during the day you get a clear picture of how much exercise you are getting, day by day, week-on-week, month by month, making it easy to spot trends
- most health trackers and apps will nudge you to move about during the day [sitting still for too long can be bad for your health]
- at night, heart-rate tracking can monitor how good your sleep is, helping you to avoid any bad sleeping habits
- We recommend FitBit as good, hard wearing and simple to use fitness tracker, click here to view on Amazon
Understanding your heart rate isn’t just about numbers — it’s about noticing what feels normal for you. Whether your tracker shows small day-to-day changes or you’re working to improve your resting heart rate through better sleep, activity, or stress management, every beat tells a story about your overall health. If you’d like to dig deeper, explore our interactive blood pressure chart or visit our NHS Health Tools page to learn how to track and understand your body’s key numbers — and keep your heart in rhythm.
More information about heart health
You can find out more information about heart health on the following web sites:
- www.nhs.uk for general health advice
- The British Heart Foundation
If you are over 40 the NHS recommends you check your blood pressure every five years
Heart Rate FAQs – #KnowYourNumbers
Tap or click a question below to reveal the answer.
What is a normal resting heart rate?
For most adults, a normal resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm). Athletes and very fit people can have lower rates, sometimes in the 40s or 50s.
When is a high heart rate an emergency?
If your heart rate suddenly increases and you also feel chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, or fainting, contact NHS 111 Online or call 111 for advice, as these may be signs of a serious heart condition.
Why is my fitness tracker showing a very high heart rate?
Fitness trackers can sometimes give false readings if the strap is loose or the sensors are dirty. Clean the device and measure your pulse manually to confirm accuracy.
How can tracking heart rate improve my health?
Tracking heart rate over time can reveal patterns in fitness, recovery, stress, and sleep. A lower resting heart rate usually indicates better cardiovascular health.
How can I check my heart rate manually?
Place two fingers (not your thumb) on your wrist or neck until you feel your pulse. Count the beats for 30 seconds and multiply by 2 to calculate your heart rate in beats per minute.
🩺 Did You Mean? Common Misspellings & Synonyms
People often search for the same idea using slightly different spellings or phrases. Here are some of the most common variations that relate to “heart rate”, “pulse”, or “high heartbeat”.
| Search Variation / Miss-spelling | What It Refers To | Related Page or Resource |
|---|---|---|
| hart rate / hartbeat / heart beat / heartrate | Common misspellings or spacing errors for “heart rate” or “heartbeat”. | What Is Normal Heart Rate |
| pulse rate / pulse check / take my pulse / measure pulse / bpm reading | Alternative ways to describe checking or measuring heart rate. | Manual Pulse Check Guide |
| high pulse / fast heart / racing heart / pounding heart / fluttering heart | Descriptions of a rapid heartbeat, sometimes linked to stress or arrhythmia. | When to Worry About a High Heart Rate |
| rest rate / resting bpm / bpm chart / normal bpm / average heart rate | Refers to resting heart rate or typical beats-per-minute charts. | Resting Heart Rate Chart |
| fit bit / fitbit heart rate / apple watch pulse / samsung heart monitor / garmin bpm | Searches related to smartwatch or fitness-tracker readings. | Tracker Accuracy Tips |
| tachacardia / tackycardia / tachycardia / tacycardia / takicardia | Common spelling mistakes for “tachycardia” (abnormally fast heart rate). | Blood Pressure & Heart Rate Explained |
| bradicardia / bradychardia / bradycardia / slow pulse | Low heart rate or slow heartbeat (bradycardia) and its misspellings. | Understanding Low Heart Rate |
| palpatations / palpitations / heart flutters / skipped beats | Sensations of irregular or fluttering heartbeat often searched online. | When Heart Palpitations Matter |
| blood pressure heart rate / pulse oximeter / oxygen monitor / SPO2 reading | Linked terms that include pulse readings from BP monitors or oximeters. | NHS Health Tools |
| cardiac rate / cardiac rhythm / heart rhythm / heartbeat per minute | More clinical or alternative expressions for heart rate. | Heart Rhythm Basics |
| normal heart beat for adults / average bpm by age / healthy bpm chart | Searches for age-based heart rate reference values. | Heart Rate by Age Table |
| panic attack heart / anxiety pulse / stress heart rate | Searches linking rapid heart rate to anxiety or panic responses. | Stress & Heart Rate Guide |