Heart rate

What Is a Heart Rate?

A heart rate is how many times your heart beats in one minute. We call this beats per minute, or bpm. Your heart works hard to give your body what it needs, like oxygen.

When you rest, your heart beats slower. When you play or run, it beats faster to give your body more energy.

Normal Heart Rates

For most kids and adults, a normal resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Some athletes who exercise a lot might have resting heart rates as low as 40 to 60 beats per minute because their hearts are strong.

Feeling Your Heart

You can feel your heart’s beat by finding your pulse. Common places to feel your pulse are your wrist, inside your elbow, your neck, and your chest. Doctors also use special machines to check heart rates very exactly.

Why Heart Rates Change

Your heart rate changes depending on what your body needs. It goes up when you’re playing, excited, or warm. It goes down when you’re resting or relaxing. Staying healthy helps keep your heart rate just right.