What Should the Average Heart Rate of a Healthy 38 Year Old Female Be?

Author
by PAM MURPHY 

Average resting heart rates depend on several factors, including age, gender and level of physical fitness. Generally speaking, a resting heart rate in the range of 60 to 100 beats per minute is normal for men and women. However, individuals with a sedentary lifestyle typically have higher resting heart rates, while athletes and other highly trained individuals might experience an average resting heart rate of as low as 40 beats per minute.

Healthy Heart Rate

The YMCA lists the average heart rate for women in the 36- to 45-year-old age range as 70 to 72 beats per minute. To compare, the average for men in the same age category is 68 to 70 beats per minute. Physically active women in this age group typically experience an average resting heart rate of 54 to 69 beats per minute, depending on individual fitness levels. However, these averages are just guidelines. Heart rates that differentiate from the averages might still be healthy and normal. Check with your doctor if you're concerned about a heart rate that is consistently higher or lower than average.

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Identification

For the most accurate results, the American Council on Exercise recommends taking your pulse for a full minute when you wake up, before you even get out of bed. Keep in mind that factors such as eating, drinking or stress can affect your resting heart rate assessment. To determine your average resting heart rate, check your pulse in the morning five to seven days in a row and take the average.

Application

The range for normal resting heart rates for women 38 years old provides a wide margin of healthy targets, but keep in mind that your resting heart rate indicates how efficiently your heart is doing its job, as well as your level of cardiovascular fitness. Building your cardiovascular endurance by gradually increasing the intensity and duration of your workouts helps lower your resting heart rate over time by training your heart to pump more blood per beat, thereby decreasing the number of beats required to get its work done.

Considerations

Your emotional state, your weight, the air temperature and any medications you take can affect your resting heart rate, according to MayoClinic.com. If you consistently have a resting heart rate above 100 beats per minute or lower than 60 beats per minute -- with the exception of highly trained athletes -- consult your doctor. Tachycardia, a higher than normal heart rate, and bradycardia, a lower than normal heart rate, are characterized by symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pains and fainting.

For further information log on website :
http://www.livestrong.com/article/479492-what-should-the-average-heart-rate-of-a-healthy-38-year-old-female-be/

Why Is My Heart Rate Higher Than Normal?

Author
by SARI HARDYAL 

Heart rate is controlled by electrical signals sent through heart tissue. A healthy adult heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute at rest. Many people, however, experience an elevated heart rate and for a variety of reasons. A chronic high heart rate can disrupt normal heart function severely, increasing the risk of a stoke or heart attack.

Symptoms

Rapid heart rate is inefficient for the body because it does not pump the blood properly. Some side effects you may experience with a rapid heart rate include dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath or heart palpitations. Some people may only experience a rapid heart rate and not have any other symptoms. You should see a doctor if you experience symptoms. Your doctor may suggest an EKG to see if you have tachycardia or any other problems with your heart.

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Causes

Exercise is a common cause of rapid heart rate. Your heart rate should elevate during exercise, but it may be a problem if your heart rate remains elevated for more than 10 minutes after you finish your workout. Dehydration can also cause a faster heart rate. The lack of water in your body will decrease your blood volume and therefore lower the amount of blood your heart is able to circulate with each beat. This causes the heart to beat more rapidly to circulate more blood. Stimulants like caffeine, ephedrine, nicotine and certain decongestants can all cause rapid heart rate, as can medical conditions such as high stress, anxiety, anemia, overactive thyroid, anorexia, diabetes and illnesses causing a fever.

Treatment

Your doctor may suggest you manipulate the vagal nerve, which helps regulate your heartbeat, by coughing, placing an ice pack on your face or bearing down as if having a bowel movement. This can help return your rapid heart rate to a more normal one. If vagal nerve manipulations do not work, your doctor may recommend an anti-arrhythmic medication for you to take when you experience an episode of rapid heart beats.

Prevention

Drink plenty of water during your workout. This will help you stay hydrated and ensure your blood volume remains high. Drink only one cup of coffee or switch to decaf if you find caffeine is the cause of your increased heart rate. Avoid taking diet pills or cold medications containing ephedrine if these are the cause of your rapid heart rate.

