What’s a normal heart rate?

For adults, 95% of normal people have a resting heart rate between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm).
The fitter you are, the lower your resting heart rate is likely to be. For example, athletes may have a resting heart rate of 40-60 bpm or lower.
You should contact your GP if you think your heart rate is continuously above 120 bpm or below 40 bpm, although, this could just be normal for you. (NHS UK 2011)

How long should it take for BP and heart rate to return to normal after exercise?

If your heart rate decreases 20 beats per minute (bpm) or more within 1 minute post exercise you are doing well. By 5 minutes post workout your heart rate should be down to 120 bpm or less (Nelson 2008).

Here's an example:

Your heart rate during the activity reaches 170 bpm. Within in 1 minute post exercise your heart rate should be down to 150 bpm or less. At 5 minutes post workout you should be 120 bpm or less (Nelson 2008).

If you are not at these levels, decrease the intensity of your workout and then gradually increase as your fitness level improves (Nelson 2008).

You can determine if you're fitness level is improving by monitoring how quickly you return to resting heart rate after a workout. To calculate, take your pulse immediately after you finish walking and write down the number. One minute later take your pulse and write it down. Subtract the second number from the first. The greater the number, the better your fitness level (Nelson 2008).



Nelson, L. (2008). how long should it take for BP and heart rate to return to normal after exercise?. Available: http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/c/question/169761/52729. Last accessed 23/01/2013.

NHS UK (2011) http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2024.aspx?CategoryID=52  (23/01/2013)