A beating heart is the key to life. If we want to live in a healthy manner, then we must keep our heart in an efficient working condition. We can organize a fitness plan keeping in mind the rate at which our heart beats when our body is in a resting or relaxed state. This is called our resting heart rate. The number of times our heart beats per minute is called heart rate. We calculate the heart rate in order to determine our resting heart rate which will enable us to pinpoint a health problem.

A normal adult resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. A lower heart rate means an efficient cardiovascular system. This is why prime athletes have heart rates as low as 40 to 60 beats per minute. Calculating the heart rate manually is not a difficult task. Find your pulse by lightly pressing the tips of your index and middle finger to either the radial artery in the centre of your wrist or the carotid artery in your neck located beside your windpipe. The sensation of a rhythmic pulse will be noticeable if you are pressing it lightly. Do not use the thumb or press hard. Then count the number of beats in 60 seconds. Remember to use a stop watch.

The best resting heart rate reading is taken right after you wake up in the morning because there are no stressors or chemicals influencing the rate. So get a good night’s sleep. Strap on your heart rate monitor before going to bed. Then read it as soon as you wake up. Take the elevated heart rate reading when you are at the height of your exercise routine.

Take readings for seven days to get a more accurate resting heart rate. Record them in your notebook. In order to get the average resting heart rate, add all seven readings and divide them by seven.

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