1. Pulse Range Adult Male
2. Human Heart Rate Beats Per Minute
3. Average Human Heart Beat Per Minute
4. How Many Times Should A Human Heart Beat Per Minute
5. Average Human Heart Beat Per Minute
6. What Is A Normal Pulse Reading

Discussing heart rate vs. pulse can be a confusing when trying to decipher the two. Essentially, they are two separate measurements and indicators of health but are closely related. The heart is a muscular pump that with each heart beat pumps blood throughout the body. A pulse is what you feel over an artery as the pressure increases within it following each heartbeat.

Your heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute (bpm). A normal heart rate is between 60 and 100 bpm while you’re resting. However, it will vary depending on when it’s measured and what you were doing immediately before the reading. How do I measure my heart rate? An adult human has about four to five quarts which the heart pumps to all the tissues and to and from the lungs in about one minute while beating 75 times. 10 The heart pumps oxygenated blood through the aorta (the largest artery) at about 1 mile (1.6 km) per hour.

For adults, the general consensus is a normal pulse rate falls into the range of 60 to 100 beats per minute. Having a rate that exceeds this is known as tachycardia – a heart rate that exceeds normal resting rate. Tachycardia may be caused by hypovolemia, rises in body temperature, stress, heart disease, exercise, or even when using certain medication.

What are heart and pulse rates?

Heart rate is measured by counting the number of heart beats in one minute; beats per minute. A heart beat is the sounds of the heart valves opening and closing in response to pressure differences. During each heart beat blood is pushed throughout the body, augmenting blood pressure and therefore the pulse rate in the main arteries. Accurate heart rates can be measured from the thorax with a heart rate transmitter or by electrocardiograph (ECG/EKG).

Pulse rate is the measure palpable blood pressure increases throughout the body that occurs with each heartbeat. Pulse rate is basically the physical sensation of a heart beat felt through the arterial vascular system. Pulse can be measured from the earlobe with a pulse meter known as a Photo Reflectance or Infrared Sensor Monitor. Your pulse can vary with body movements and should, therefore, be measured while at rest. An easy way to measure pulse rate is to place your fingers at the base of the thumb at the wrist, or at the neck, just next to your windpipe.

Heart rate vs pulse rate: The difference

The cardiovascular system is a complex network of specialized muscle and tissue. They all work together to ensure that oxygen-rich blood is being supplied to the far reaches of the human body. No organ is more important than the brain, which is why when our blood pressure becomes too low we often collapse or faint so our head will be on a lower plane, horizontally on the floor with the rest of the body. This is to circumvent the effects of gravity and help the heart pump blood to the brain more easily.

Our heart rate and pulse rate are key factors to ensuring blood pressure is high enough to sustain the perfusion of blood to all organs of the human body. While both are considered similar each represents a different mechanic of how the body is responding to differences in blood pressure.

Under normal condition, both the heart rate and pulse rate tend to be the same, but in conditions that affect either only the heart or only the blood vessels, these values may differ. The heart rate is the measured value obtained per minute when listening to the sounds the heart produces. The pulse rate is the measured value per minute when palpating the arterial vessels through the sense of touch and is a good indicator of various blood pressures throughout the body.

Your pulse rate is dependent on your heart rate. For if your heart were to stop beating you will not produce a pulse as there is no blood being pumped through the arterial vascular system.

Individuals with certain heart conditions where the heart does not efficiently pump blood with each contraction, they may have a pulse that is lower than the measured heart rate. Heart rate can also be affected by other factors such as body mass, athleticism, alcohol use, and smoking cigarettes.

In normal healthy individuals, the pulse rate can be used to measure heart rate.

How are heart rate and pulse rate related?

The source of a pulse is your heart. It can be understood as having a ripple effect throughout your vascular system much like throwing a stone into a pond. But the human body is vastly more complex as under normal operating conditions it has to maintain a certain level of homeostasis- a stable equilibrium between interdependent elements.

