Ask An Expert: Normal Pulse Rate

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Ask An Expert: Normal Pulse Rate

Question:

What is considered a normal pulse rate?

Answer:

Most people's heart rates are 60-75 beats per minute when they are resting comfortably. Some people, particularly those who are quite physically fit, have slower heart rates, such as 40-60 beats per minute. As long as people with such slow rates are not having symptoms suggesting that they are not getting enough blood to their brain, such as fainting or light-headed spells, these slow rates are not a problem. In fact, people with slower rates tend to have a longer life expectancy.

On the other hand, many people have heart rates of 75-90 when they are at rest. These rates are not necessarily abnormal, but they start to make my eyebrows go up when I see heart rates consistently in this range. I start to look around for medical problems like an overactive thyroid or low blood count. Usually, what I find is not-so-great physical conditioning, or regular ingestion of high amounts of caffeine.

Heart rates above 90 at rest make me look harder for medical problems, and rates above 100 make me consider whether I should let the person go home without finding the cause.

Thomas Lee, M.D., is the chief executive officer for Partners Community HealthCare Inc. He is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is an internist and cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. Lee is the chairman of the Cardiovascular Measurement Assessment Panel of the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

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Last updated:	January 24, 2007