Normal Resting Heart Rate: What Your Pulse Should Be
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, MD
Licensed Physician No. 484814280 · Official Medical College of Bizkaia (Spain)Last reviewed: 31 October 2026
A normal resting heart rate for adults is 60 to 100 bpm. Ranges for children, how to lower it, and when a fast or slow pulse needs a doctor.
You don't have to figure this out alone
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is an independent, bilingual GP licensed in Spain. Book a 15-minute video consultation in English or Spanish for €50, with a private electronic prescription issued under Spanish law when clinically appropriate.
A normal resting heart rate for adults is 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm). Very fit people can be lower, at 40 to 60. Children have faster rates, and a baby's pulse can be over 150 and still be normal. What matters most is your usual number, how you feel and whether the beat is regular.
- Adults and children aged 10 and over: 60 to 100 bpm at rest.
- Well-trained athletes often sit between 40 and 60 bpm.
- Check after 10 minutes of rest, and count for a full minute.
- Regular exercise, less caffeine and alcohol, no smoking and good sleep help lower it.
- See a doctor if your pulse is often over 100 at rest, or under 60 with dizziness or fainting.
- Call 112 if a racing or slow heart comes with chest pain, breathlessness or fainting.
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is a GP licensed in Spain (Colegiado No. 484814280).
For a medical emergency, call 112 or go to the nearest local emergency department. Do not wait for a video consultation or an online reply.
What is a normal resting heart rate?
Your resting heart rate is how many times your heart beats in a minute when you are calm and still. It is the same as your pulse. MedlinePlus, from the US National Library of Medicine, gives these normal ranges:
| Age | Normal resting heart rate (bpm) |
|---|---|
| Newborn, 0 to 1 month | 70 to 190 |
| Baby, 1 to 11 months | 80 to 160 |
| Child, 1 to 2 years | 80 to 130 |
| Child, 3 to 4 years | 80 to 120 |
| Child, 5 to 6 years | 75 to 115 |
| Child, 7 to 9 years | 70 to 110 |
| Age 10 and over, adults and older people | 60 to 100 |
| Well-trained athletes | 40 to 60 |
A rate above 100 at rest is called tachycardia. A rate below 60 is called bradycardia. Neither word means you are ill. A slow pulse is normal in many fit people.
Is the normal range the same in Spain, the UK and the US?
Yes. US sources such as MedlinePlus and Mayo Clinic, and the British Heart Foundation in the UK, all give 60 to 100 bpm for adults. Doctors in Spain use the same range.
The words on a Spanish screen or report differ. Look for frecuencia cardiaca (FC) or pulso. It is shown in lpm (latidos por minuto) or ppm (pulsaciones por minuto). A fast rate is taquicardia and a slow one is bradicardia.
In pregnancy the pulse rises a little. A review in BMC Medicine found an average rise of about 8 bpm between early and late pregnancy.
How do you check your resting heart rate?
- Sit or lie down and rest for at least 10 minutes. First thing in the morning is a good time.
- Place two fingers on the inside of your wrist, below the base of your thumb.
- Press gently until you feel the beat.
- Count the beats for a full minute. You can also count for 30 seconds and double it.
- If the beat feels irregular, always count for the full 60 seconds.
You can also feel the pulse at the side of the neck. Sit down first, press gently and only check one side at a time. A smartwatch or a home blood pressure monitor also shows your pulse. Mayo Clinic notes that wearables are not always accurate, so check by hand if a number worries you.
What makes your heart rate go up or down?
Your pulse changes all day. Mayo Clinic lists age, fitness, sleep, smoking, heart disease, diabetes, emotions, posture and medicines as factors.
- Things that speed it up: exercise, stress, anxiety, fear, fever, caffeine, nicotine and alcohol. Some decongestants, diet pills and street drugs do too. So does an overactive thyroid.
- Things that slow it down: fitness and rest. So do some medicines, such as beta blockers like bisoprolol or propranolol.
One fast reading after coffee, a climb up the stairs or a stressful call is not a concern. Rest and check again later.
How can you lower your resting heart rate?
A lower resting rate usually means your heart does not have to work as hard, says Mayo Clinic. These steps help:
- Move most days. A review of 191 studies found that all types of exercise lowered the resting rate. Endurance training, such as brisk walking, cycling, swimming or running, and yoga had the clearest effect.
- Cut back on caffeine and alcohol. Both can speed up the heart and cause a pounding feeling.
