This page is dedicated to highlight the significance of heart rate measurement on determining the operators medical medical condition, as well as establish the safe and dangerous ranges of measured heart rates.

Normal Heart Rate

• Normal heart rate is between 60-100 beats per minute (bpm).

Elevated Heart Rate

• Any condition which brings the heartbeat beyond 120-140 bpm is considered dangerous and requires immediate doctors intervention

Tachyacardia

• Tachyacardia occurs when the heart rate is above 100 bmp at rest.

Exercise

• During exercise it is normal for the heart rate to increase, however there is a range beyond which it would become dangerous. Even during exercise, the heart rate should not increase beyond 50%-70% of the resting heart rate.

Lowered Heart Rate

Bradycardia

• Bradycardia occurs when the heart rate is below 60bpm at rest.
• This heart rate is also commonly observed in individuals who have fallen asleep
• it is not uncommon for very healthy individuals such as athletes to have heart rates in the range of 40-60 bpm but this is not expected among the average populace and heart rates below 50bpm although possible are rare even for athletes.
• This lowered heart rate can be a sign of potential health issues when observed outside of these other circumstances
• a heart rate below 40 bpm is considered dangerously low

References

1. https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/how-a-healthy-heart-works/your-heart-rate#NORM, date accessed 28/02/2024
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22108-tachycardia, date accessed 28/02/2024
3. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tachycardia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355127, date accessed 28/02/2024
4. https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/heart/when-to-worry-about-low-heart-rate