How To Use Your Resting Heart Rate To Track Your Health

This week in our blog we continue our series focusing on how to use the data you can collect on your wearable device to track your health. Physical Therapist, Doctor Ashley Witson covers how to use both your resting heart rate and your recovery heart rate.
Feldman Physical Therapy & Performance is the premier provider of physical therapy services in the Hudson Valley. With locations in both Poughkeepsie, and Fishkill New York.
Each patient receives a full hour of personalized one-on-one treatment with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. This means you will save time and money with fewer visits over a shorter period of time, resulting in faster healing and recovery.
www.feldmanphysicaltherapy.com

[@richhowell6874]

Wow. This made me feel good. At age 76, my resting rate is between 43 and 46. My recovery from 85% MHR is about 25 BPM. Best of all, running isn't a punishment. It's my guilty pleasure!

[@jcolumbiap]

With the comments from doctors growing up I finally got my own at home blood pressure and heart rate tester. That was a WOW! After having blood pressure at the doctors of 180/ 80 and 100/ 60 at home I knew what was affecting some of my testing at the doctors! STRESS! It usually took several days for it to go back to normal.

[@pamelasookermany7175]

Hi dear! Thanks for sharing. God bless you, stay safe.

[@wenxinchai1148]

I'm a 21 year old male univerisity student. I've been leading a sedentary life style for a whole year. I was more active before the pandemic appears, and is above average in endurance running. My resting heart rate according to my smartwatch was 68. With just a day of exercise (2km run+ 2km walk)，I noticed the resting heart rate fall as much as 3 bpm. My sleeping heart rate is 41-48

[@ms6063]

great garmin ad !

[@preetsindhal7837]

Thanks so much for the info is there any data on how long (how many weeks) do i need to run to bring my heart rate under 50

[@someblokecalleddave1]

Yeah I'm generally 46 - 48 while resting and I'm 60. Had a bunch of tests and MRI's recently they said it was looking good .Current recovery rate post exercise is 39 seconds difference in 2 mins, but it's only the start of the season, so that'll usually improve with a few days of exercise.

[@TheJesseGuerra]

Today July 2, 2021 I was screened for participation for a research study. My Resting heart rate was 48 bpm. The doctor wanted to know if I am an athlete. I am a 46 year old that has no experience with drugs, does not smoke, I do not consume alcohol. I used to box. I presently jog. (5 miles this week), I do ab routines. I do yoga for equanimity, and I meditate. I must emphasis this point: I gained 30 pounds in last 21 years (Most of those pounds acquired in last 18 months. I do not consider myself an d athlete. Is my low BPM due to something negative????.

[@earthbarnes6694]

@@TheJesseGuerra Sounds like you are really healthy, your BPM doesn't sound to be from anything negative at all...im not a Dr. but i do have a little experience with monitoring heart rates, my dad was an heart patient and i myself have seen the heart Dr's so you start to learn a lot by talking to the Dr's and monitoring heart rates over the years

[@MatrxBstr]

Hi My resting heart rate is always too low. I'm not an athlete. I've had a history of this. I'm concerned that it's gonna go too low at night. I have a feeling that is why I'm not sleeping at night. My body is probably kicking in adrenaline and cortisol to keep heart going. Just wondering if anyone has info on this. KZbin seems to be quiet on subject.

[@someblokecalleddave1]

@@MatrxBstr I reckon you should go to your doctor if your concerned. I wouldn't rely on advice off of KZbin.

[@MatrxBstr]

@@someblokecalleddave1 Thank You! Dr's have failed me over these last 20yrs of health issues. I get the best results from chiropractic Dr's who have a focus in natural cures and diet. I don't want to get into all the scenario's how AMA hasn't helped me. KZbin is just one of the places I get help/ answers. Thank You!

[@durhamfrench9299]

I am 15 and a hardcore cross country and track runner. My resting heart rate during the day is around 65 beats per minute. Whilst I’m asleep I usually get around 45-50 beats per minute. Love the video!

[@Feldmanphysicaltherapy]

Thanks!

[@TrishCanyon8]

At 71 my RHR Is 56. I've had a daily exercise regime for years.

[@glenmcd]

To define resting heart rate needs a measurement period. I believe that for low RHR records, one minute is used. Anyways during my sleep I average 35 bpm measured over 30 minute periods. Over two minutes it's around 27 to 29. But that's not just fitness, I was born with low heart rate and yes, all is well says cardio specialist. My 2 minute recovery was 73 this morning (indoor cycling). While I may have a great heart, then there's the rest! Kidney function approaching dialysis required, PKD, hemochromatosis, meniere's disease. My recovery heart rate improved when I went on atorvastatin (for hypertension). I'm about to turn 63. Guys, we're all born different. Identify your strengths, use them to advantage and don't keep crying about the rest. Have fun!

