The heart should beat with a steady rhythm, and there should be a regular gap between beats. The muscle has an electrical system that tells it when to beat and push blood around the body.
A faulty electrical system can lead to an abnormal heart rhythm. It is normal for the heart rate to vary throughout the day in response to exercise, anxiety , excitement, and fear. However, a person should not normally be aware of their resting heartbeat. If you feel that your heart is beating out of rhythm, too fast, or too slow, speak to a doctor about your symptoms.
An extra beat is called an ectopic beat. Ectopic beats are very common, usually harmless, and do not often need treatment. People concerned about palpitations or ectopic beats should speak to your doctor who will be able to carry out an electrocardiogram ECG to assess the heart rate and the rhythm.
There are many different types of abnormal heart rhythm. The type depends on where in the heart the abnormal rhythm starts, and whether it causes the heart to beat too fast or too slow. The most common abnormal rhythm is atrial fibrillation. This replaces the normal heartbeat with an erratic pattern.
A fast heart rhythm is also known as a tachycardia , and can include:. Slow heart rhythms such as atrioventricular AV heart block , bundle branch block, and tachy-brady syndrome are called bradycardias.
While exercise is important for promoting a low and healthy heart rate, there are several other steps a person can take to protect their heart health, including:. One in every four deaths in the U. Maintaining a normal heart rate is one of the easiest ways to protect the heart.
Various products to manage heart rate, such as wearable heart rate monitors, are available to purchase online. It is important to compare the benefits and features of different brands, and speak to a doctor about the use of these products. Read the article in Spanish. A study identifies complex distinctions in genomes that help map the migrations of the Arabic people.
The results may represent an important step…. This test measures levels of cortisol, thyroid stimulating hormone, and free testosterone. Learn what the results can mean and more. Gender bias affects every part of the healthcare system, from diagnosis to health outcomes.
Learn more about gender bias in healthcare and how to stop…. Microbiome tests analyze the bacteria in a person's stool sample. There are some experts who believe that an ideal resting heart rate is closer to 50 to 70 beats per minute. Regardless of what is considered normal, it's important to recognize that a healthy heart rate will vary depending on the situation. Among healthy people, a slower heart rate can be due to being physically fit, a medication, or sleep patterns.
However, a slower heart rate can indicate a sign of disease including heart disease, certain infections, high levels of potassium in the blood, or an underactive thyroid. On the reverse side, a fast rate in healthy people can be because they are exercising, nervous or excited, using a stimulant or are pregnant. The health conditions that are associated with a fast heart rate include most infections or just about any cause of fever, heart problems, certain medications, low levels of potassium in the blood, an overactive thyroid gland or too much thyroid medication, anemia, or asthma or other breathing trouble.
According to the Harvard Medical School Special Health Report Diseases of the Heart, it's easy to check your pulse using just your fingers, either at the wrist or the side of the neck. To get the most accurate reading, you may want to repeat a few times and use the average of the three values.
For a resting heart rate measurement, you should also follow these steps:. You can also use different types of heart rate monitors to check your heart rate. But be aware that most have not undergone independent testing for accuracy. One option is a digital fitness tracker. The most reliable ones use a wireless sensor on a strap that you wrap around your chest. The sensor detects your pulse electronically and sends the data to a wristwatch-style receiver that displays your heart rate.
Others have sensors on the back of the wristwatch itself. These sensors, which are slightly less accurate, determine your heart rate by measuring blood flow through the skin. Various smartphone apps to check your heart rate are also available.
For most of these, you place your finger on the phone's camera lens, which then detects color changes in your finger each time your heart beats.
Treadmills, elliptical machines, and other exercise equipment found in fitness centers and some home exercise rooms often feature handgrip heart rate monitors. These rely on trace amounts of sweat from your palms and the metal on the grips to detect the electric signal of your heartbeat. But experts don't recommend these to check your heart rate, as they are notoriously inaccurate.
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