A person’s heart rate is the number of times the heartbeats per minute (BPM).
To find your heart rate, check your pulse, which can be felt on your:
- Wrists
- Inside of the elbow
- Side of the neck
- Top of the foot
Place your finger (not your thumb) over your pulse and count the number of beats in 60 seconds to get your heart rate.
According to the American Heart Association, a normal adult resting heart rate is between 60 beats per minute (BPM) and 100 BPM for people 15 years and older.
Causes of a high resting heart rate may include:
- Viruses
- Fever
- Low red blood cell count (anemia)
- Overactive thyroid
- Anxiety or panic attacks
- Poor physical conditioning
- Dehydration
- Being in the heat
- Pregnancy
- Menstruation
- Too much alcohol, caffeine, or nicotine
- Overuse of some over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants
- Stress
- Fear
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Illegal drugs such as ecstasy, methamphetamines, or cocaine
Serious conditions that can cause a fast heart rate include:
- Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), including atrial fibrillation (AFib)
- Heart failure
- A past heart attack
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Problems with the heart’s valves or muscles
What Are Normal Heart Rates by Age?
Normal heart rates by age are as follows:
| Age range | Heart Rate (beats per minute, or BPM) |
|---|---|
| Newborn | 100-160 |
| 0-5 months | 90-150 |
| 6-12 months | 80-140 |
| 1-3 years | 80-130 |
| 3-5 years | 80-120 |
| 6-10 years | 70-110 |
| 11-14 years | 60-105 |
| 15 years and older | 60-100 |
When Should I Be Concerned About a High Resting Heart Rate?
Call 911 or get to a hospital’s emergency department (do not drive yourself) if you have an unusually fast heart rate accompanied by symptoms such as:
- Chest pain or tightness
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Fatigue
- Exercise intolerance
What Is the Treatment for a High Resting Heart Rate?
When the cause of a high resting heart rate is a temporary condition, such as stress or too much caffeine, your heart rate will go back down on its own once the situation that caused it to be elevated resolves.
If a high resting heart rate is due to a heart condition, treatment may include:
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https://www.heart.org/
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2172054-overview#a2
https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/measuring/heartrate.htm
https://healthcare.utah.edu/cardiovascular/conditions/racing-heartbeat.php
https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/should-i-worry-about-my-fast-pulse