Enter your age and measured BPM, then click on the heart to see results.
This Heart Rate Monitor tool will helps you measure your heart rate online, expressed in beats per minute (BPM), without needing a physical heart rate monitoring device. Based on your age and maximum heart rate (HRmax), it also identifies your heart rate training zone.
How to Use?
Follow these simple steps to measure your heart rate:
- Enter your age.
- Locate your pulse by gently placing your index and middle fingers on your lower neck, on either side of your windpipe. Apply light pressure until you feel your pulse.
- Use the other hand to click the heart icon each time you feel a beat, or press the spacebar for convenience.
- Your average BPM will be displayed, along with an indicator showing your current training zone.
Explore others Tools
What is Heart Rate Monitor?
Heart rate, or pulse, refers to the number of times your heart beats in a minute, usually measured in beats per minute (BPM). It fluctuates based on your body’s oxygen needs—rising during activities like walking or running and decreasing during rest or sleep. Emotional changes can also affect your heart rate.
Medical professionals use heart rate as a critical parameter for diagnosing various conditions. Additionally, individuals monitor heart rate to optimize their training and assess their fitness levels.
How Can I Check My Pulse?
You can feel your pulse by pressing gently on a blood vessel close to the skin's surface. Always use your index and middle fingers to avoid interference from your thumb’s pulse. The two most common points for checking your pulse are:
1. Neck Pulse
Place your index and middle fingers on your lower neck, on either side of your windpipe. Gently press until you feel a pulse.
2. Wrist Pulse
Turn your hand palm-side up. Place the index and middle fingers of your opposite hand on your wrist, approximately one inch below the base of your hand. Apply light pressure until you feel the pulse.
Want to check your heart rate?
Resource : health.harvard.edu
What is a normal heart rate?
A normal heart rate for adults is typically 60 to 100 beats per minute. A heart rate that is slower than 60 beats per minute is considered bradycardia ("slow heart") and a rate that is faster than 100 beats per minutes is termed tachycardia ("fast heart"). There are some experts who believe that an ideal resting heart rate is closer to 50 to 70 beats per minute. Regardless of what is considered normal, it's important to recognize that a healthy heart rate will vary depending on the situation.
Among healthy people, a slower heart rate can be due to being physically fit, a medication, or sleep patterns. However, a slower heart rate can indicate a sign of disease including heart disease, certain infections, high levels of potassium in the blood, or an underactive thyroid.
On the reverse side, a fast rate in healthy people can be because they are exercising, nervous or excited, using a stimulant, or are pregnant. The health conditions that are associated with a fast heart rate include most infections or just about any cause of fever, heart problems, certain medications, low levels of potassium in the blood, an overactive thyroid gland or too much thyroid medication, anemia, or asthma or other breathing trouble.
By monitoring your heart rate, you can help track trends and patterns that are personal to you.
How to check your heart rate
According to the Harvard Medical School Special Health Report Diseases of the Heart, it's easy to check your pulse using just your fingers, either at the wrist or the side of the neck.
- At the wrist, lightly press the index and middle fingers of one hand on the opposite wrist, just below the base of the thumb.
- At the neck, lightly press the side of the neck, just below your jawbone.
- Count the number of beats in 15 seconds, and multiply by four. That's your heart rate.
To get the most accurate reading, you may want to repeat a few times and use the average of the three values. For a resting heart rate measurement, you should also follow these steps:
- Do not measure your heart rate within one to two hours after exercise or a stressful event. Your heart rate can stay elevated after strenuous activities.
- Wait an hour after consuming caffeine, which can cause heart palpitations and make your heart rate rise.
- Do not take the reading after you have been sitting or standing for a long period, which can affect your heart rate.
You can also use different types of heart rate monitors to check your heart rate. But be aware that most have not undergone independent testing for accuracy. One option is a digital fitness tracker. The most reliable ones use a wireless sensor on a strap that you wrap around your chest. The sensor detects your pulse electronically and sends the data to a wristwatch-style receiver that displays your heart rate. Others have sensors on the back of the wristwatch itself. These sensors, which are slightly less accurate, determine your heart rate by measuring blood flow through the skin.
Various smartphone apps to check your heart rate are also available. For most of these, you place your finger on the phone's camera lens, which then detects color changes in your finger each time your heart beats.
Treadmills, elliptical machines, and other exercise equipment found in fitness centers and some home exercise rooms often feature handgrip heart rate monitors. These rely on trace amounts of sweat from your palms and the metal on the grips to detect the electric signal of your heartbeat. But experts don't recommend these to check your heart rate, as they are notoriously inaccurate.
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
What is Maximum Heart Rate (HRmax)?
Your maximum heart rate (HRmax) is the highest number of times your heart can beat in a minute, and it depends on your age. It is crucial for determining your heart rate training zones.
The most common formula to calculate HRmax is:
HRmax = 220 - age
What is Resting Heart Rate (HRrest)?
The resting heart rate (HRrest) is the number of heartbeats per minute while you are at rest. For adults, the typical resting heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 BPM, while athletes often have a lower resting heart rate, sometimes below 60 BPM.
To measure your resting heart rate, ensure you have been resting for at least 10 minutes before taking your pulse.
What Are the Different Training Zones?
Heart rate training zones define the intensity of your training. These zones are calculated using your HRmax and vary by age. Below are the five main training zones:
1. Moderate Activity (Maintenance/Warm-up): 50–60% of HRmax
This zone is ideal for warm-ups, recovery, and general maintenance. It strengthens the heart, improves muscle tone, reduces body fat, cholesterol, and blood pressure, and minimizes the risk of degenerative diseases.
2. Weight Control (Fitness/Fat Burn): 60–70% of HRmax
This is the optimal zone for fat burning, with 85% of the calories burned coming from fat. It provides the benefits of the moderate activity zone but with increased intensity.
3. Aerobic (Cardio Training/Endurance): 70–80% of HRmax
Training in this zone enhances your cardiovascular and respiratory systems. It strengthens the heart, increases its size, and burns more calories—50% of which come from fat.
4. Anaerobic (Hardcore Training): 80–90% of HRmax
This zone is suitable for improving athletic performance and endurance. Only 15% of the calories burned here come from fat, making it a high-intensity zone for serious training.
5. VO2 Max (Maximum Effort): 90–100% of HRmax
This is the maximum intensity zone, where your body consumes the highest amount of oxygen. It burns the most calories but is sustainable only for short durations. Training at this level is suitable for highly fit individuals and can be dangerous for others.
Important Note
Training at or near your maximum heart rate can pose health risks. Always consult a healthcare professional before engaging in high-intensity training.
Resources
- Resource 1: Wikipedia
- Resource 2: Verywellfit