當(dāng)你感到恐懼、緊張或在健身房大汗淋漓時,那種心臟在胸腔中砰砰直跳、血液在血管中加速流動的體驗(yàn)?zāi)阋欢ú荒吧R苍S你甚至?xí)谶@些時刻監(jiān)測自己的心率,以保持身體健康,降低壓力。但是,你多久會留意自己的靜息心率呢?
顧名思義,靜息心率,或稱脈搏,是指你在完全放松時,心臟每分鐘跳動的次數(shù)。(不要與血壓混淆,后者指的是血液循環(huán)的力量。)美國心臟協(xié)會稱,這一指標(biāo)是洞察心臟和整體健康狀況的重要窗口,尤其是隨著年齡增長。
靜息心率并不是一個放之四海而皆準(zhǔn)的指標(biāo)。除年齡外,壓力、荷爾蒙水平、焦慮情緒、藥物影響以及體育鍛煉等因素都會對健康心率產(chǎn)生影響。不過,美國心臟協(xié)會表示,對大多數(shù)成年人而言,靜息心率的正常范圍通常在每分鐘60到100次之間。運(yùn)動員或經(jīng)常進(jìn)行高強(qiáng)度訓(xùn)練的人的靜息心率可能低至每分鐘40次;在其游泳生涯的巔峰時期,奧運(yùn)選手邁克爾·菲爾普斯(Michael Phelps)的靜息心率曾維持在每分鐘38次,這一數(shù)據(jù)相當(dāng)出名。
當(dāng)你不進(jìn)行鍛煉時,心臟泵血到全身的工作強(qiáng)度越大,靜息心率就越高。因此,較低的靜息心率通常被視為心肌更為健康、效率更高的標(biāo)志。美國心臟協(xié)會指出,研究表明,靜息心率較高的人往往體重較重,血壓較高,體能較差。此外,其他研究也發(fā)現(xiàn),較低的靜息心率與更長的壽命之間存在一定的相關(guān)性。
洛杉磯西達(dá)賽奈醫(yī)療中心(Cedars-Sinai Medical Center)史密特心臟研究所(Smidt Heart Institute)冠心病重癥監(jiān)護(hù)室主任約瑟夫·埃賓格(Joseph Ebinger)博士表示,一個人的靜息心率與其心血管訓(xùn)練水平有關(guān)。
埃賓格在接受《財富》雜志采訪時表示:“你進(jìn)行的鍛煉和規(guī)律的心血管運(yùn)動越多,靜息心率就越低。這是心血管系統(tǒng)健康狀況良好的標(biāo)志。在這種情況下,心臟的每次跳動都強(qiáng)勁有力,無需增加跳動頻率來將血液輸送到全身,以滿足身體各器官的工作需求?!?/p>
如何測量脈搏
埃賓格表示,智能手表和其他健身追蹤器對于那些想要獲取詳盡的長期靜息心率數(shù)據(jù)的人來說非常有用,但高科技設(shè)備并非必要。只需一塊手表或計時器和自己的兩根手指就能測量脈搏。
根據(jù)美國心臟協(xié)會的說法,手腕、肘部內(nèi)側(cè)、頸部側(cè)面或腳面是測量脈搏的最佳部位。另外,早上,在睡了一覺之后、下床之前測量脈搏也是個好主意。以下是該組織關(guān)于如何在手腕上獲得最準(zhǔn)確讀數(shù)的說明:
?找到任一手腕內(nèi)側(cè)的橈動脈。輕輕地將食指和中指按在橈動脈上。你應(yīng)該能感覺到脈搏的每一次跳動。
?計數(shù)60秒內(nèi)的脈搏
埃賓格說:“人們可以計數(shù)30秒,并將所測的數(shù)值乘2,或計數(shù)20秒,并將所測的數(shù)值乘3。理想的心率應(yīng)該是規(guī)律的,有點(diǎn)像節(jié)拍器。如果你感覺到心率有任何異常的跡象,那可能是提示你該去看醫(yī)生的信號。”
如果靜息心率過高或過低,我該怎么辦?
