Recent study shows more complications with alternative prostate biopsy method. Your pulse, both at rest and during exercise, can reveal your risk for heart attack and your aerobic capacity. Your grandmother may have referred to your heart as "your ticker," but that nickname has proved to be a misnomer. A healthy heart doesn't beat with the regularity of clockwork. It speeds up and slows down to accommodate your changing need for oxygen as your activities vary throughout the day. What is a "normal" heart rate varies from person to person. However, an unusually high resting heart rate or low maximum heart rate may signify an increased risk of heart attack and death. One simple thing people can do is to check their resting heart rate. It's a fairly easy to do and having the information can help down the road. It's a good idea to take your pulse occasionally to get a sense of what's normal for you and to identify unusual changes in rate or regularity that may warrant medical attention.


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Error: This is required. Error: Not a valid value. Your resting heart rate, or pulse, is the number of times your heart beats per minute when you are at rest — such as when you are relaxed, sitting or lying down. Resting heart rate varies from person to person. Knowing yours can give you an important sign of your heart health. Usually, a lower resting heart rate means your heart is working more efficiently and is more fit. Your resting heart rate is not an indication of your blood pressure. The only way to check blood pressure is to measure it directly.
Your resting heart rate
Generally, a lower heart rate at rest implies more efficient heart function and better cardiovascular fitness. For example, a well-trained athlete might have a normal resting heart rate closer to 40 beats per minute. To measure your heart rate, simply check your pulse. Place your index and third fingers on your neck to the side of your windpipe. To check your pulse at your wrist, place two fingers between the bone and the tendon over your radial artery — which is located on the thumb side of your wrist. When you feel your pulse, count the number of beats in 15 seconds.
And when is a heart rate considered dangerous? Read on to learn more. For most adults — including senior adults — a normal resting heart rate is between 60 and beats per minute. Athletes may find their heart rates lower , between 40 to 60 beats per minute. As children grow, their normal resting heart rate changes. According to the National Institute of Health :. Your maximum heart rate is a calculation that helps you figure out what your ideal target heart rate is during exercise.