[@ralphbarnett3322]

Great tips Ash! Friendly too :)

[@Feldmanphysicaltherapy]

Thanks

[@nazhmifadhila106]

Got RHR of 130, 17yr old, got pneumonia, TBC, and pleurisy after covid, also infection somewhere in digestion system Taking 10 steps feels like having a jog for 30 minutes, even my grandma have more stamina than me

[@shrutipandey2]

Me too....mine ranges from 90 to 120 after covid

[@marumisu9560]

I've been having lots of anxiety and I started wearing a fitbit and walking 2 miles every day. My RHR on my fitbit went down from 63 to 61 the first two days and on the 3rd day it went up. I started coughing a lot and each day my RHR went up. Around the 4th day I decided to stop walking and around 2 Days later I woke up extremely hot and found out I tested positive for covid. My RHR went from 61 to 73 in around 8 days. It's going down now, but It's stay at 65.

[@samhawkes6597]

I have a resting heart rate of 50-60 beats per minute. I exercise regularly. 4 time a week I bike high intensity heart rate 160 BPM. In addition I lift weights 4 times a week for an hour heart around 100-140 roughly while doing that. I'm a 35 year old male. It does take a little while for my heart rate to come down it drops from 160 to 100-120 ish fairly quickly, but then to go from that down to the 60ish it is just chilling out takes a fair while

[@edensgardenshed9622]

I am seeing the same. 38 male inactive most days homeschool my kids. Then very hard mtn biking 2-3 days a week max 189 hr. Just got a Garmin and noticed that my hr after riding dropped to 115 and stayed around 100 for trip home and next day still 96. So far my research is telling me that I don’t get enough low intensity aerobic exercise. Any time i exercise it is all out intensity. So i think i need to do long 1hr+ slow jog or bike at 60-80% max hr. To build better endurance and heart health to make up for what i miss between sedentary and high intensity.

[@mmh8159]

115/67 67bpm. 45 year old man. Is this decent for resting pressure and BPM?

[@isaacmontes5324]

So I did quit a bit of drinking the other night and noticed my heart rate increase a lot when I was asleep. But after I got up in the morning it settled down and was good all day. I've read that alcohol could do that. Any idea if I should be worried. Good possibility that I wasn't hydrated enough 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@Feldmanphysicaltherapy]

Alcohol has that effect

[@indymudshow]

You speak a lot of athletes and exercise but What about your recovery from general activities? Like let's say my hr sitting in my chair is 60. I get up to use the bathroom and it goes up to about 75 or even 80. I walk back and sit down and my hr is back to 60 within a min of sitting down.

[@stephenhammond3656]

I'm 50 yrs old - Yesterday I did a 55km MTB Race and my HR topped out at 189 BPM!! - Is this normal??

[@jenkinboykz0]

My lowest recorded RHR was at 36bpm (perhaps during sleep time), when awake I go as low as about 48bpm. I'm 37 years old, male. I try to jog during my breaks at work since we're working from home. My top hr after jogging for 15 mins straight goes as high as 154bpm and my RHR ranges between 38-47bpm decrease 1 minute after. after 2 minutes I'm at 90bpm, then 3 minutes I'll be around 78-84. Is that a good cardio health by your reckoning? I try to be active when I can and I adopted a 16-8 intermittent fasting everyday for the past 8 months.

[@thetrigonband6536]

I'm the exact age as you and have the same result but I have been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse last December

[@meximike1989]

My best is around 55 but can be around 62 and when I wake up then it can be around 80 that’s when I stand up . Very dehydrated usually .

[@dave3gan]

Apparently the recommendation of 60 to 100 is because it lines up with a whole number of squares on the ECG graph paper. 50 to 90 is better, but of course if you do a lot of aerobic exercise it will go below 50.

[@heenagajjar9899]

My pulse rate home work hourse morning to afternoon every day 1to to time increse 140to160 and resting hert pulse 100to 90 its normal?? My hert report is normal how balance my hert pulse slow down pls suggest me or help me 🙏

[@musicalmaniac1725]

I had COVID a month ago but now my heart rate is at around 70. And i workout. Is it normal?because i never measured my heart rate pre COVID.

[@Feldmanphysicaltherapy]

It is really hard to tell if COVID caused it to change without a baseline number. Just keep tracking it now

[@indian3232]

what is the resting heart beat? a)75-85 b)50-62 c)72-80 d)60-70 (asked government job entrance exam)

[@yogichandra515]

im 100kg obese. my heart rate is at 38 - 59. I don’t consider myself an athlete or anything. And if I do sport my heart rate can go up to 170 bpm like jog or strength workout

[@mobiletech35]

Jaldi marega dont worry

[@deeznuts-dm7hm]

92, at the doctor, 104 (although I guess I was a bit stressed). I am fit (not a professional marathon athlete) why is this happening?

