Your heart beats faster and faster as your exercise gets more and more strenuous. Why? It’s pumping more oxygen, so your body can produce more and more energy. Like leg and arm muscles, your heart muscle needs regular workouts. But how fast is safe and healthy?
Your target heart rate—beats per minute (bpm)—during a workout is a range, not one number. A healthy goal depends on your age, health, and fitness level.
Here’s how to calculate your target range—if you’re healthy. First calculate your maximum heart rate: 220 minus your age. Your target heart rate is 50 to 75 percent of maximum heart rate.
If you have a health problem, check with your doctor.
During your next physical activity, check your bpm (pulse) several times. Here’s how:
- First, feel the beat. Put your fingers lightly but firmly (not too much pressure) on your neck just under your jaw, or inside your wrist.
- Then count for 10. Count your heartbeats for 10 seconds. Multiply that number by 6 for your bpm.
- Last compare it to your target.
Another option: Wear an electronic sensing device that tracks your heart rate.
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