Heart rate is the number of times the heartbeats per minute. This varies according to the gender and age of each individual. When the number of pulsations rises above average, it could mean that there is a health problem, but in general, this is not the case.
At rest, the regular pulsations of an adult oscillate between 50 and 100 beats per second. However, some events can speed up the heart. Specialists assert that having a high heart rate at rest negatively affects the life expectancy of individuals. At FastlyHealwe offer you information on high pulsations at rest: causes and consequences.
Table of Contents
How to take your heart rate at rest
Heart rate refers to the number of times the heart contracts per minute to pump blood through the body. Typically, it ranges from 50 to 100 beats per minute for an individual at rest. To measure your heart rate at rest, you should take your pulse when you wake up before getting out of bed.
The number of beats varies according to age, gender, weight, mood, and time of day. The heart rate is higher in babies, and 160 seconds is considered normal. In school, children, up to 120 beats are regular. Thus, the heart rate decreases over the years until it stabilizes around 20.
Also, the heart rate can be affected for different reasons. When the heart rate exceeds one hundred beats per minute, it is called tachycardia, more specifically sinus tachycardia, since it originates in the atrial sinus, defined as the heart’s primary pacemaker.
Sinus tachycardia is very common and is not a disease as such. It is considered a physiological response to some psychological or physical stress and occurs in anyone without necessarily having a cardiovascular disease. High heart rate at rest and anxiety are closely related. When a tachycardia episode occurs, the heart rate does not usually exceed 200 beats per minute.
Tachycardia is perceived as palpitations. Other symptoms that usually accompany this feeling of having a racing pulse are:
- Nervousness.
- Sweating
- Difficulty breathing.
- Feeling of suffocation
- Dizziness
The doctor should take the pulse in the first instance, and then if he considers it necessary, he can do an electrocardiogram to confirm the diagnosis.
High pulsations at rest: causes
Some conditions affect the individual’s resting heart rate, such as genetic inheritance, aging, stress, some medications, and certain diseases. It is advisable to know your heart rate at rest. It would be best to take your pulse when you woke up before jumping out of bed. As mentioned before, they should be between 50 and 100 beats per minute. Above 100 seconds, it is considered sinus tachycardia, how the heart reacts to unavoidable circumstances.
The heartbeat is regulated by a precise mechanism that controls the rate at which the heart beats based on the body’s metabolic needs. If the individual’s requirements are higher, such as during physical exercise, the heart accelerates, but if it is the moment of sleep, the seat should slow down when the body goes to rest.
The sinus node or pacemaker of the heart is the part of this organ in charge of establishing a good rhythm, from 60 to 80 beats per minute. When the body requires it, this part of the heart receives the information through the autonomic nervous system and responds by accelerating the heart rate. Sinus tachycardia then occurs.
In general, it is normal for tachycardia to occur in the following circumstances:
- Physical exercise.
- Psychological stress
- Fever.
- Infection.
- Pregnancy.
- Physical pain.
- Consumption of alcohol, coffee, or tobacco.
On the other hand, some diseases can alter the heart rhythm. Between them:
- Heart failure.
- Heart attack.
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Hypotension or hypertension.
- Hypoxemia due to respiratory failure due to the asthmatic crisis, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary embolism, lung edema, and others.
- Reduction of circulating blood volume due to bleeding.
- Certain medications
High pulsations at rest: consequences
A low resting heart rate is considered to reflect better heart health. For example, in general, athletes have lower resting heart rates than individuals who do not exercise. On the contrary, if the heart rate is high at rest, this implies that the heart is trying harder to do its work, and in the long term, this is a drain on the heart.
Some studies reveal that having a high heart rate decreases life expectancy. Norwegian researchers studied the resting pulsations of a group of 29,000 individuals. A first measurement of the heart rate was made, and ten years later, the resting vibrations were measured again. It is important to note that these were people without cardiovascular disease.
In this study, it was observed that a more significant number of individuals died in the group of people with high pulsations at rest compared to the group that maintained low vibrations throughout the ten years. Are you wondering how to lower your heart rate at rest? This is the best thing to do:
- Exercise daily.
- Reduce stress.
- Avoid smoking.
- Lose weight if you are overweight.
If heart rate changes are perceived, both at rest and throughout the day, it is essential to consult a specialist. This will evaluate the patient’s medical history, determine if there are any diseases, and seek to identify their causes. Although, in general, isolated sinus tachycardia is not usually associated with any pathology.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to High pulsations at rest: causes and consequences, we recommend that you enter our category of Blood, heart, and circulation.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.