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Heart Rate - what is normal ?

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Carina1962

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Type 2
Just wondering what other people's HR reading is (at rest)? Mine is unusually high and I have seen the doctor about this, they did some blood tests and all OK and told me not to worry about it but I can't help but worry as it doesn't seem to be a 'normal' reading. I was told by the doctor that if it ever went up as high as 150 then I would have to go to A&E. I have had it come on at up to 115 for no reason. Do you think I should get a 2nd opinion from another doctor about it?
 
Anything between 60-100 bpm is normal. The healthier you are, the lower it'll be. I think my resting heart rare is usually around 85. When I'm at the gym, the machines tell me my heart rate goes up to 120ish.
 
As Rosie has said anything between 60 - 100 is 'normal'. Mine rises through exercise and also stress. Our GP loaned my husband a BP monitor which also did pulse rate which gave me the chance to monitor mine as well. Much lower than when at GP.
 
White coat effect. It was mentioned on the radio. Pulse rates are higher taken by Dr's
 
If it's over 100 most of the time then it does seem a bit on the high side Carina. I remember mine being quite high during the period after my diagnosis i.e. when I had been very ill. I was put on betablockers, which essentially limit your heart rate to about 100 beats per minute. My heart rate has always been on the low side - currently between about 45-55 bpm - but then I have been a runner for 33 years! I think most people are somewhere around 80-100 bpm resting. Your maximum heart rate can be roughly determined by subtracting your age from 220. So, if you were 40 and your resting heart rate was 60 bpm then it could work three times as hard before hitting your maximum of 180 bpm. However, if your resting rate was 90 bpm then it could only work twice as hard.

Are you on any medication that might cause a higher heart rate as a side-effect?
 
Tachycardia over a long period of time needs investigating really Carina. When mine was high due to infection the GP wanted to do an ECG but it settled. Anything over 100 for a long period of time could indicate a problem and it can be due to a number of factors one of which is thyroid related. Infection can cause it to increase as can anxiety and some medications.

I'll bet that's why they considered sepsis when you went to the hospital. It's a classic indicator that makes them consider the possibility of sepsis but not reliable as a stand alone problem. My heart rate and temp was through the roof when I had sepsis but my blood pressure had plummeted.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tachycardia/symptoms-causes/dxc-20253873
 
You would need to check any extended periods over 110. An elite athlete could go s low s 40, but not a normal sedentary person. Above 120 deserves urgent treatment. It's not just the rate but also the rhythm. If your heading high, you would feel your heart pulsing, if this feels irregular, then that increases the urgency.
 
I've always had a higher heart rate (usually between 80-90 bpm) and also have a congenital heart murmur. I remember us all taking our pulses during pe at school and mine always being a lot higher than anyone elses. I have been hospitalised twice because of my heart rate being really high and staying there over several hours but ECGs and other tests haven't found a problem. It is hard not to worry because obviously anything heart related is worrying but maybe it is just the way we are. Try not to worry if tests have been done any everything checks out ok.
 
Think what i'll do is keep an eye on my HR, take some readings throughout the day for about a week and pop back to the doctor with my readings and get some opinion.
 
Northerner said:
If it's over 100 most of the time then it does seem a bit on the high side Carina. I remember mine being quite high during the period after my diagnosis i.e. when I had been very ill. I was put on betablockers, which essentially limit your heart rate to about 100 beats per minute. My heart rate has always been on the low side - currently between about 45-55 bpm - but then I have been a runner for 33 years! I think most people are somewhere around 80-100 bpm resting. Your maximum heart rate can be roughly determined by subtracting your age from 220. So, if you were 40 and your resting heart rate was 60 bpm then it could work three times as hard before hitting your maximum of 180 bpm. However, if your resting rate was 90 bpm then it could only work twice as hard.

Are you on any medication that might cause a higher heart rate as a side-effect?
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Yeah, I got a bit worried this year, after losing 20kg and becoming a gym-bunny, as well as my BP coming down to a more normal range, I've found my resting heart rate is down to about 45-50, so I asked the doctor about it and they said 'Well done - you've got the heart of an athlete'. I'm every so pleased that it could happen in around 6 months.
 
Northerner said:
If it's over 100 most of the time then it does seem a bit on the high side Carina. I remember mine being quite high during the period after my diagnosis i.e. when I had been very ill. I was put on betablockers, which essentially limit your heart rate to about 100 beats per minute. My heart rate has always been on the low side - currently between about 45-55 bpm - but then I have been a runner for 33 years! I think most people are somewhere around 80-100 bpm resting. Your maximum heart rate can be roughly determined by subtracting your age from 220. So, if you were 40 and your resting heart rate was 60 bpm then it could work three times as hard before hitting your maximum of 180 bpm. However, if your resting rate was 90 bpm then it could only work twice as hard.

Are you on any medication that might cause a higher heart rate as a side-effect?
Click to expand...

Sorry just realised I didn't answer your questions regarding medication. I do take a number of medications, they are metformin, atorvastatin, ramipril, nortryptyline, omeprazole
 
Owen said:
I'm guessing that you have some long term gastric issues
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Yes, I have a hiatus hernia too. Maybe the amount of medication I take could be causing my high HR. I'm now taking readings over the next week and present them to my GP. I have had blood tests, ECG's and nothing has shown up, I guess the next thing I can ask for is for a 24 hour monitor and see if that throws up anything.
 
Like everything, there are so many variables, so record and monitor is a good move.
 
My resting heart rate has always been a bit low, it's usually around 40-45 bpm. I have occasional anxiety attacks when it can be double that speed and I can wake up now and again with my heart racing... scary.

Keeping records sounds like a good idea to me @carina62, it may give a clearer idea of what's going on.
 
Sadly I record, heart rate, breathing BP, oxygen saturation, little bit over the top, but does give early warnings of pending issues. Oh and the odd ECG.
 
Owen said:
Sadly I record, heart rate, breathing BP, oxygen saturation, little bit over the top, but does give early warnings of pending issues. Oh and the odd ECG.
Click to expand...

I too test my BP every week, what is Breathing BP? I too have an oximeter and record my blood saturation which also shows up with HR. What should the blood saturation be? Is it between 90-99 ?
 
I'm ok with my saturation figures, just my HR concerns me. I'm doing a diary of my HR this week to show my GP. I'm take a lot of medication, could these be causing my HR to be high?
 
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