Why Is Heart Rate Important? We Have Answers! Don’t Miss Out.
When it comes to running and staying in shape, it can be important to know what your heart rate is at the current moment. There are many reasons as to why this is the case, but all the same, it is a part of your body that is essential to take care of and keep in check.
That said, you might be wondering just why is heart rate important? We are here to give you the answer! Read on in this article to find out more about this body feature, as we answer some of your frequently-asked questions. Soon enough, you will be an expert on all things related to heart rate, running, and the body overall.
Without further ado, let us get started!
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What is heart rate?
In essence, the heart rate refers to just how fast the heart beats in a minute. Depending on many factors such as physical activity, eating, and sleeping as well as natural body functions like oxygen absorption and carbon dioxide secretion, heart rate can really vary. Not only that, but it can be different from individual to individual.
What is a “normal” heart rate?
Again, while heart rate can vary from individual to individual, it is commonly said that a “normal” heart rate is somewhere between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm). However, it can be different for various situations. For instance, some people might have over 100 bpm, which is known as tachycardia, while others have heart rates around 50 to 60 bpm, considered to be bradycardia.
In some cases, there are abnormal heart rates, in which the heart beats irregularly, also known as arrhythmia. More so than not, it can be contributed to disease or otherwise a problem with the heart being able to pump blood effectively throughout the entire body.
Why is heart rate important?
Considering that your heart is one of the most, if not the most, important muscle in your body, it is imperative that it remains strong and healthy. That said, having a good heart rate is an essential way to know how the heart is currently doing, as well as know when to take measures to fix it.
In addition, it helps to know your resting heart rate. In other words, it is the rate at which your heart beats when your body is at rest, is ideal to monitor from time to time, so as to make sure that you remain alive and well.
How does heart rate relate to running?
When you perform aerobic exercises such as running or swimming, your heart works harder to pump more blood throughout your body, as means of fueling the muscles to drive you forward in your activity. As a result, heart rate goes up, and dramatically decreases once you finish the workout and are in resting state.
Having a low heart rate (which ranges anywhere from 40 to 60 bpm) is ideal, since it indicates that your heart is strong in pumping blood from the center of the body to the rest of it: the muscles, the tissues, the brain, the digestive system, and so forth. By having this low heart rate, you can be rest assured that you are not only healthy, but also in excellent athletic shape.
For more information on heart rate and running, check it out here:
What can we do to improve our heart rate?
If you are interested in improve, or otherwise decreasing, your heart rate for personal health reasons, then exercise is one strategy. However, there are other strategies and methods you can take to get that heart rate down and healthy. Here, we list a few factors, with exercise included:
1. Get regular exercise.
We cannot reiterate this enough: getting regular exercise every day will not only lower that heart rate, but also keep you happy and healthy. In particular, aim for aerobic activities, such as running, swimming, cycling, or dancing, all of which can stimulate your heart to work harder and faster during the activity, and then later drop down to an ideal low heart rate.
2. Avoid sitting for long periods of time.
Even if you are an avid runner or even a semi-professional athlete, sitting like a couch potato afterwards actually counteracts the physical efforts you had made beforehand. Studies have shown that sitting at your desk or on your couch for long periods of time is just as harmful to your body as smoking does.
That said, we encourage you to get up every so often to walk around and stretch your legs, as means of stimulating your heart rate from time to time and keeping yourself active in the process. In the end, it will be beneficial to your body.
3. Avoid smoking.
Aside from the fact that smoking causes lung cancer and other potentially life-threatening diseases, lighting up can also increase the resting heart rate, which can damage the lungs and possibly lead to heart arrhythmia. Just as how easy it is to keep your body in shape, it is also easy not to choose to light up- that said, if you do not start, then that is good!
4. Reduce stress.
Especially if you have a lot on your plate when it comes to work, money, and family, it is guaranteed that you will be stressed. While a bit of it is fine, even productive, too much of it can be harmful, not only to relationships, but also your health, for it increases the heart rate in the process.
Therefore, it is a good idea to find methods to lower stress levels, such as exercise, do yoga, and partake in mindful meditation throughout the day. That way, you can calm yourself down.
Conclusion
Overall, heart rate is extremely important to your body, as means of measuring and indicating your health. It determines how healthy you are by the beats per minute: as a rule of thumb, the lower it is the better. You can take measures to improve your heart rate by exercising and otherwise partake in healthy lifestyle decisions. Soon enough, you will be fit and happy!
References
http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/the-truth-about-heart-rate-and-exercise#1