[@Feldmanphysicaltherapy]

Hard to say, your doctor should be able to figure it out

[@deeznuts-dm7hm]

@@Feldmanphysicaltherapy I dont have any heart issues, I run miles and do strength exercises once in a while. I am 18. Dont know if I should be concerned.

[@srikanthtupurani6316]

If the resting heart is 92 because of some problem in the heart then we have to worry. If it is because of our life style or some other reasons not related to the heart then we can improve it by exercise.

[@quickpstuts412]

@@deeznuts-dm7hm Do you have anxiety and worry a lot? That can increase your heart rate. I'm in my 40s and have a high heart rate all my life. Most of it is due to anxiety. It always goes up at the doctor because I'm stressed about the reading.

[@saadal-mutairi]

Is losing fitness can evaluate the Resting Heart Rate?

[@andreaperezpower]

I normally at rest while working and walking around will be above 100 bpm.. sometimes I’ll just get up from my seat and I’m at 110-115 bpm. I weigh 125 lbs and 5’3 in height so since I’m not overweight, I never questioned it. I started working out 3 weeks ago and I see a huge difference, my resting rate while awake is now in the 70’s. Should I still see a cardiologist or have I fixed the problem? Lol

[@TheDeeba2]

How often do you workout and what exercises do you do?

[@versussoccer1921]

When i sleep i have a hr of 32-35 and when i wake up sometimes its 42-48 but other days i have 92-97 when waking up Is it normal? Im 14 years old

[@Feldmanphysicaltherapy]

While some variation is normal, that’s a big variation, how are you checking it? Could be device error

[@versussoccer1921]

@@Feldmanphysicaltherapy Whit apple watch or me personaly. Also i feel it pounding very strong in my chest and i hear it sometimes

[@Feldmanphysicaltherapy]

@@versussoccer1921 hmm sounds like you may want to get that checked out.

[@Kurio71]

I got my resting heart rate down to 35 bpm. It was 80 after lockdown

[@lindapestridge3073]

Hi kurio71. I'm so worried my resting heart rate Is 80 bpm it doesn't matter what I do I can't get it any lower Would you be as kind as to share What you did.

[@Kurio71]

@@lindapestridge3073 Lots of training. I was Muay Thai fighting at the time. Best to measure your HR once you wake up. 80 bpm is usual for an untrained person.

[@madhumithar3252]

​@@lindapestridge3073 did it went down

[@madhumithar3252]

​@@Kurio71what kind of training

[@limlth]

@@lindapestridge3073how are ya doing?

[@waterfastingresults]

Mine was down to 34 sleeping last night

[@aminefaleh9002]

hello gus 58 - 60 befor sleep its normal ?

[@ricardowilson7399]

Same here, how r u now?

[@fordman832]

Hearth rate recovery was dimbunked by ny times article this why Cardiologis or doctor don’t use it hearth recovery hearth rate was fair for so many people but after seeing a cardiologist doing holter monitor test ecg echocardiogram and stress test with echocardiogram that looks at out put and input of blood in your heart plus family history are standard tests for cardio vascular health. How do you also explain top athletes top marathon athletes with amazing hearth recovery dropping dead from massive heart attack. My cardiologist told me most important is family history then top of the line is echocardiogram with stres test. You can have amazing recovery but have genetic heart condition lying in wait that will kill you

[@Feldmanphysicaltherapy]

Unfortunately the NY times is not a medical journal, and resting HR is still very much an important metric and one used very often. Your personal experience may be unique, we can't let people be misled by n=1

[@anachav3072]

Need to consider magnesium/potasio functions on the body , also magnesium deficiency in our food ( mayor) . Talking about athletes dropping dead as oppose as great performers mostly coming from the agrican regions where the soils are rich on magnesium

[@Ayscoochi]

@@anachav3072 Can you explain further? How does magnesium relate to them dropping dead if African regions have soils rich in magnesium?

[@fordman832]

Listen guys low resting heart rate anything below 60 is technicality a bradycardia now bradycardia can be serious if you are lightheaded or fainting specially when exercising even if you have low hr and fainted once or fell supper tired lightheaded you need to see a cardiologist

[@Feldmanphysicaltherapy]

The is for watching. Low resting heart rate is very different from a low heart rate on the move or with activity. Lightheadedness or fainting are definitely problems, and reasons to see a doc, but a resting Har under 60 is very normal, spec with athletes

[@iamsmith9893]

My resting HR is in the 50s. Everything I read about is saying that that is normal, especially for someone who runs. Maybe not normal if you are obese.