- Stop smoking. Nicotine raises your pulse.
- Calm your stress. Slow breathing, yoga, meditation or tai chi can help.
- Sleep well. Poor sleep is a common trigger for a racing heart.
- Treat the cause. Fever, dehydration, anaemia or a thyroid problem may need care of their own.
Do not take a medicine to slow your heart unless a doctor prescribes it. If you already take one, do not stop it suddenly.
Worried about a pulse that is often fast, slow or uneven?
You can book a video visit with a GP licensed in Spain, in English or Spanish. He goes through your readings, your symptoms and your medicines, and tells you if you need an ECG or blood tests.
When is a fast heart rate a worry?
Talk to a doctor if your resting heart rate is often above 100, says Mayo Clinic. The British Heart Foundation also advises seeing a GP if your heart races for no clear reason or while you rest. It matters more if you also feel faint, dizzy, short of breath or very tired.
When is a slow heart rate a worry?
A pulse under 60 is normal for many fit people. Mayo Clinic advises a check if you are not a trained athlete and your pulse is often under 60. This is most important if you also feel dizzy, faint or short of breath. Some medicines slow the heart, so bring your list to the visit.
What if your pulse feels irregular?
An irregular pulse can be a sign of a heart rhythm problem, says the British Heart Foundation. One common type, atrial fibrillation (fibrilación auricular), is more likely after 65. Count for a full minute and write down what you feel. See a doctor if the beat is often uneven.
When should you call 112?
The NHS advises emergency help when palpitations or a racing, slow or uneven heart come with:
- chest pain or tightness;
- shortness of breath;
- dizziness or light-headedness;
- fainting, or feeling you are about to faint.
Also call 112 if someone faints during exercise or while lying down. Do not drive yourself to urgencias. If those symptoms came and went and you now feel well, see a doctor today.
Children: their normal rates are higher, so use the table above, not adult numbers. Fever and crying both raise a child's pulse. If a child seems unwell and you are unsure, ask a doctor.
Talking it through with a doctor by video
Dr. Yelamo is a GP licensed in Spain. He sees adults, children and pregnant patients by video, every day from 07:30 to 20:30 (Spain time). In the visit he will:
- Ask how and when you measured your pulse, and how you felt.
- Review your home readings, your medicines, caffeine, alcohol and sleep.
- Look for causes such as fever, anxiety, anaemia or a thyroid problem.
- Tell you if you need an ECG, blood tests or an in-person exam, and where to get them.
He does not promise any test or prescription before the visit. Where clinically appropriate, following a genuine evaluation. Treatment and prescriptions are issued solely at the doctor's discretion based on evidence-based clinical guidelines.
A prescription is never guaranteed: it is issued only where clinically appropriate after a genuine evaluation, as a private electronic prescription under Spanish law. This service is for urgent, non-emergency care. In an emergency, call 112.
See how the Urgent Care video visit works. It lasts 15 minutes and costs €50.
This guide is general information. It does not replace a consultation with your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal resting heart rate for an adult?
For adults, a normal resting heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute. Very fit people can sit between 40 and 60 and still be healthy.
Is a resting heart rate of 50 normal?
It can be. Trained athletes often sit between 40 and 60. If you are not very fit and often sit under 60, or you feel dizzy, faint or short of breath, see a doctor.
Is a resting heart rate of 100 or more bad?
A pulse that is often over 100 at rest is called tachycardia. Caffeine, stress, fever or a thyroid problem can cause it. If it stays high when you rest, see a doctor.
How can I lower my resting heart rate?
Regular exercise, especially endurance training and yoga, lowers it over time. Cutting back on caffeine, alcohol and nicotine, managing stress and sleeping well also help.
What is a normal heart rate for a child?
It is higher than in adults and falls with age. MedlinePlus gives 80 to 130 for ages 1 to 2, 70 to 110 for ages 7 to 9, and 60 to 100 from age 10.
Are smartwatch heart rate readings accurate?
They are useful for trends, but Mayo Clinic notes that wearables are not always accurate. Check by hand for a full minute if a reading worries you.
Sources
- MedlinePlus: Pulse
- Mayo Clinic: What's a normal resting heart rate?
- British Heart Foundation: Checking your pulse
- NHS: Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia)
- Reimers et al.: Effects of exercise on the resting heart rate (J Clin Med)
Related guides
Medical Citations & Sources
This content is written and reviewed by a licensed physician with reference to the following official health authorities.