埃賓格解釋道,把靜息心率想象成汽車儀表盤上的發(fā)動機(jī)警示燈,它能夠?yàn)槟闾峁撛诮】祮栴}的警示,而這些健康問題你可能尚未察覺。例如,如果你生病了,這種健康狀況的變化可能會體現(xiàn)為靜息心率的異常升高。
然而,如果靜息心率的持續(xù)變化并非由疾病、新藥物或運(yùn)動計劃的調(diào)整等因素引起,那么請告知你的醫(yī)療保健提供者。
埃賓格在接受《財富》雜志采訪時表示:“我告訴人們,如果靜息心率經(jīng)常超過100,那就應(yīng)該考慮咨詢醫(yī)生。另一種情況是你是否有癥狀。例如,有些人說,‘我覺得我的心臟跳動得更加劇烈,我覺得心律不齊。’這些時候就應(yīng)該尋求幫助,因?yàn)檫@可能不是靜息心率的反映,而是需要專業(yè)評估的心律異常?!?/p>
脈搏超過每分鐘100次被稱為心動過速。脫水、攝入過量咖啡因、吸煙或焦慮等情況都可能導(dǎo)致心動過速。可能出現(xiàn)的癥狀包括疲勞、惡心、出汗和頭暈。美國心臟協(xié)會建議,如果你經(jīng)常遭受心動過速的困擾,請咨詢醫(yī)生。治療方法取決于疾病的類型和嚴(yán)重程度;輕微的室上性心動過速可能不需要任何治療,而嚴(yán)重的室上性心動過速可能需要手術(shù)治療。
心動過緩則是指心率低于每分鐘60次。阻塞性睡眠呼吸暫停和血液中的化學(xué)物質(zhì)失衡等情況都可能導(dǎo)致心動過緩。美國心臟協(xié)會表示,老年人更容易出現(xiàn)心動過緩,但在深度睡眠時,心率降至每分鐘60次以下也是正?,F(xiàn)象。對于埃賓格來說,“低”是一個相對的術(shù)語,他建議患者關(guān)注自身的癥狀,而不是每分鐘的心跳次數(shù)。
埃賓格說:“其實(shí)沒有'過低'一說。這完全取決于你的癥狀。如果你的心率很低,并且感到頭暈,無法起身進(jìn)行活動,暈厥或感覺即將暈厥,這些都是心率過低的跡象,需要采取措施提高心率?!?/p>
心動過緩的治療方法有很多,從無需治療到植入起搏器,這取決于病情的持續(xù)時間和嚴(yán)重程度。
冥想有助于降低靜息心率
埃賓格說,雖然長期降低靜息心率的明顯途徑似乎是加強(qiáng)心血管鍛煉,但冥想也是一種低調(diào)且有效的方式。研究表明,冥想不僅能在壓力下降低靜息心率,還有助于預(yù)防未來的心臟疾病。
埃賓格在接受《財富》雜志采訪時表示:“人的心率與心腦連接有著內(nèi)在聯(lián)系,當(dāng)我們感到壓力時,心率會上升,這是正?,F(xiàn)象。降低心率和管理壓力的方法與我們應(yīng)對其他壓力源的方法相似;冥想實(shí)際上大有裨益?!保ㄘ敻恢形木W(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
當(dāng)你感到恐懼、緊張或在健身房大汗淋漓時,那種心臟在胸腔中砰砰直跳、血液在血管中加速流動的體驗(yàn)?zāi)阋欢ú荒吧?。也許你甚至?xí)谶@些時刻監(jiān)測自己的心率,以保持身體健康,降低壓力。但是,你多久會留意自己的靜息心率呢?