[@Amir-mq4jy]

Lowest I’ve seen my heart ate drop was 48

[@gauravshah1938]

What should be HR just in stand position

[@Feldmanphysicaltherapy]

Different for everyone

[@gauravshah1938]

@@Feldmanphysicaltherapy but just aprox for idea how much different when sit and stand for healthy person like u

[@shafgha69]

my sleep rhr is 38-40 wake up 41-45 it that r normal?i am running 4-5 time a weeks

[@Feldmanphysicaltherapy]

Everyone is different, if that is consistent for you and you feel good than it is your normal

[@irritatedbarbarian3186]

Average resting heart rate is between 60-100 so you’re pretty healthy.

[@nauding1035]

Yea man you’re in great shape Keep it up I’m at 34 resting heart rate right now

[@Davidh741]

As long as you are not felling any symptoms like fainting blocking out super tired my is in 50 60 I am weekend runner I seen a cardiologist and holter monitor recorded hr in 27 while sleep. KZbin York cardiologist low heart rate he explains low heart rate

[@mrlee8745]

Hi mine is 58 sometimes 56 when I wake up and check. And during the day times. I sometimes check I get like 62~ 66 highest like 68. I check by myself But the thing is tho when I check with the machine the rate is totally different. Sometimes 70 or more but the doctor told me that checking myself is more accurate. Is it true ??

[@reverendbluejeans1748]

I use a fitbit. Mine has gone down from 61 to 55 in a few eeks

[@BigBrandonMarcel]

I'm near 50... I weight 340.... I workout 4 to 5x a week. My wake up heart rate is low to high 50s

[@Feldmanphysicaltherapy]

Good work, good for you! Keep up the working out!

[@gottgaame]

That’s dangerous at 340 pounds. I hope u lost weight. Your blood pressure is probably through the roof

[@heartofthunder1440]

I wouldn’t know what my resting heart rate is, because if I was I’d be stressed out by it, and I’m sure it probably wouldn’t be good, lol…. No in all seriousness, wouldn’t a stress test cover all of these points? This young lady is pretty informative but so many different people out here, all body weights, all body masses, so doesn’t it all depend? Don’t forget health factors to some more healthy than others as well.

[@Feldmanphysicaltherapy]

To find your resting hr your best bet is to wear a device (like watch) while you sleep

[@TheFIoridaMan]

Mine while im asleep is 50-60 and awake and active its more 70-80 so i definitely want to bring that down with being only 21 years old. Im just a lazy POS

[@Feldmanphysicaltherapy]

regular exercise and activity is key, also getting enough sleep

[@JH-tj9jd]

That's actually a pretty good heart rate. It probably wouldn't take a lot of exercise for you to bring it down to an awesome heart rate.

[@srikanthtupurani6316]

Some people with low blood pressure might have high resting heart rate.

[@valedro]

That's me! My blood pressure is around 117/88 (last time I checked a few days ago) and my resting heart rate first thing in the morning and throughout the day is between 90 and 110.

[@srikanthtupurani6316]

@@valedro you sistolic blood pressure is perfect. Diastolic is little more than normal. One reading does not tell anything. We need more reading to evaluate ourselves. The major problem with medical professionals is they say even if the reading is slightly above normal it is dangerous. They create so much fear in the minds of people. This fear is more dangerous than blood pressure. There are people who crossed 90 and had slightly higher blood pressure. Most dangerous thing is wrong diagnosis and excessive usage of medicines. This is the worst thing. My mother was a victim of wrong diagnosis. She suffers from low blood pressure ones blood pressure was 140-92 because of some family problems. . She went to the doctor he gave some strong medicines. Because of the side effects of the medicines she developed some problems. For solving those problems she used some more medicines. Things became so worse it is painful when I think about. When she stopped using all medicines she became normal.

[@valedro]

@@srikanthtupurani6316 I was just coming to add that I'm pregnant, so heart rate is probably more than when I wasn't.

[@uditkrishnasai]

who else is here from Ms. Foley?

[@Feldmanphysicaltherapy]

sorry don't understand the question

[@uditkrishnasai]

@@Feldmanphysicaltherapy my pe teacher told us to watch this video for homework

[@Feldmanphysicaltherapy]

Ahh that's great! Any way we can help feel free to ask. We are always happy create specific content.

[@uditkrishnasai]

@@Feldmanphysicaltherapy Do you know the best way to gain healthy weight?

[@Feldmanphysicaltherapy]

Biggest thing is to eat a great diet, and stay on a regular weight training plan. The hardest part is to get enough good calories

[@pinkjelly167]

ew

[@davidmciver9483]

Low heart rate (40s): bradycardia. If you are an extremely fit, good. Overweight and out of shape, bad.