From the Guidelines
The normal heart rate range for females is typically considered to be between 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm), although this can vary based on factors such as age, fitness level, and overall health. According to the 2019 ACC/AHA/HRS guideline on the evaluation and management of patients with bradycardia and cardiac conduction delay 1, bradycardia is defined as a heart rate <60 bpm in adults, except for well-trained athletes. However, population studies have used a lower cutoff of 50 bpm to define bradycardia 1.
Some key points to consider when evaluating heart rate in females include:
- Age: Older women generally have lower maximum heart rates 1
- Fitness level: Well-conditioned female athletes may have resting heart rates as low as 40-60 bpm, which is considered normal for them due to their enhanced cardiovascular efficiency
- Pregnancy: Resting heart rates may increase by 10-20 bpm above pre-pregnancy baseline due to increased blood volume and cardiac output
- Symptoms: Heart rates consistently above 100 bpm at rest (tachycardia) or below 60 bpm (bradycardia) may warrant medical attention, especially if accompanied by symptoms like dizziness, shortness of breath, or chest pain
It's also important to note that heart rate is regulated by the autonomic nervous system and is influenced by factors including hormones, which can fluctuate throughout a woman's menstrual cycle and life stages. Therefore, it's essential to consider these factors when evaluating heart rate in females and to individualize assessment and treatment approaches. The 2019 ACC/AHA/HRS guideline emphasizes the importance of careful individualized clinical assessment in diagnosing conditions such as chronotropic incompetence, which represents failure to reach a target heart rate with exertion relative to expected for age 1.
From the Research
Normal Heart Rate Range for Females
The normal heart rate range for females can be determined by analyzing various studies that have investigated heart rate in different populations.
- A study published in 2011 2 found that the mean resting pulse rate for adult females is 74 beats per minute, with a standard error of 0.2.
- Another study published in 2008 3 found that heart rate decreases with age and is higher in females than in males for persons aged 10 years and older.
- A 2020 study 4 found that males have significantly lower heart rates than females, with a mean heart rate of 93.3 bpm for females.
- A meta-analysis published in 2016 5 found that females have a significantly lower mean RR interval and standard deviation of RR intervals, and greater vagal activity indexed by high-frequency power of heart rate variability.
Factors Affecting Heart Rate
Several factors can affect heart rate, including:
- Age: Heart rate decreases with age 2, 3
- Gender: Females tend to have higher heart rates than males 2, 3, 4, 5
- Body temperature: An increase in body temperature is associated with an increase in heart rate 4
- Physical activity: Heart rate can increase with physical activity
- Medications: Certain medications, such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers, can affect heart rate 6
Heart Rate Variability
Heart rate variability (HRV) is the variation in time between each heartbeat, and can be affected by various factors, including: