What is the normal pulse rate of an adult?

The normal pulse rate of an adult ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute, according to Medical News Today. This rate temporarily increases or decreases depending on a variety of factors, including physical activity, body temperature and emotional state.

Medical News Today explains that not only does the pulse rate change in response to many different internal and external factors, but it also varies significantly according to age and physical fitness. For example, the normal heart rate for newborns is between 70 and 190 beats, while that of athletes who have trained extensively can go as low as 40 beats per minute.