顧名思義,靜息心率,或稱脈搏,是指你在完全放松時,心臟每分鐘跳動的次數(shù)。(不要與血壓混淆,后者指的是血液循環(huán)的力量。)美國心臟協(xié)會稱,這一指標(biāo)是洞察心臟和整體健康狀況的重要窗口,尤其是隨著年齡增長。
靜息心率并不是一個放之四海而皆準(zhǔn)的指標(biāo)。除年齡外,壓力、荷爾蒙水平、焦慮情緒、藥物影響以及體育鍛煉等因素都會對健康心率產(chǎn)生影響。不過,美國心臟協(xié)會表示,對大多數(shù)成年人而言,靜息心率的正常范圍通常在每分鐘60到100次之間。運(yùn)動員或經(jīng)常進(jìn)行高強(qiáng)度訓(xùn)練的人的靜息心率可能低至每分鐘40次;在其游泳生涯的巔峰時期,奧運(yùn)選手邁克爾·菲爾普斯(Michael Phelps)的靜息心率曾維持在每分鐘38次,這一數(shù)據(jù)相當(dāng)出名。
當(dāng)你不進(jìn)行鍛煉時,心臟泵血到全身的工作強(qiáng)度越大,靜息心率就越高。因此,較低的靜息心率通常被視為心肌更為健康、效率更高的標(biāo)志。美國心臟協(xié)會指出,研究表明,靜息心率較高的人往往體重較重,血壓較高,體能較差。此外,其他研究也發(fā)現(xiàn),較低的靜息心率與更長的壽命之間存在一定的相關(guān)性。
洛杉磯西達(dá)賽奈醫(yī)療中心(Cedars-Sinai Medical Center)史密特心臟研究所(Smidt Heart Institute)冠心病重癥監(jiān)護(hù)室主任約瑟夫·埃賓格(Joseph Ebinger)博士表示,一個人的靜息心率與其心血管訓(xùn)練水平有關(guān)。
埃賓格在接受《財富》雜志采訪時表示:“你進(jìn)行的鍛煉和規(guī)律的心血管運(yùn)動越多,靜息心率就越低。這是心血管系統(tǒng)健康狀況良好的標(biāo)志。在這種情況下,心臟的每次跳動都強(qiáng)勁有力,無需增加跳動頻率來將血液輸送到全身,以滿足身體各器官的工作需求。”
如何測量脈搏
埃賓格表示,智能手表和其他健身追蹤器對于那些想要獲取詳盡的長期靜息心率數(shù)據(jù)的人來說非常有用,但高科技設(shè)備并非必要。只需一塊手表或計時器和自己的兩根手指就能測量脈搏。
根據(jù)美國心臟協(xié)會的說法,手腕、肘部內(nèi)側(cè)、頸部側(cè)面或腳面是測量脈搏的最佳部位。另外,早上,在睡了一覺之后、下床之前測量脈搏也是個好主意。以下是該組織關(guān)于如何在手腕上獲得最準(zhǔn)確讀數(shù)的說明:
?找到任一手腕內(nèi)側(cè)的橈動脈。輕輕地將食指和中指按在橈動脈上。你應(yīng)該能感覺到脈搏的每一次跳動。
?計數(shù)60秒內(nèi)的脈搏
埃賓格說:“人們可以計數(shù)30秒,并將所測的數(shù)值乘2,或計數(shù)20秒,并將所測的數(shù)值乘3。理想的心率應(yīng)該是規(guī)律的,有點(diǎn)像節(jié)拍器。如果你感覺到心率有任何異常的跡象,那可能是提示你該去看醫(yī)生的信號。”
如果靜息心率過高或過低,我該怎么辦?
埃賓格解釋道,把靜息心率想象成汽車儀表盤上的發(fā)動機(jī)警示燈,它能夠?yàn)槟闾峁撛诮】祮栴}的警示,而這些健康問題你可能尚未察覺。例如,如果你生病了,這種健康狀況的變化可能會體現(xiàn)為靜息心率的異常升高。
然而,如果靜息心率的持續(xù)變化并非由疾病、新藥物或運(yùn)動計劃的調(diào)整等因素引起,那么請告知你的醫(yī)療保健提供者。
埃賓格在接受《財富》雜志采訪時表示:“我告訴人們,如果靜息心率經(jīng)常超過100,那就應(yīng)該考慮咨詢醫(yī)生。另一種情況是你是否有癥狀。例如,有些人說,‘我覺得我的心臟跳動得更加劇烈,我覺得心律不齊?!@些時候就應(yīng)該尋求幫助,因?yàn)檫@可能不是靜息心率的反映,而是需要專業(yè)評估的心律異常?!?/p>
脈搏超過每分鐘100次被稱為心動過速。脫水、攝入過量咖啡因、吸煙或焦慮等情況都可能導(dǎo)致心動過速。可能出現(xiàn)的癥狀包括疲勞、惡心、出汗和頭暈。美國心臟協(xié)會建議,如果你經(jīng)常遭受心動過速的困擾,請咨詢醫(yī)生。治療方法取決于疾病的類型和嚴(yán)重程度;輕微的室上性心動過速可能不需要任何治療,而嚴(yán)重的室上性心動過速可能需要手術(shù)治療。
心動過緩則是指心率低于每分鐘60次。阻塞性睡眠呼吸暫停和血液中的化學(xué)物質(zhì)失衡等情況都可能導(dǎo)致心動過緩。美國心臟協(xié)會表示,老年人更容易出現(xiàn)心動過緩,但在深度睡眠時,心率降至每分鐘60次以下也是正常現(xiàn)象。對于埃賓格來說,“低”是一個相對的術(shù)語,他建議患者關(guān)注自身的癥狀,而不是每分鐘的心跳次數(shù)。
埃賓格說:“其實(shí)沒有'過低'一說。這完全取決于你的癥狀。如果你的心率很低,并且感到頭暈,無法起身進(jìn)行活動,暈厥或感覺即將暈厥,這些都是心率過低的跡象,需要采取措施提高心率。”
心動過緩的治療方法有很多,從無需治療到植入起搏器,這取決于病情的持續(xù)時間和嚴(yán)重程度。
冥想有助于降低靜息心率
埃賓格說,雖然長期降低靜息心率的明顯途徑似乎是加強(qiáng)心血管鍛煉,但冥想也是一種低調(diào)且有效的方式。研究表明,冥想不僅能在壓力下降低靜息心率,還有助于預(yù)防未來的心臟疾病。
埃賓格在接受《財富》雜志采訪時表示:“人的心率與心腦連接有著內(nèi)在聯(lián)系,當(dāng)我們感到壓力時,心率會上升,這是正?,F(xiàn)象。降低心率和管理壓力的方法與我們應(yīng)對其他壓力源的方法相似;冥想實(shí)際上大有裨益?!保ㄘ敻恢形木W(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
You’re familiar with the feeling of your heart pounding in your chest, your blood pulsing through your veins with increasing frequency when you’re scared, stressed, or sweating it out at the gym. Perhaps you even monitor your heart rate in those moments in support of keeping your physical fitness high and your stress low. But how often do you take note of your resting heart rate?
As its name suggests, your resting heart rate, or pulse, is the number of times your heart beats per minute when you’re at rest. (Not to be confused with blood pressure, the force with which your blood circulates.) It’s also a vital sign that provides a window into your heart and overall health—especially as you age, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).
Resting heart rate isn’t a one-size-fits-all metric. In addition to age, factors including stress, hormones, anxiety, medication, and physical activity contribute to what may be considered a healthy rate for you. On average, though, the AHA says a resting heart rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm) is “normal” for most adults. Athletes or very active individuals may have a resting rate as low as 40 bpm; at the peak of his swimming career, Olympian Michael Phelps famously maintained 38 bpm at rest.
The harder your heart has to work to pump blood throughout your body while you’re not exerting yourself, the higher your resting heart rate. That’s why a lower resting heart rate is indicative of a healthier, more efficient muscle. Research has shown higher resting heart rate to be associated with higher body weight, higher blood pressure, and lower physical fitness, the AHA notes. Other studies have demonstrated a link between lower resting heart rate and longevity.
