The heart is the engine of the human body. Heart rate is an important indicator for determining how vital someone is.
NORMAL HEARTBEAT
A normal heartbeat means that the number of beats per minute falls within the norm of a large group of people. What a normal heartbeat is for a child is not for an adult or an elderly person. For an adult between the ages of 18 and 60, a heart rate of 60 to 90 beats per minute is considered normal. In men, the average is slightly lower (68 beats per minute) than in women (75 beats per minute). A normal heart rate in children is between 80 and 100 beats per minute. In the elderly, the heart rate may be slightly lower on average or higher. This depends on the condition, any underlying conditions and / or use of medication. Tip: the best blood pressure monitors also measure heart rate and detect irregular heartbeat. Doctors therefore recommends measuring blood pressure at home.
What affects heartbeat?
The heart provides oxygen transport to all parts of the body. The oxygen demand of the body increases during exercise.
In this way the muscles get more oxygen from the blood and the heart will pump faster and harder so that more oxygen-rich blood goes to the muscles. The heart rate goes up during exercise. In general, the heavier the effort is, the higher the heart rate becomes. There are several factors that influence heart rate such as the weather, mental state, time of day and condition. Under the influence of these factors the heart rate can deviate by about 10 beats per minute.
A healthy heart rhythm is characterized by an equal regularity in heartbeats. More and more people are dealing with a disruption of this regularit.
It is not always possible to find an explanation for the cardiac arrhythmia. However, it is generally wise to investigate a possible cause. It can be in or out of the heart. Causes outside the heart include: a lot of exercise, a too slow thyroid function, medication use (for example a beta blocker or asthma medication), exercise, tension, fever, too fast thyroid function or anemia, excessive consumption of coffee, alcohol or nicotine. Causes in the heart include: a sick sinus node (sick-sinus syndrome), abnormal connections between chest and chamber, insufficient oxygen supply to the heart, damage to the heart muscle and other heart diseases (such as heart valve abnormalities or heart failure).
Relationship between normal heart rate and normal blood pressure
A normal heart rate (at rest for an adult person is 60 to 70 beats per minute) does not automatically mean that there is also a normal blood pressure (underpressure 80 and overpressure 130). Both are control mechanisms. For example, if the blood pressure is too low, the heart will start to beat faster in order to maintain the blood pressure that is necessary for the proper functioning of the body. Conversely, you can never draw the conclusion that at low heart rates blood pressure might be too high. A human body is very complex and is also influenced by psychological factors. An example: Imagine watching a very scary movie than can generally increases heart rate and blood pressure under the influence of hormones. These are created by the stress you are experiencing at that moment.
Why measure heart rate and measure blood pressure?
Despite the fact that no conclusions can be drawn on the basis of a single measurement of heart rate or blood pressure, it is advisable to check both regularly in a situation where you are most likely to be. This can be at home or at work. The risks for a heart condition due to a fast heartbeat in combination with high blood pressure are significant. A good solution for this is a blood pressure monitor that also measures the heart rate. The blood pressure monitor Omron M6 Comfort measures heart rate and is even able to detect irregular heartbeat. A handy device to have at home is also a good saturation meter. This measures the oxygen content in the blood and also the heart rate. In a few seconds you can see if you have a normal heart rate and if your oxygen level is at a healthy level.
Become aware of your own situation
The functioning of the heart is an important indicator for determining how healthy and vital someone is. It is not for nothing that cardiovascular disease has been the number one cause of death in the Netherlands for a long time. Thanks to increasing knowledge through research, much is possible to cure heart disease.
What everyone has to take into account literally and figuratively is that many disorders and deviations of the heart and health can be prevented by adjusting lifestyle. For starters, it is important to measure your heart rhythm. The best blood pressure monitors detect an irregular heartbeat. Be careful that you buy a blood pressure monitor that has been clinically validated and recommended by a doctor .
Your health under control?
You can improve your health much by means of sufficient exercise and healthy eating. Measuring values such as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen level and weight and seeing improvement of these works stimulate and positive for body and mind. Be sure of your case and use only certified and clinically validated equipment.