Heart rate is the number of heartbeats per minute. In a normal person, the pulse rate corresponds to the heart rate. Although the method of measuring heart rate is simple, its clinical significance should not be underestimated. Abnormal heart rate is a high risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases, and by measuring it, a number of cardiovascular diseases can be predicted so that early diagnosis and treatment can be carried out for better results. If a patient has an arrhythmia (e.g., premature beats, etc.), the pulse count should not be used as a substitute for heart rate; it is best to measure the heart rate with a stethoscope or have a physician perform the procedure. What is the ideal heart rate for the elderly? The normal value of heart rate is different at rest and during exercise. 1. Heart rate at rest: Generally speaking, the younger you are, the faster your heart rate is. Older people have a slower heart rate than younger people, and women have a faster heart rate than men of the same age, all of which are normal physiological phenomena. In a quiet state, the normal heart rate of adults is 60 to 100 beats per minute, and the ideal heart rate should be 55 to 70 beats per minute (athletes’ heart rate is slower than that of ordinary adults, generally about 50 beats per minute). 2, heart rate during exercise: a person’s maximum heart rate is about 220 minus age, 65% to 85% of the maximum heart rate during exercise is the best effect, such as 40 to 50-year-old middle-aged people, the heart rate during exercise should be controlled at 118 to 153 beats / min; 60 years of age or older, the heart rate during exercise should be controlled at 104 to 135 beats / min, but in the case of heart disease patients, the heart rate during exercise Should be controlled at 55% to 75% of the maximum heart rate. Heartbeat and life expectancy are inversely proportional Scientists have found that the heartbeat may be inversely proportional to life expectancy, that is, the slower the heartbeat, the longer the life expectancy; the faster the heartbeat, the shorter the life expectancy. If an adult’s heart rate is maintained at about 60 beats per minute when quiet, their life expectancy can be 93 years; conversely, if the heart rate is greater than 80 beats per minute when quiet, their life expectancy is significantly shorter. Heart rate variability is closely associated with many diseases, especially heart disease. In adults, a heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute at quiet (usually not more than 160 beats per minute) is called sinus tachycardia, which is commonly seen after excitement, agitation, smoking, drinking alcohol, drinking strong tea or coffee, or in pathological states such as infection, fever, shock, anemia, hypoxia, hyperthyroidism, heart failure, or after the application of drugs such as atropine, epinephrine, ephedrine, etc. In adults, a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute at quiet (usually above 45 beats per minute) is called sinus bradycardia, which can be seen in healthy people and athletes who have been engaged in heavy physical work for a long time; or in hypothyroidism, increased intracranial pressure, obstructive jaundice, and overdose of digitalis, quinidine, or benzos. If the heart rate is less than 40 beats per minute, atrioventricular block should be considered; if the pulse is unequal and irregular and less than the heart rate, atrial fibrillation can be definitively diagnosed. If the heart rate exceeds 160 beats/minute or is lower than 40 beats/minute, it is mostly seen in patients with heart disease and is often accompanied by palpitations, chest tightness and other discomfort, and should be examined in detail as early as possible in order to treat the cause. A large number of clinical studies have confirmed that people with a fast heart rate during quiet time have a significantly increased risk of various cardiovascular diseases. It has been shown that people with frequent fast heart rates (i.e., heart rates greater than 80 to 85 beats per minute) at quiet times are significantly more likely to have coronary heart disease, hypertension, sudden cardiac death, and other cardiovascular risks than those with slow heart rates. Clinical observations suggest that maintaining a heart rate of 55 to 70 beats per minute during quiet time (the heart rate during sleep can be 38 to 50 beats per minute) is a sign of a healthy heart. For healthy people, if they often have a fast heart rate at quiet time, if the influence of physiological factors (such as anxiety and tension, heavy smoking, drinking alcohol, drinking strong tea and coffee, insomnia, etc.) is excluded, they should go to the hospital for cardiovascular examination to exclude hidden diseases. For patients who originally suffered from coronary heart disease, hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases, the level of heart rate at quiet time can predict the future health status. At present, the most commonly used drugs to slow down the heart rate are beta-blockers (such as betalactam, etc.). When tolerated, the heart rate should be controlled at 55 to 65 beats per minute for general hypertension and coronary artery disease patients, and at 50 to 55 beats per minute for patients with severe angina pectoris and myocardial infarction. How to maintain the ideal heart rate in the elderly 1, appropriate exercise: appropriate exercise when the heart rate accelerates, can make the heart function to exercise, the heart’s ability to control the heart rate is enhanced, so that the heart rate slows down when quiet. 2, maintain normal weight: obesity will make the heart burden increased, heart rate accelerated, therefore, obese people should lose weight scientifically, in addition to fitness exercise, but also reasonable regulation of diet. 3, quit smoking and limit alcohol: smoking and drinking alcohol can make the quiet heart rate faster.