What is a normal heart rate?

Normal resting heart rate for adults is between 60 and 100 beats per minute, according to the Mayo Clinic. Resting heart rate varies considerably by age, but after 16, teenagers have the same normal range as adults.

Average resting heart rate increases from birth to the age of 2 months, according to the University of British Columbia, then declines from there onward. Top End Sports notes that athletes with excellent cardiovascular health may have a resting heart rate as low as 40 beats per minute. This is a sign of a fit and efficient body. They also note that heart rates for people of similar activity level differ slightly based on gender, with women having higher average heart rates than men.