Depending on the heart rate your doctor measures during your annual checkup, you might get a stamp of approval — or a raised eyebrow and questions about your overall health.
But a new study confirms that a normal resting heart rate isn't the same for everyone. Data from over 92,000 FitBit-wearers were analyzed in a new PLOS ONE paper, showing that average resting heart rates ranged between 40 and 109 beats per minute (BPM). Though not all of those rates are necessarily healthy, the study did find that each individual’s heart rate stayed fairly consistent over time.
Monitoring your heart rate through devices like FitBit and understanding the various factors that can influence it has the potential to improve your long-term health.
What Is a Resting Heart Rate?
Resting heart rate (RHR) is a crucial health indicator that shows how many times your heart beats per minute when you're not active. It's a vital sign and can tell us about our overall health, the risk of various health issues, how fit we are, and how our body responds to exercise.