Resting heart rate is related to a person’s cardiovascular training, says Dr. Joseph Ebinger, director of the coronary intensive care unit at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
“The more exercise and regular cardiovascular exertion that you have, the lower your resting heart rate will be,” Ebinger tells Fortune. “That’s a reflection of a healthy cardiovascular system, one where the heart is able to beat strongly with each individual beat and not have to beat more frequently to get blood out to the body that’s needed for the organs to do all of their jobs.”
How to check your pulse
Smartwatches and other fitness trackers are great for people seeking detailed, long-term data about their resting heart rate, but high-tech gadgets are hardly necessary, Ebinger says. All you need to check your pulse is a watch or timer and your own two fingers.
Your wrist, the inside of your elbow, the side of your neck, or the top of your foot are the best places to locate your pulse, according to the AHA. It’s also a good idea to check it in the morning, after a good night’s sleep but before you get out of bed. Here are the organization’s instructions for getting the most accurate reading on your wrist:
? Locate the artery on the inner wrist of either arm. Lightly place your index and middle fingers on the artery. You should feel each beat against your fingers.
? Count the number of beats in 60 seconds
“Folks can do 30 seconds and multiply it by two, 20 seconds multiplied by three,” Ebinger says. “You want that heart rate to be regular, kind of like a metronome. If you’re feeling that your heart rate is irregular in any nature, that would be [a] sign to go and see a doctor.”
What do I do if my resting heart rate is too high or low?
Think of your resting heart rate like the check engine light on your car dashboard; it can alert you to an underlying health issue of which you may otherwise be unaware. If you’re getting sick, for instance, the oncoming illness will likely be reflected in a higher pulse, Ebinger explains.
But when a sustained change in your resting heart rate can’t be attributed to something like an illness, a new medication, or an altered exercise regimen, let your health care provider know.
“I tell folks that if their resting heart rate is regularly above 100, that is something that you should seek medical care for,” Ebinger tells Fortune. “The other is if you have symptoms. So for example, individuals who say, ‘I feel my heart beating more strongly, I feel an irregular heart rhythm.’ Those are times to seek out help because it may not be a reflection of your resting heart rate, but an abnormal heart rhythm that should get evaluated.”
Having a pulse over 100 bpm is called tachycardia. The condition can be brought on by anything from dehydration or excessive caffeine intake, to smoking or anxiety. Fatigue, nausea, sweating, and lightheadedness are among the possible symptoms. The AHA recommends talking to your doctor if you have frequent episodes. Treatment depends on the type and severity of the condition; a mild case of what’s called supraventricular tachycardia may not require any treatment, while an extreme case of ventricular tachycardia may require surgery.
Bradycardia, on the other hand, occurs when your heart rate falls below 60 bpm. Conditions including obstructive sleep apnea and chemical imbalances in the blood can cause bradycardia. Older adults are more prone to this form of arrhythmia, but it’s also not abnormal for your heart rate to dip below 60 bpm when you’re in a deep sleep, the AHA says. For Ebinger, “l(fā)ow” is a relative term, and he advises patients to focus on their symptoms rather than beats per minute.
“There isn’t really a ‘too low.’ It’s all about your symptoms,” Ebinger says. “If your heart rate is low and you’re feeling dizzy, you feel like you can’t get up and exert yourself, you’ve passed out or feel like you’re going to pass out—those are symptoms that you have too low of a heart rate that needs to be raised.”
Bradycardia treatment ranges from no treatment to the insertion of a pacemaker, depending on the duration and severity of the condition.
Meditation can help lower resting heart rate
While amping up your cardiovascular exercise routine may seem an obvious path to the long-term lowering of your resting heart rate, meditation is a low-key way to achieve similar results, Ebinger says. Studies have shown the practice to be beneficial in not only lowering resting heart rate in times of stress but also preventing heart disease in the future.
“Your heart rate is intrinsically linked to this mind-heart connection and as we are stressed…you’re going to have your heart rate go up, and that’s normal,” Ebinger tells Fortune. “Ways to help lower that down and control stress are the same ways that we recommend individuals control stress for any other reason; meditation is actually super, super helpful.”