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FAST HEART RATE INCREASES RISK FOR HEART ATTACK
Having a fast resting heart rate increases your risk for suffering a heart attack (1,6) and dying early (7).
Everything that you do, thinking, eating and moving speeds up your heart. So to know your resting heart rate, check it when you first wake in the morning. Place your fingers on the side of your neck where you feel a strong heart beat. Count your heart rate. If it beats more than 83 times a minute, you are three times more likely to suffer a heart attack in the next three years.
The test is dependable only if you are not sick, not under unusual stress and have not been working excessively hard for the last few days. A high heart rate increases is associated with higher blood pressures that damages arteries and forms plaques (5). A fast heart rate can knock plaques from arteries to block blood flow and cause heart attacks (3). If your resting heart rate is greater than 83, check with your doctor.
1) GB Habib. Reappraisal of heart rate as a risk factor in the general population. European Heart Journal Supplements, 1999, Vol 1, Iss H, pp H2-H10.
2) R Ferrari, F Nesta, A Boraso. Increased heart rate is detrimental: the myocardial metabolic theory. European Heart Journal Supplements, 1999, Vol 1, Iss H, pp H24-H28.
3) C Rapezzi, C Manes, A Branzi. Increased heart rate is detrimental: the peripheral-plaque theory. European Heart Journal Supplements, 1999, Vol 1, Iss H, pp H29-H32.
4)H Purcell. Heart rate as a therapeutic target in ischaemic heart disease. European Heart Journal Supplements, 1999, Vol 1, Iss H, pp H58-H63.
5)AC Pessina, P Palatini.Heart rate as a therapeutic target in hypertension. European Heart Journal Supplements, 1999, Vol 1, Iss H.
6) P Palatini. Heart rate as a cardiovascular risk factor.European Heart Journal Supplements, 1999, Vol 1, Iss B, pp B3-B9.
7 )E KristalBoneh, H Silber, G Harari, P Froom. The association of resting heart rate with cardiovascular, cancer and all-cause mortality - Eight year follow-up of 3527 male Israeli employees (The CORDIS Study). European Heart Journal, 2000, Vol 21, Iss 2, pp 116-124
Checked 8/8/05