Health care providers have learned to use heart rate and pulse rate as two separate characteristics. While they are intrinsically bound they can differ in certain ways they may not fall in line with the current health status of the other.

Heart rates vary by age, with ranges for newborns and older adults differing vastly. Yet these are all still considered normal heart rate values. A normal newborn heart rate falls between 70-190 beats per min, while an adults heart rate falls between 60-100 beats per minute. This reference for adults can be more variable as seen in an athletic individual who’s normal resting heart rate has reached a level that is below normal owing to their greater level of fitness.

Effects of various health conditions and exercises on heart and pulse rate

Pulse Range Adult Male

Our cardiovascular system is a dynamic and resilient structure capable of overcoming several short comings. We see this first hand in those who live unhealthy lifestyles, eating foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol and not getting enough exercise. These individuals have weakened their vascular system by clogging their blood vessels with plaque and degrading blood vessel integrity leading to diagnosis such as hypertension (high blood pressure). In cases such as these, the heart has to work extra hard to pass blood through narrow blood vessels. it achieves this by increasing the force it has to push, which leads to a rise in blood pressure. This rise occurs over years of neglect of good health habits.

The dynamic nature of the cardiovascular system works in the immediate as well. This can be appreciated as temporary rises in blood pressure while we exercise to help improve blood flow or during the time of anxiety were our body feels it needs to get ready to either fight or run away. Variations in temperature also have a distinct effect on heart rate as one UK study found that a one-degree change in body temperature could increase or lower the pulse as much as 10 beats per minute.

The things we consume such as cigarette smoke, alcohol, and various drugs can also affect your heart rate on a chemical level. Sometimes this can be dangerously so. Much like other muscles in the body, the heart is also connected to the central nervous system which can be influenced by chemical augmentation.

While heart rate and pulse rate is seen as two sides of the same coin, they could be thought of as different values that are related but can vary depending on the circumstance. Our body is a complex organism composed of a rich network of interconnecting organs and tissue all working together to help keep you alive.

Overview

What is your pulse?

Your pulse is your heart rate, or the number of times your heart beats in one minute. Pulse rates vary from person to person. Your pulse is lower when you are at rest and increases when you exercise (more oxygen-rich blood is needed by the body when you exercise). Knowing how to take your pulse can help you evaluate your exercise program.

How to take your pulse

1. Place the tips of your index, second and third fingers on the palm side of your other wrist below the base of the thumb. Or, place the tips of your index and second fingers on your lower neck on either side of your windpipe.
2. Press lightly with your fingers until you feel the blood pulsing beneath your fingers. You may need to move your fingers around slightly up or down until you feel the pulsing.
3. Use a watch with a second hand, or look at a clock with a second hand.
4. Count the beats you feel for 10 seconds. Multiply this number by six to get your heart rate (pulse) per minute.

Count your pulse: _____ beats in 10 seconds x 6 = _____ beats/minute

What is a normal pulse?

Normal heart rates at rest:

• Children (ages 6 - 15) 70 – 100 beats per minute
• Adults (age 18 and over) 60 – 100 beats per minute

Test Details

Human Heart Rate Beats Per Minute

What is maximum heart rate?

Average Human Heart Beat Per Minute

The maximum heart rate is the highest heart rate achieved during maximal exercise. One simple method to calculate your predicted maximum heart rate, uses this formula:

220 - your age = predicted maximum heart rate

Example: a 40-year-old's predicted maximum heart rate is 180 beats/minute.

There are other formulas that take into account the variations in maximal heart rate with age and gender. If you are interested in learning more about these more accurate but slightly more complicated formulas please see these resources:

• Gellish RL, Goslin BR, Olson RE, McDonald A, Russi GD, Moudgil VK. Longitudinal modeling of the relationship between age and maximal heart rate. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007 May;39(5):822-9. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17468581
• Gulati M, Shaw LJ, Thisted RA, Black HR, Bairey Merz CN, Arnsdorf MF. Heart rate response to exercise stress testing in asymptomatic women: the st. James women take heart project. Circulation. 2010 Jul 13;122(2):130-7. Epub 2010 Jun 28. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20585008

Your actual maximum heart rate is most accurately determined by a medically supervised maximal graded exercise test.

