PHOENIX, July 11 (Phoenix Times Online) — Most adults fall somewhere between 60 and 100 beats per minute when they are at rest, according to the American Heart Association, Cleveland Clinic, Harvard Health, the British Heart Foundation and Yale Medicine. A resting heart rate above 100 beats per minute is usually called tachycardia, or a fast heart rate.
That number does not automatically mean there is a heart problem. The American Heart Association, Harvard Health, Cleveland Clinic, the British Heart Foundation, Yale Medicine and Henry Ford Health all say a faster resting pulse can come from noncardiac causes such as anemia, infection, fever, dehydration, stress, anxiety, caffeine or other stimulants, poor physical conditioning, pregnancy and some medicines. The American Heart Association also lists heart disease and other heart conditions among possible causes.
When a fast resting pulse matters
Harvard Health says clinicians usually do not worry unless the resting heart rate is consistently above 100 beats per minute in otherwise healthy people. Henry Ford Health’s Dr. Keteyian said that if a person has a resting heart rate above 100 or below 50 that cannot be explained by obvious factors such as regular exercise, they should see a doctor.
A fast resting pulse can also come with symptoms. Yale Medicine cardiologist Srijan Shrestha, MD, said people may notice palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness or lightheadedness. But Shrestha also said a high resting heart rate may cause no symptoms at all.
Why doctors look for the cause
A resting heart rate is a clue, not a diagnosis. Yale Medicine says anemia can be related to menstruation and blood loss, and in older adults it may come from small gastrointestinal bleeds or colon cancer. Yale Medicine also says doctors may treat the underlying cause of tachycardia rather than the number itself, such as giving iron supplements for anemia or medication for hyperthyroidism.
That is why a pulse that stays high at rest can lead doctors to ask about recent illness, fluid loss, caffeine, stress, medications or thyroid problems before jumping to a heart diagnosis.
How to check a resting pulse
Yale Medicine says a resting pulse can be checked at the wrist, inside the elbow, neck or top of the foot. Count the beats for 15 seconds and multiply by four. If the rhythm seems irregular, count for 30 seconds and multiply by two, or count for a full minute.
For many people, the main takeaway is simple: one high reading does not tell the whole story. A pulse that is repeatedly above 100 at rest can be a clue that the body is reacting to something else, including anemia, infection or an overactive thyroid, and it is worth bringing to a clinician’s attention.
