Your heart rate, or pulse, is the number of times your heart beats per minute (bpm). Normal resting heart rate varies from person to person. Monitoring your heart rate can be an important way to check your heart-health.

As you age, the rate and regularity of your heart rate can change and may signify a heart condition or other health problem.

Your resting heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute when you are not exercising. The normal resting heart rate for a healthy adult is between 60 bpm and 100 bpm. However, resting heart rate can fluctuate if you are ill or taking medication such as a beta blocker.

Importantly, having a heart rate lower than 60 bpm doesn’t necessarily signal a medical problem. People who exercise regularly and vigorously often have a lower resting heart rate (as low as 40 bpm) because their heart muscle is in better condition and doesn’t need to work as hard to maintain a steady beat.