Resting heart rate of a woman - average values and influencing factors

Resting heart rate, or RHR, averages between 60 and 80 beats per minute in the general population and is an important indicator of health and fitness. This value represents the number of heartbeats per minute when the body is in an alert , resting state , i.e. without physical exertion or mental strain. ¹ A lower RHR often indicates better physical fitness and more efficient heart function. A higher RHR may be associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease . ²

What is the normal heart rate for women?

The average resting heart rate for adult women is between 78 and 82 beats per minute . This value is influenced by age and can be influenced by a number of factors, including mental state, stress levels, hormones , body weight, physical activity , pregnancy, menstrual cycle, and overall lifestyle. ³

RHR can be measured during an ECG examination, during a blood pressure measurement at a doctor's, or you can measure it yourself at home. Nowadays, a watch with an optical heart rate sensor is enough to provide a sufficient indication of your resting heart rate. If you don't have a watch, you can also measure your resting heart rate manually . ²

Resting heart rate table - women (bpm/min)

Source: medicinenet.com

What is a dangerous resting heart rate for women?

If your RHR is above the average interval values for a long time , you need to pay attention.

Tachycardia:

A dangerous resting heart rate is considered a condition called tachycardia, when the RHR reaches more than 80 beats per minute. High RHR values can signal health problems , such as vascular and heart disease . This condition requires medical attention , especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as dizziness or lightheadedness . ⁴

Bradycardia:

Physically active women with a healthy lifestyle can reach values lower than 60 beats / min . This condition is called bradycardia and is not a problem for athletes, since their hearts are more efficient. On the contrary, if you do not exercise and do not live an active life, bradycardia again requires medical attention because it can cause dizziness , lightheadedness, weakness , fatigue , shortness of breath or fainting. ⁵

Why do heart rates differ between men and women?

The average heart rate differs between men and women due to differences in the size and physiology of the heart. This is because women's hearts are typically smaller and therefore have to contract more frequently to pump the same amount of blood as a larger male heart. This difference becomes more pronounced after puberty , when a male heart typically grows 15 to 30% larger than a female's. ³

How does your period affect your resting heart rate?

Due to hormonal fluctuations, women's resting heart rate also changes slightly. Usually, there is a slight increase in heart rate during ovulation and the week after. Conversely, during menstruation and the week after, the heart rate decreases slightly . ³

How does pregnancy affect heart rate?

Pregnancy significantly affects resting heart rate. The heart of pregnant women works harder to pump enough blood to the uterus , resulting in an average increase in heart rate to about 90 beats per minute . In addition, the volume of blood pumped by the heart increases by 30 to 50% . Exercising pregnant women may experience a naturally higher heart rate.

If your watch or blood pressure monitor reports an arrhythmia , in most cases there is nothing to worry about. Minor cardiac arrhythmias are common during pregnancy . In most cases, these arrhythmias do not cause complications and resolve without treatment. More serious arrhythmias, such as diastolic heart murmurs, may require treatment.

What affects resting heart rate in women?

Apart from pregnancy and the menstrual cycle, the following factors affect resting heart rate:

1. Age : Resting heart rate can change with age. It usually increases in early childhood and gradually decreases during adulthood.

2. Gender : women have an average of 2-7 beats per minute higher RHR than men, which is due to physiological differences.

3. Body weight and obesity : higher body weight is often associated with higher RHR, while a healthy weight usually supports a lower RHR.

4. Emotions : stress, anxiety, and even happiness can increase RHR.

5. Body position : Sitting can increase RHR by 3 beats per minute compared to lying down. Similarly, standing can increase RHR.

6. Medications and infections : Some medications, such as antidepressants and beta-blockers, can lower RHR. Infections with fever can increase RHR.

7. Air temperature : in hot weather, RHR may increase, usually by no more than 10 beats per minute.

8. Smoking and caffeine : smoking and drinking coffee before measurement can increase RHR.

9. Thyroid function : hyperthyroidism can cause a higher RHR, while hypothyroidism can lead to a lower RHR.

10. Anemia : low hemoglobin levels can increase RHR. ⁶

In conclusion

Resting heart rate is an indicator of your overall fitness and health, with lower values generally associated with better health outcomes . For most adults, a normal resting heart rate is between 60-80 beats per minute. It may be lower for athletes or people who regularly engage in strenuous physical activity. You can improve your resting heart rate by exercising regularly , quitting smoking, reducing your intake of alcohol and caffeine, and establishing better psychological well-being.

In case of any doubts , long-term nausea, or if you have been measuring an increased or decreased RHR for a long time, we recommend that you contact your GP immediately and insist on an ECG examination (never settle for measuring RHR using only a blood pressure monitor at your GP).

Resources:

1. https://www.nzip.cz/rejstrikovy-pojem/5649
2. https://www.verywellhealth.com/resting-heart-rate-by-age-5218932
3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/17644-women-and-heart-rate
4. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/about-arrhythmia/tachycardia--fast-heart-rate
5. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/about-arrhythmia/bradycardia--slow-heart-rate
6. https://www.medicinenet.com/what_is_a_good_resting_heart_rate_by_age/article.htm