Resting Heart Rate: A Free Daily Health Check
No subscription, no app. Just your finger on your wrist for sixty seconds — and a clearer signal than most lab tests.
What is a healthy range?
A relaxed adult resting heart rate (RHR) typically sits between 50 and 80 beats per minute. Athletes routinely sit in the 40–55 range — the heart has more stroke volume, so it needs fewer beats per minute. A consistently elevated RHR (>85 over weeks) correlates with higher cardiovascular risk in large cohort studies.
How to measure well
First thing in the morning, before getting out of bed. Two fingers on the radial pulse (wrist) or carotid (neck). Count for 30 seconds, double it. Do this for a week and take the average — single readings are noisy.
What changes mean
Slowly trending down over months means your cardiovascular fitness is improving. Suddenly elevated by 5+ bpm for a few days usually means stress, alcohol, illness or undertraining recovery — pay attention. A persistent jump warrants a clinician.
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