Normal Heart Rate by Age: Chart for Women, Men, and Children

The pulse consists of the rhythmic throbbing of artery walls associated with cardiac cycles; in practice it is counted as the number of heartbeats per minute. It is one of the oldest biomarkers: the value changes with age, exertion, and the state of the body. Below are ranges from clinical reference books and the thresholds beyond which the number is no longer a variant of normal.

What the pulse is and how it is measured

The heart works as a pump and the arteries as pipes: each ejection of blood creates a pressure wave that can be felt where an artery comes close to the skin. The pulse is measured at several points:

• the wrist;
• the neck;
• the temple;
• the groin;
• behind the knee, the top or inner side of the foot.

At the wrist, the index and middle fingers are placed on the inner side of the opposite arm below the base of the thumb and pressed with flat fingers until the pulse is felt. At the neck, the fingers are placed to the side of the Adam's apple, in the soft hollow, and pressed gently: in some people the carotid arteries are sensitive to pressure, and fainting or slowing of the heartbeat is possible. Before this, one should sit or lie down, and both sides of the neck must not be measured at the same time — this slows blood flow to the head.

Beats are counted for a full minute or for 30 seconds with multiplication by two; counting for 10 or 15 seconds with multiplication by 6 or 4 usually also gives an accurate result. A resting pulse requires at least 10 minutes of rest.

Normal heart rate by age: chart

Resting heart rate in healthy people at rest:

After age 10, the limits for children and adults, including the elderly, are the same: 60–100 beats per minute. In trained athletes the resting pulse is lower — 40–60: the heart, like any muscle, grows under the influence of training, and fewer contractions are needed to pump the same volume of blood. In young children the heart is smaller, so the minimum pulse is higher.

Normal heart rate in women

Reference books do not give separate pulse limits by sex: the same range of 60–100 beats per minute at rest applies to adult women. What a woman notices as a deviation is more often related to a condition rather than to the norm: palpitations occur during pregnancy and menopause. Skipped beats, a fluttering sensation, or a strong thump in the chest, neck, or throat is called palpitation; it is usually not a sign of a serious problem, but recurring episodes require evaluation.

Normal heart rate in men

For men over 10 years of age the reference point is the same — 60–100 beats per minute at rest. A number above the limit does not equal illness: a faster rate is caused by intense exertion, lack of sleep, stress and anxiety, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, and some medications (their composition is stated in the instructions). A persistently high resting rate (tachycardia) and a rate below normal (bradycardia) are a reason to discuss this with a doctor. A slow pulse is dangerous when accompanied by weakness and fainting.

Normal heart rate in children

In children the heart rate decreases as they grow. In a newborn in the first weeks of life the range is wide — from 70 to 190 beats per minute; in an infant — 80–160; at 1–2 years — 80–130; at 3–4 years — 80–120; at 5–6 years — 75–115; at 7–9 years — 70–110. From age 10 the adult range applies. The values given refer to the resting pulse.

When a deviation of the pulse from normal is a reason to see a doctor

The doctor assesses the resting rate, regularity, filling, and other properties of the pulse and compares them with the complaints. A pulse that is difficult to feel may indicate an obstruction to blood flow in an artery — such changes are more common in diabetes and in hardening of the arteries due to high cholesterol; Doppler ultrasound is ordered to check. For skipped beats, an electrocardiogram may be needed — a recording of the heart's electrical signals from sensors attached to the skin; if necessary, the person is referred to a cardiologist. Separate reasons for consultation are a bounding pulse that lasts longer than several minutes and an irregular rhythm. An appointment with a doctor is needed if episodes recur or become more frequent, last longer than several minutes, and also in the presence of heart disease or a family history of heart problems.

A faster or slower pulse by itself is not a reason to call an ambulance; 103 or 112 — if the heartbeat does not pass or is accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, a feeling of near-fainting, or fainting.

The pulse is a quick reference point, but not a diagnosis: the overall picture is what matters. This material is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation — if in doubt, show your records to a specialist.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer