What is heart rate?

Resting heart rate

Factors that affect heart rate

• Air temperature: The heart rate increases when temperatures and humidity soars.
• Body position: The pulse momentarily increases for the first 15 to 20 seconds as you stand up after sitting or lying for a while.
• Emotions:  Stressed, anxious and other extreme emotions can raise the pulse rate.
• Body size: Body size usually does not have any major effect on pulse rate. But for very obese people, the resting pulse rate is higher than normal, though usually not more than 100 bmp.
• Medication use: Medications that impact adrenaline (beta-blockers) can slow the pulse rate. On the other hand, a high dosage of thyroid medication can raise it.

How to check heart rate?

• Place the tips of three fingers - index, second and third finger on the palm side of the wrist below the thumb base.
• Press the fingers lightly until the blood flow beneath the fingers is felt. One may need to move the fingers slightly up and down until the pulse is felt.
• Count the heartbeat for 10 seconds. Multiply the number of heartbeats by 6 to obtain the heart rate (pulse) per minute.

Know your target heart rate during exercise

Conditions associated with chronically abnormal heart rate

Slow Heart Rate

• Underactive thyroid gland
• Hyperkalemia (high potassium levels in the blood)
• Infections such as typhoid fever or Lyme disease
• Heart conditions such as sick sinus syndrome
• Heart attack

Fast Heart Rate

• Fever, infection or inflammation
• Hypokalemia (low levels of potassium in the blood)
• Overactive thyroid gland
• Asthma or other respiratory problems
• Anaemia
• Side effects of some medications
• Cardiovascular conditions such as atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, or ventricular tachycardia.

Heart rate tracking devices: Are they useful?

Conclusion