For further information log on website :
http://www.livestrong.com/article/378652-why-is-my-heart-rate-higher-than-normal/

The Effects of a Fast Heart Rate

Author
by LORI NEWELL

Overview

Tachyarrhythmia is the medical term used when your heart rate gets too fast. Tachycardia is diagnosed when your heart rate, or pulse, exceeds 100 beats per minute on a regular basis. You can also develop fibrillation, which means your heart is beating faster than 350 beats per minute. In some cases, such as when you are working out, recovering from an illness or responding to an emergency, your heart rate may temporarily get high, but then it returns to normal when the activity or situation stops. This is a normal reaction. However, heart disease and other conditions can lead to chronic tachyarrhythmia, which in severe cases can be fatal.

Palpitations

A rapid heart rate may occur occasionally, such as when you are stressed or when you ingest caffeine. St. Jude Medical Center states that not all cases of tachyarrhythmia cause harmful effects or require treatment. However, a fast heart rate may lead to palpitations, in which you can feel your heart pounding or beating quickly in your chest or throat. If you notice that your heart is beating faster than it should with no known cause, you need to see your doctor for tests to rule out a serious condition.

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Additional Effects

According to Medtronic, if your heart starts beating too fast it can strain your system, because your heart can not effectively deliver the blood and oxygen your body needs. This can lead to feeling tired, dizzy, lightheaded and suffering from fainting spells. This condition can occur in any one of the heart's four chambers. No matter what part of your heart muscle is affected, your symptoms will be the same. However, if this condition originates in the upper chambers of the heart (atrium), you are less likely to have severe symptoms.

Severe Symptoms

The Heart Rhythm Society states that irregular heart rates that originate in the lower two chambers of the heart (ventricles), are usually the most dangerous. If you have heart disease or are at a high risk for it, talk to your doctor if you experience chest pain or pressure, extreme fatigue or weakness, vision changes or trouble breathing. If these symptoms occur alone or along with a rapid pulse, they can be a warning sign of a life-threatening event.

For further information log on website :
http://www.livestrong.com/article/77808-effects-fast-heart-rate/

What Makes a Heart Rate Fast?

Author
by SHANNON MARKS 

The American Heart Association reports that for the average, healthy adult, the heart beats about 60 to 80 times a minute when at rest. As you age, it’s not unusual for your heart rate to rise. People who are physically fit typically have a lower heart rate compared with those who do not exercise. Tachycardia is a heart rate that is faster than normal, and the causes can include excitement, high blood pressure, heart failure and more.

Heart Rate

The heart is a muscle that pumps oxygen-filled blood to all of your organs, cells and tissues. The right side of the heart receives blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs, according to Kids Health. The left side of the heart receives blood from the lungs and pumps it to the body. Prior to each heartbeat, the heart fills with blood, the muscle contracts and pushes the blood to its destination. While a normal resting heart rate is from 60 to 80 beats per minute, the Mayo Clinic indicates that a well-trained athlete will have a resting heart rate of 40 to 60 bpm. In a newborn baby, according to the National Institutes of Health, the heart can beat about 100 to 160 bpm. The resting heart rate of a teenager is generally about 60 to 100 bpm.

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Medications

The Mayo Clinic warns that women who take 500 mg or more of acetaminophen daily are at risk for developing high blood pressure. Antidepressants, including Effexor, Wellbutrin and Nardil, can change the body’s response to certain chemicals in the brain, while at the same time increasing your heart rate. Many birth control pills and birth control devices contain hormones that can increase blood pressure by narrowing blood vessels. Using a birth control method containing a lower dose of estrogen could reduce your chances of spiking your blood pressure. Decongestants, including Sudafed and Afrin, also narrow blood vessels. The Mayo Clinic reports that some decongestant cold, flu and allergy medications may reduce the effect of certain blood pressure medications.

