Normal Resting Heart Rate for Women

Normal resting heart rate determines one’s health status and helps in maintaining a healthy heart. This article provides some information on the same in women.

The heart is the most important organ in the human body, as it supplies oxygen through pure blood to all the other organs of the body and collects the deoxygenated blood. The heart is, primarily, the driver of other human body organs. The heart rate is the number of times the heart pumps in the oxygenated blood in a minute. It is measured with a unit called beats per minute (bpm). Resting heart rate (RHR) is the rate measured, when the body is at rest. It is done especially in the morning after we get up. According to the National Institute of Health, 60 to 100 bpm is the normal RHR for women above 10 years of age. However, for athlete women, it can be as low as 40 bpm to 60 bpm.

A number of factors like age, weight, anxiety, daily physical activities, kind of lifestyle, etc., influence the normal RHR. Especially, physical movement of the body helps to lower the same. When one’s body is physically fit, the heart has to take less efforts to pump the blood to other body organs. This is the reason why resting heart rate for athletes is low, and hence effective as mentioned above. Also, there’s a slight difference between healthy resting heart rate for men and women. The following chart would help to understand the average RHR for women by age, and determine whether they have a normal rate.

Normal RHR Chart for Women

Normal resting heart rate for pregnant women increases by 10-15 bpm as the heart pumps in more blood to support the fetus as well. Also, it increases if the pregnant woman is carrying twins.

Normal RHR Chart for Girls

RHR Calculator

It is very easy to calculate the resting heart rate. It is just that the time when one calculates it becomes very important. As the term itself indicates, one should be completely at rest while calculating the heart rate. The best time would be in the morning. Lie down for 15 minutes after waking up. The best possible points for the measurement are the radial pulse (wrist) and the carotid pulse (neck). Sense either of the pulse for 10 seconds and measure the beats and multiply the result by 6 to get the required RHR in bpm. This method is commonly used, but if one wants a more precise calculation, then doctors have electrocardiograph (ECG) and heart rate monitors to measure the same accurately. Furthermore, if one has a consistently high heart rate above 100 bpm, then it is accepted as tachycardia. Whereas if the rates are below the normal values, then it is accepted as brachycardia. In any case, it is better to consult a doctor immediately to avoid further complications.

How To Achieve Normal RHR

After calculating the resting heart rate, if one is nowhere near the normal RHR, then one would have a cause to worry. This is because it could lead to a number of heart diseases in the near future. One should start taking the necessary steps to bring it to normal. These steps include exercise, reducing stress, getting rid of saturated fat diet, giving up smoking and drinking, routine medical check-ups if one has a history of diabetes, blood pressure, or other cardiovascular diseases. These steps can go a long way in ensuring that one has a normal rate.

Now that one has found out what is the normal RHR, make sure to do the required cardiovascular exercises to help keep the heart and body healthy. If the heart rate is under control, one could have their life under control and enjoy it the way they want.

Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.