subject: Factors That Affect A Persons Average Heart Rate [print this page] The average heart rate of resting adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm). Countless factors which include age, gender, weight, fitness level, body position, and medication use can affect a persons heart rate.
The average heart rate of newborns is 120-180 bpm. When the child reaches age one, the average becomes 95-150 bpm. At age 5, the average heart rate is between 80 and 120 bpm. When the child reaches 12, however, it becomes 60-100 bpm. Older people, on the other hand, will usually have a lower average heart rate. This is due to the changes in the heart muscle as it ages. A low heart rate of 50 bpm is considered normal for people who are 75 years old and greater.
Studies reveal that differences in heart rate also rely on gender. Men tend to have a slightly lower average heart rate than women because of the differences in heart size. Normally, a mans heart is larger by twenty-five percent compared to a womans heart. A larger heart can hold a larger volume of blood and has the ability to pump easier. Hence, a large heart is not required to work faster to be able to provide sufficient amounts of blood to the body. A few heart beats will suffice because of the strength and efficiency of each pumping action.
Heart rate decreases as the weight increases. The heart is less able to pump effectively when there is a great deal of fat deposits surrounding it. So it pumps even harder and faster to counteract the effect of the fats pressing on the heart walls. However, there comes a time when the heart gets tired and pumps slower. It is for this reason that overweight people have generally lower average heart rates.
By being physically top fit, you make the job of the heart considerably easier. Regular physical exercise makes the heart stronger and hence can provide the body with all the blood that it needs even with fewer beats per minute when it is at rest. This is the reason why well-conditioned athletes generally have an average heart rate of 40 bpm.
The average heart rate when a person is lying down is lower as compared to the heart rate of a person when hes upright. When a person is lying down, the effects of gravity are lessened. This allows more blood to flow back to the heart through the veins. Because theres more blood returning to the heart, the body is able to pump a larger volume of blood per beat. It means that the heart can supply the body with oxygen-rich blood even with just a few beats.
Medications can affect a persons average heart rate as well. Digoxin, for instance, decreases the heart rate. A person who takes digitalis on a regular basis, therefore, is anticipated to have a lower average heart rate than others.
Explained here are just a handful of the many factors that affect the heart rate of individuals. When asked about what the average heart rate is, consider the contributing factors first before answering.