Tachycardia

Tachycardia is characterized by a significantly faster than normal heart rate. According to the NIH, tachycardias may cause no symptoms or complications. An abnormally fast heartbeat, however, can cause sudden cardiac arrest or stroke.
Tachycardia is caused when the normal electrical impulses in the heart are disrupted. This can occur if there is damage to the heart tissue from a heart attack, birth defect or abnormality of the heart, smoking, heavy alcohol or caffeine consumption, or an adverse reaction to illicit drugs or prescription medications.

Considerations

A fast heart rate is not always a bad thing. Exercise, excitement and just having a good time can set the heart in motion. When you exercise, your brain and organs need more oxygen, causing your heart to beat faster and pump more blood. In turn, when you’re not in motion, your resting heart rate is lower, and healthier, compared with those who don’t exercise.

In one casual experiment from a PBS program, kids measured their resting heart rates prior to and after riding a variety of roller coasters. Coasters that offered the least excitement increased the kids' heart rates by an average of 33.5 bpm. The scariest coaster increased their heart rates by an average of 54 bpm.

Reducing Your Heart Rate

For those whose heart rate runs high, it can’t hurt to take measures to lower it. Aerobic exercise, such as jogging, swimming or tennis, which raises your heart rate while you’re active, actually lowers your heart rate when you’re not exercising. Obesity can cause high blood pressure and cause your heart to race. By dropping pounds, you can eliminate the problem. The website Science Daily reports that relaxation techniques, such deep breathing, meditation and visualization, can reduce the heart rate and increase blood flow to major muscles.

For further information log on website :
http://www.livestrong.com/article/158374-what-makes-a-heart-rate-fast/

High Heart Rate Dangers

Author
by STEPHANIE CHANDLER

Overview

The heart rate, or pulse rate, is the rate at which the heart beats. A normal heart rate for a healthy adult ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute, reports the University of Virginia Health System. The heart’s rhythm is controlled by electrical pulses produced in the natural pacemaker, known as the sinus node, located in the right atria (upper right chamber). When a condition, disease or outside stimulant interferes with the electrical system within the heart, the heart may respond by beating too fast. A heart rate that is significantly faster than normal is a condition known as tachycardia. Although some people who have a high heart rate experience no symptoms, others may feel dizziness, shortness of breath, lightheadedness or chest pain. A high heart rate interferes with the normal function of the heart, which can lead to dangerous effects.

Blood Clots

A rapid heart rate can cause the heart to pump ineffectively. This means that the contractions of the heart muscle are so fast that blood remains in the lower chambers, or the ventricles. As blood sits in the lower chambers of the heart, it can form clots. A blood clot within the heart can block blood flow, resulting in a heart attack. If the clot is pumped out of the heart, it can travel through the arteries of the body. A blood clot that becomes stuck in an artery leading to the brain deprives the brain of blood and, therefore, oxygen, resulting in a stroke.

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Heart Failure

As the heart beats rapidly, less blood may be pumped to the body. In response, the heart tries to beat even faster to supply more blood and oxygen. Over time this causes greater and greater stress on the heart. When the heart is not able to pump blood as fast as the cells and organs in the body need it, heart failure can occur as described by the San Diego Cardiac Center sponsored website Heart Failure Online.

Frequent Fainting

A high heart rate can make the pumping action of the heart ineffective. When the tissues of the body are deprived of oxygen, the patient may feel dizzy and lightheaded. If the brain does not receive adequate oxygen, fainting--also called syncope--may occur. Frequent fainting can be a danger. It is a sign that the brain is being seriously deprived of oxygen, which can lead to further complications, including brain damage and stroke.

Sudden Death

There are several different types of tachycardia. Some originate in the atria, while others originate in the ventricles. In cases of ventricular tachycardia as well as in those of ventricular fibrillation, abnormal electrical impulses in the ventricles cause a high heart rate and interfere with the pumping of blood to the body. Both ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation are medical emergencies, according to doctors at the Mayo Clinic, as they can lead to sudden death if a normal heart rhythm is not restored.

For further information log on website :
http://www.livestrong.com/article/122945-high-heart-rate-dangers/