What is the resting heart rate?

Resting heart rate is an important physiological parameter that reflects the number of heart beats per minute when a person is at rest. It is widely recognized as an indicator of cardiovascular health and overall fitness. Understanding the factors that influence resting heart rate, their impact on health and their measurement methods are essential for both clinical practice and research.

Normal range and measurement

The normal range for resting heart rate varies according to age, gender and fitness level. For adults, it is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm). However, athletes and people with a high level of cardiovascular fitness often have lower resting heart rates, sometimes as low as 40 beats per minute. The resting heart rate is usually measured after a period of rest, ideally in the morning before any physical activity, using a heart rate monitor or by manually palpating the pulse.

Influencing Factors

The resting heart rate is influenced by a variety of physiological factors. The autonomic nervous system plays a decisive role, with the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity determining the heart rate. Increased sympathetic activity, associated with stress or physical exertion, leads to an increase in heart rate, while increased parasympathetic activity, characteristic of relaxation, leads to a decrease in heart rate.

Endocrine factors are also relevant, as hormones such as adrenaline (the stress hormone) and thyroxine (the thyroid hormone) can influence heart rate. In addition, intrinsic heart rate, which is determined by genetics, plays a role in determining an individual's resting heart rate.

Good to know

Genes that influence our sleep-wake rhythm and stress can also change our resting heart rate.

Other influencing factors

• Age: Resting heart rate tends to increase with age as parasympathetic tone decreases and the cardiovascular system changes.
• Physical fitness: Regular physical activity improves cardiovascular efficiency and leads to a lower resting heart rate. Endurance training in particular is associated with a significant reduction.
• Lifestyle factors: Smoking, stress and poor diet can increase resting heart rate, while a healthy diet, stress management and quitting smoking are associated with a lower resting heart rate.
• Medical conditions: Conditions such as hyperthyroidism, anemia and cardiovascular disease can increase resting heart rate. However, it can also be lowered by beta-blockers and other medications.

Clinical significance

Resting heart rate is a valuable predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. An elevated resting heart rate is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. It is an independent risk factor for these diseases, even when other variables such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels are taken into account.

What does genetics have to do with it?