‘My pulse is higher than it used to be’ – what does that really mean?
Mr L., 71, checks his pulse regularly. ‘It used to be around 60, now it’s often 70 or 75.’ His question: is that normal?
The short answer: often, yes. But it depends on the context.
Is a changing heart rate normal? The short answer
Your heart rate changes over the course of your life. What matters is not a single reading, but how your pulse behaves day to day and whether you notice any symptoms.
What is a normal resting heart rate?
For adults, the resting heart rate is usually around:
- 60–80 beats per minute in everyday life
However, this varies from person to person and depends on:
- Fitness
- Stress
- Sleep
- Time of day
Your pulse isn’t a fixed number – it’s constantly changing.
Why your pulse fluctuates
1. Stress
Mental strain can keep your pulse raised over long periods.
2. Movement
An active lifestyle has a positive effect on your baseline heart rate.
3. Sleep quality
Poor sleep can lead to a higher pulse.
When your pulse may be a warning sign
- Sudden, significant changes with no obvious reason
- A very high resting heart rate over a longer period
- Additional symptoms such as dizziness or restlessness
In these cases, it’s worth taking a closer look.
Why so many people misread their pulse
The biggest mistake is giving too much weight to individual readings.
One higher reading is not a problem. A trend may be worth paying attention to.
Watch your pulse over 7 days – not 7 minutes.
How modern technology can help
Health devices make it possible to see:
- Continuous measurements
- Trend analysis
- Links with sleep and stress
Our recommendation
If you’d like to understand your heart rate better, continuous monitoring in everyday life can be helpful – with no effort and no need to keep checking.
Discover health watches for monitoring your heart rate
Please note: not a substitute for a medical diagnosis.
