To understand heart rate zone calculators, let us first understand heart rate and why it is important to consider the same. Simply put, heart rate is the number of times that your heart beats in one minute. A normal heart rate is between 60 to 100 beats per minute (BPM). Slower than 60 beats is called bradycardia and faster than 100 beats is called tachycardia. There are several positive and negative reasons why a person’s heart rate may be slow or fast. Heart rate can go below 60 BPM due to sleep, certain medications, or even being physically fit. On the flip side, it may also be due to certain infections, underactive thyroid glands, or excessive potassium in the blood.

Heart rate can go above 100 BPM due to pregnancy, exercise, or even owing to excitement or stimulation. On the other hand, infections, low levels of potassium in the blood, anemia and some medications may also lead to this factor. It is important to know one’s heart rate because the heart circulates oxygen and blood through the body. Hence, any disbalance in the same might be a wake-up for impending health problems, which if addressed in time, may be better rectifiable.

Usually, it is seen that the heart rate of a female will be 2 to 7 BPMs faster than a male. Heart rates can also vary as per age, especially when the person is a child. For instance, a newborn's heart rate will be 100-160 BPM, a child between 1 to 3 years of age may have a BPM of 80-130, and a preteen’s heart rate will be between 60-105 BPMs. Of course, factors like stress, obesity, and smoking can cause erratic changes in a person’s heart rate. Use our Heart Rate Zone Calculator to discover your maximum heart rate (MHR) and calculate your exercise target heart rate (THR) zones in beats per minute.