Resting heart rate

[CaptainSlow]

Playing with the new Garmin Christmas present, my heart rate is 51bpm, seems low...should I be worried?

[Seti]

Depends - how old are you? How 'fit' are you? What sort of build do you have?

Mine is around 38-42 which made me nervous when I first found out but its nothing to be worried about.

[CaptainSlow]

Seti said:

Depends - how old are you? How 'fit' are you? What sort of build do you have?

Mine is around 38-42 which made me nervous when I first found out but its nothing to be worried about.

I'm 37, slight build I guess, fairly fit, 5k and 10k runs once or twice a week.

[LordGrover]

Mid-forties to mid-fifties here too. I've not died yet so probably okay for you too.

[Cheib]

50 is the very good end of the "normal" range from what I understand! Much lower and you are in serious athlete/abnormal territory! I think Indurain has a resting heart rate of 32 which is frequently quoted as being freakish.

[anonymous-user]

Low 40s here, lower if I concentrate!

[marcosgt]

Mine says 0... Oh wait, I'm that fat Brennan bloke off Eastenders...

On a more serious note, how are you measuring it - I've read you need to lie down for 15-20 minutes or do it when you first wake up in the morning, but without sitting up (or presumably engaging in any early morning pursuits...).

M.

[whatleytom]

Mine gets down to mid 30's. I'm sure 50's is absolutely nothing to worry about if your reasonably fit.

[anonymous-user]

It is a useful indicator of your cardiovascular fitness and given your running, your resting heart rate is about right for your bulid and fitness level. Miguel Indurain had an RHR around 30 during his peak tour days but we dont know how accurate that was given the allegations.

Someone told me a better measure is the rate at which you recover whilst training though, so time yourself recovering from peak heart rate to something like 100 bpm. others argue that you should dispense with HRMs etc completely and let your heart beat naturally (which apparently is quite irregular) rather than aim to stay within certain zones.

[BorkFactor]

Mine is 72...

I am 20, so that must have something to do with it!

[Regiment]

Some people have low heart rates naturally, other people have low heart rates generally because of fitness. 50 means you're lower than average but not abnormal.

[Lemmonie]

Mine is 40 but I take betablockers

[JumboBeef]

60 to 100 is "normal". Anything below this is abnormal (Bradicardia) but some (the very fit) can have lower HRs.

If you are not very fit and are below 60, then it is not "normal". Whether it causes you problems is another matter....

(I am a Paramedic).

[Lemmonie]

Yah I've had a few medical personnel somewhat startled by my low pulse rate. They all look very worried until I break the news about the beta blockers. You can see the relief in their faces when I tell them!

[MrB1obby]

I measured mine for the first time about 2 weeks ago, I think it was about 46 or 48 when I randomly decided to do it in the day. It's obviously not accurate but gives a rough idea.

I'm 20 and exercise 6-7 times a week...bar this period we're in now

[Flibble]

Mine is 54, I'm not dead yet...

[Chris_H]

Well I'm 60 and have a RHR of 58. The nurse seemed surprised by this but I walk 5 - 6 miles a day, every day!

[GadgeS3C]

65ish - although I did have a coffee an hour ago, will check it when I haven't.

Goal is to get it under 60. I'm 46 btw.

[checkmate91]

Low to mid 40s first thing in morning, usually around mid 50s during the day, around 150 when running for longer than 20 minutes. I'm a twice a week runner, 5-10k distance. Been doing this almost 8 years now. Oh and I'm 51.

[Tiggsy]

While being prep'd for a knee op last year the nurse took my pulse at 37......she put "athlete" on the notes, highlight of my year!