How Many Times Should A Human Heart Beat Per Minute

Please note that some medications and medical conditions may affect your heart rate. If you are taking medications or have a medical condition (such as heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes), always ask your doctor if your maximum heart rate/target heart rate will be affected. If so, your heart rate ranges for exercise should be prescribed by your doctor or an exercise specialist.

What is target heart rate?

• You gain the most benefits and lessen the risks when you exercise in your target heart rate zone. Usually this is when your exercise heart rate (pulse) is 60 to 80% of your maximum heart rate. In some cases, your health care provider may decrease your target heart rate zone to begin with 50% .
• In some cases, High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) may be beneficial. This should be discussed with a healthcare professional before beginning. With HIIT exercise, heart rates zones may exceed 85%.
• Always check with your healthcare provider before starting an exercise program. Your provider can help you find a program and target heart rate zone that matches your needs, goals and physical condition.
• When beginning an exercise program, you may need to gradually build up to a level that's within your target heart rate zone, especially if you haven't exercised regularly before. If the exercise feels too hard, slow down. You will reduce your risk of injury and enjoy the exercise more if you don't try to over-do it!
• To find out if you are exercising in your target zone (between 60 and 80% of your maximum heart rate), stop exercising and check your 10-second pulse. If your pulse is below your target zone (see below), increase your rate of exercise. If your pulse is above your target zone, decrease your rate of exercise.

Average Human Heart Beat Per Minute

What is your target zone?

Target Heart Rate Zones by Age *

• Age: 20
  • Target Heart Rate (HR) Zone (60-85%): ** 120 – 170
  • Predicted Maximum HR: 200
• Age: 25
  • Target Heart Rate (HR) Zone (60-85%): 117 – 166
  • Predicted Maximum HR: 195
• Age: 30
  • Target Heart Rate (HR) Zone (60-85%): 114 – 162
  • Predicted Maximum HR: 190
• Age:35
  • Target Heart Rate (HR) Zone (60-85%): ** 111 – 157
  • Predicted Maximum HR: 185
• Age: 40
  • Target Heart Rate (HR) Zone (60-85%): 108 – 153
  • Predicted Maximum HR: 180
• Age: 45
  • Target Heart Rate (HR) Zone (60-85%): 105 – 149
  • Predicted Maximum HR: 175
• Age: 50
  • Target Heart Rate (HR) Zone (60-85%): 102 – 145
  • Predicted Maximum HR: 170
• Age:55
  • Target Heart Rate (HR) Zone (60-85%): 99 – 140
  • Predicted Maximum HR: 165
• Age:60
  • Target Heart Rate (HR) Zone (60-85%): 96 – 136
  • Predicted Maximum HR: 160
• Age:65
  • Target Heart Rate (HR) Zone (60-85%): 93 – 132
  • Predicted Maximum HR: 155
• Age:70
  • Target Heart Rate (HR) Zone (60-85%): 90 – 123
  • Predicted Maximum HR: 150

Your Actual Values (Actual Values are determined from a graded exercise test)

• Target HR
• Max. HR

* This chart is based on the formula: 220 - your age = predicted maximum heart rate.

Resources

For more information about exercise

What Is A Normal Pulse Reading

• Exercise for Your Heart Health.
• Exercise: Make Your Program a Success.
• To make an appointment with an exercise specialist or to join a cardiac rehabilitation program, contact the Cleveland Clinic Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation Program at 216.444.9353 or 800.223.2273, ext. 9353
• To find a cardiac rehabilitation program in your area, contact the American Association of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation.
• American Heart Association.
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.