The answer is maybe.
Typically, doctors believe that a healthy heart rate is between 60 and 80 beats per minute, with anything below being referred to as bradycardia, and above being tachycardia. These guidelines are based on 'resting' heart rates, however, as heart rates fluctuate greatly depending on the situation. When doing exercise, your heart rate will obviously be a lot higher! The best way to measure your heart rate is to find the 'resting' figure after a period of rest, or perhaps first thing when you wake up in the morning or after a nap.
There are a number of things to consider before deciding whether your heart rate is unhealthy. First of all, are you generally fit and well? A number of athletes have been known to have very low resting heart rates. Miguel Indurain, for instance, had a resting heart rate of just 29 beats per minute! If you exercise regularly and would consider yourself to be a conditioned athlete, it would be perfectly normal for your heart rate to be below the 60 beats per minute mark.
Another factor to consider is age, heart rates change with age. There is currently no agreed guideline for a child's heart rate, and the aforementioned 60 to 80 beats per minute apply to adults only. Size also plays a part, in much the same way that children have faster resting heart rates, smaller adults do too.
Bradycardia does not usually present symptoms until the resting person is hitting below 50 beats per minute. Whilst it is non-symptomatic, it should not be a cause for concern, unless you believe you may be at risk of heart complications for other reasons. In fact, recent research suggests that people with tachycardia are the ones with cardiovascular mortal risk as it causes additional mechanical stress to the beating heart. As with all medical issues, you should consult your doctor if you think you may be at risk.
Typically, doctors believe that a healthy heart rate is between 60 and 80 beats per minute, with anything below being referred to as bradycardia, and above being tachycardia. These guidelines are based on 'resting' heart rates, however, as heart rates fluctuate greatly depending on the situation. When doing exercise, your heart rate will obviously be a lot higher! The best way to measure your heart rate is to find the 'resting' figure after a period of rest, or perhaps first thing when you wake up in the morning or after a nap.
There are a number of things to consider before deciding whether your heart rate is unhealthy. First of all, are you generally fit and well? A number of athletes have been known to have very low resting heart rates. Miguel Indurain, for instance, had a resting heart rate of just 29 beats per minute! If you exercise regularly and would consider yourself to be a conditioned athlete, it would be perfectly normal for your heart rate to be below the 60 beats per minute mark.
Another factor to consider is age, heart rates change with age. There is currently no agreed guideline for a child's heart rate, and the aforementioned 60 to 80 beats per minute apply to adults only. Size also plays a part, in much the same way that children have faster resting heart rates, smaller adults do too.
Bradycardia does not usually present symptoms until the resting person is hitting below 50 beats per minute. Whilst it is non-symptomatic, it should not be a cause for concern, unless you believe you may be at risk of heart complications for other reasons. In fact, recent research suggests that people with tachycardia are the ones with cardiovascular mortal risk as it causes additional mechanical stress to the beating heart. As with all medical issues, you should consult your doctor if you think you may be at risk.
