Overview

This blog explores what is considered a dangerous heart rate for a woman, how heart rates differ between men and women, age-related changes, and the impact of lifestyle and hormonal factors. Learn how to recognize warning signs, understand what your heart rate is telling you, and when to seek medical care from cardiac specialists like ViaScan.

Introduction

A fist-sized powerhouse beating 100,000 times a day, the heart drives life-sustaining blood throughout our bodies. However, how many of us really comprehend exactly what our heart rate is saying about women’s health in particular?

So, what is considered a normal heart rate for a woman versus a dangerous one? When should it result in a call to your doctor? What about a person’s age, fitness level, and hormonal changes, and whether these are suitable?

We will go through everything you need to know about women’s heart rates, from understanding the numbers to recognising warning signs that must not be neglected.

What Is Considered a Normal Heart Rate for a Woman?

At rest, the normal woman’s heart rate tends to be anywhere from 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm). This is what is known as your resting heart rate, the pulse you would get when you are not just relaxed but also sitting or lying down, and not having just done a piece of exercise.

While it is known that women tend to have higher resting heart rates than men, a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that women have slightly faster baseline heart rates than men.

What are some factors affecting normal heart rate?

Age-Related Variations

Your normal heart rate changes throughout your lifespan:

Age Group	Average Resting Heart Rate (bpm)
Newborns	100-160
Infants	90-150
Children (1-10)	70-120
Adolescents	60-100
Adult women	60-100
Senior women (65+)	60-100 (may trend lower)

 

Fitness and Heart Rate

Physical fitness significantly impacts resting heart rate. Well-conditioned female athletes generally have resting heart rates between 40 and 60 bpm since their hearts are strong and efficient. This is a sign of cardiovascular health in this population, and it would not be concerning if this were at a lower rate in less athletic individuals.

When Does a Heart Rate Become Dangerous for Women?

Usually, there are two categories of dangerous heart rate for women: tachycardia (too fast) and bradycardia (too slow).

Tachycardia: When Fast Becomes Dangerous

Tachycardia is the condition of having a heart rate above 100 bpm at rest. Research published in the European Heart Journal found that persistent tachycardia can be notably concerning in women since such arrhythmia may be suggestive of underlying conditions that plague women more widely, such as thyroid disorders or specific types of structural heart disease (Magnani et al., 2018)

 https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehy057

Types of tachycardia include:

Sinus tachycardia: A nodal heart rate rise from the sinoatrial node (natural pacemaker of the heart).

• Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT): A tachycardia in which the origin is above the ventricles.
• Ventricular tachycardia: Rapid heartbeat that is dangerous to the ventricles

Irregular and often rapid heart rate that increases stroke risk; At this point, it is called atrial fibrillation

Look out for any of these warning signs that your fast heart may be dangerous.

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Fainting or near-fainting episodes
• Palpitations that do not stop when you are still, as your resting heart rate should.

Bradycardia: When Slow Signals Trouble

Bradycardia refers to a resting heart rate below 60 bpm. This is normal for athletes or when sleeping, but can be dangerous if it occurs along with symptoms or under other circumstances.

Concerning symptoms of bradycardia include:

• Unusual fatigue or weakness
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Confusion or difficulty concentrating
• Fainting spells
• Shortness of breath

How Do Hormones Affect a Woman’s Heart Rate?

The heart rate changes differently in a female body due to unique hormonal fluctuations in the female body.

Menstrual Cycle Effects

Many studies show that heart rate variability differs with the menstrual cycle. Rates typically increase during the luteal phase, days 14-28, versus the follicular phase, days 1-13. 

Pregnancy and Heart Rate

The American Heart Association says a woman’s normal heart rate usually goes up by 10–20 beats per minute while pregnant. This increased cardiac output supports the development of the fetus. This elevation is normal but not dangerous unless something concerning accompanies it.

Menopause Transition

Perimenopause and menopause are accompanied by hormonal shifts, which result in palpitations and episodes of tachycardia. Research in the journal Menopause has indicated that 40% of women reported heart palpitations during this life transition (Thurston et al., 2016)

 https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0b013e31823fe835).

How Do Temporary Dangerous Heart Rates Occur?

Temporary changes in heart rate, rises and drops, can result from several potentially dangerous situations.

• Rapid heart rate can occur due to dehydration as your body works to maintain blood pressure.
• Fever: The increase in heart rate per given degree (F) of fever is about 10 bpm.
• Certain medications affect the heart rate significantly: Some, including cold and allergy preparations, can reduce it, and in some cases, drastically so
• Acute anxiety or panic attacks: These can lead to heart rates going up to 160 to 180 bpm
• Also, stimulant use: caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, etc., can dangerously elevate heart rate.

Even brief episodes of extreme heart rate elevation are linked to a higher risk of cardiac events in women.  

How to Measure Your Heart Rate Effectively?

A considerable amount of progress has been made in self-monitoring heart rate:

Manual Pulse Checking

The radial pulse or carotid pulse is located by placing your index and middle finger on your wrist where the pulse is just above your palm or on your neck, near your throat.

• Count the beats for 15 seconds.
• Multiply by 4 to arrive at the beats per minute.

Technology-Assisted Monitoring

• Fitness trackers and smartwatches
• Home blood pressure monitors with pulse reading
• Dedicated heart rate monitoring apps
• Consumer ECG devices

When to Record Your Heart Rate?

• Morning (resting rate before activity)
• During and after exercise
• When experiencing symptoms
• Tracking for your doctor is the same time every day.

When Should I See a Doctor About My Heart Rate?

See a doctor if you have:

• Sustained resting heart rate above 120 bpm or below 50 bpm (except for the athlete)
• Irregular heart rhythms, especially with symptoms
• Not a correct increase in both exercise and resting heart rate.
• Returning to normal heart rate after exercise in more than 10 minutes
• Chest pain along with shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting, regardless of the normal heart rate.

If you notice any of these signs, it may indicate an underlying cardiac issue that requires prompt evaluation. In many cases, undergoing a professional heart scan can provide detailed insights into your heart’s health and catch early signs of disease before symptoms become severe.

Knowing what is considered too high or too low of a heart rate for women empowers you to take proactive steps to protect your heart. Monitoring your heart rate regularly, understanding your normal range, and responding to unusual changes can lead to earlier detection and more effective treatment.

Conclusion:

Your heart rate is a barometer and an early warning about how fit your general health is. The numbers certainly matter, but the most useful ones come with the other pieces of data: your age, fitness level, hormonal status, and possibly any of the symptoms you might be suffering from.

From checking your heart health or if you have been experiencing worrisome signs, you can always speak to your healthcare provider or cardiac experts, such as ViaScan, who provide advanced cardiac testing and individual risk assessment.  Every minute of every day, your heart works fast for you without stopping. An investment of time spent to understand its language is a boon for your long-term health.