Maximum heart rate is roughly calculated as 220 minus age.
1. Heart rate varies from person to person and is often slower at rest and faster during exercise. Maximum heart rate refers to the ultimate heart rate that the heart can reach when a person is exercising. The maximum heart rate varies in different age groups. For example, a healthy 40-year-old adult should have a maximum heart rate of 220-40, which is 180 beats per minute.
2. Maximum heart rate can be used to guide a person’s exercise intensity. Typically, the heart rate during exercise should be 60-80% of the maximum heart rate, within which exercise is most beneficial to the body of a healthy adult. When a patient has a heart condition, he or she needs to consult a physician about whether exercise is allowed and the intensity of exercise.