Resting Heart Rate Guide

For adults, 60–100 bpm is considered normal by medical standards. However, a truly healthy RHR is typically 55–75 bpm. Fit individuals often have RHR of 45–60 bpm. Elite athletes can be as low as 35–45 bpm.

Common causes: dehydration, poor sleep, stress, caffeine, alcohol, lack of exercise, illness/infection, medication, and overtraining. A sustained increase of 5+ bpm above your baseline warrants attention.

Regular aerobic exercise (3–5x/week, 30+ minutes) is the most effective method. Other factors: adequate sleep, stress management, proper hydration, limiting alcohol and caffeine, and maintaining healthy body weight. Improvements are typically visible within 4–8 weeks.

RHR tends to stay relatively stable through adulthood but may increase slightly after 60. The bigger factor is fitness level — a fit 60-year-old can have lower RHR than a sedentary 25-year-old.