userasdf1234

I've searched google for average heart rates and found nothing but target heart rates. Does anyone know what the resting heart rate for someone in their late teens should be? What advantages/disadvantages does having a high or low rate produce?

winsecure

ballpark 60 bpm or so

braisler

It is more important to know what YOUR average heart rate is, rather than to compare yourself to a population average. This goes for most biometrics. Your normal body temperature, triglyceride levels, cholesterol, etc. is likely to be different from the population norms.

That said, a lower heart rate is _usually_ indicative of better health or better fitness. Lance Armstrong has a resting heart rate around 35 bpm. Chronic smokers and habitual coffee drinkers can have higher heart rates than normal. 60 bpm is about normal, but if you are an athletic type, it might be more like 50 bpm for an average.

From personal experience I know that weight loss can also reduce your heart rate. It makes sense if you think about it. Two things are happening. You are hopefully getting in better shape as you lose weight... exercising more frequently, etc. You are also reducing the volume of your whole body. You lose 10% of your body weight, your heart doesn't have to push as hard to move the blood around. At least that was how I've always thought about it.

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c172g

A normal heart rate is 72 bpm as far as I have ever heard. If you are talking about "resting" heart rate, like I just woke up from a powernap, it's still in the 70 bpm range as far as I have ever been told.

If you exercise regularly, as a teen you should be able to get it down about 15-25% if you are in good aerobic shape. My normal heart rate is 60 bpm, I'm 35 and I play hockey a few times a week & do some running (5 miles a week or so). You might be in far better shape & have a heart rate of 80. My dad smoked for 64 years, had low blood pressure & his heart rate was under 50. Unfair, but it's different for everyone.

alpo

The normal resting heart rate is anywhere between 60-100. It can be lower if you are a well conditioned athelete (think marathon runner, cyclist, etc). There are different norms for children and possibly even teens, but I'm an adult doc and haven't dealt with adolescents since medical school.

userasdf1234

Thanks for the input everyone. I was getting a little worried but from the responses i fell at ease.