Resting Heart Rate

Source: NetFit UK accessed on 29 October 2008

Your resting heart rate is often a good determination as to how fit you are, as well as indicating if you're either over training or unwell - showing up as unxplained increases in resting heart rate.

Its important to remember that the best time to take this test is first thing in the morning, when you awake, as simply getting up and walking around your bedroom will cause your heart rate to rise, with other factors such as smoking, coffee, cola, caffeine, betel nut also causing an increase.

Taking your resting heart rate over at least 3 days produces a more accurate result. that you can get an average reading. Look at recording your time for a full minute to make the test as accurate as possible.

As you become fitter through aerobic exercise, your heart becomes more efficient at pumping blood around the body, especially if combined with a reduction of the plaque (fatty deposits) within your arteries. As a result you will find your resting heart rate gets lower so you will need to check your RHR on a regular basis and recalculate any target zones you have, especially if working with a heart rate monitor.

Drugs found in cold medications raise the heart rate and do not give a true indication of your resting heart rate.