Understanding Resting Heart Rate (RHR)
Resting heart rate (RHR) is the number of times your heart beats per minute when you are calm, at rest, and not digesting a recent meal or caffeine. It reflects how much work your heart does in a relaxed state and can change with sleep, activity, hydration, temperature, and other day-to-day factors.
What RHR Measures
RHR is a daily snapshot of your cardiovascular system at rest. Consumer wearables typically estimate it from periods of low movement (often overnight), while clinics measure it after several minutes of quiet sitting. Values are usually expressed in beats per minute (bpm).
Typical Patterns and What Affects Them
- Activity & fitness: Regular aerobic activity is associated with lower average RHR over time.
- Sleep & recovery: Short or disrupted sleep may coincide with temporary RHR increases the next day.
- Stress & illness: Dehydration, fever, or stress can raise RHR temporarily.
- Environment: Heat, altitude, caffeine, and timing of measurement can shift readings.
Because many factors influence RHR, single readings are less informative than patterns observed over weeks.
Why Trends Matter
In MyLabInsight, RHR is best viewed as a trend with your usual range. Watching whether your RHR stays within that range, drifts higher or lower, or varies with changes in sleep and activity can provide useful context. We present neutral observations (e.g., “RHR was lower during weeks with more consistent sleep”) without diagnosis or prediction.
How RHR Is Commonly Measured
At home: Wearables estimate daily RHR automatically; many show an overnight or daily minimum. For manual checks, measure after sitting quietly for several minutes.
In clinics: RHR is taken after a brief rest period, typically while seated. Measurement conditions (position, recent activity, caffeine) can influence results, so consistency helps.
Educational Takeaway
RHR gives a simple view of how your heart behaves at rest. Watching your personal pattern—rather than any single number—and comparing it with sleep, activity, and other readings can help you understand how daily habits relate to your usual range in a clear, non-diagnostic way.
References
- American Heart Association. All About Heart Rate (Pulse). Accessed 2025.
- National Institutes of Health. Resting Heart Rate and Physical Activity. Accessed 2025.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sleep and Health. Accessed 2025.
*This article is for educational use only and does not provide medical advice. MyLabInsight is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace professional care.*