Author:- Mr. Ritesh Sharma
Ever wondered how many times heart beat in one second? Your heart is the most essential organ of your body. It works 24*7 to supply oxygenated blood throughout the body, ensuring an abundant supply of oxygen and nutrients to all vital organs. It is nothing but a marvel of biological engineering. However, heartbeats to this day remain a topic to analyze and investigate. The study of the number of times the heart beats in a second never fails to intrigue people.
While heart rate varies from individual to individual in accordance with several circumstances. However, based on the record taken from various individuals, an average heart rate has been deduced. This heart rate is normally measured in terms of beats per minute, as in how many times the heart beats per minute. But, we can calculate the heart rate in seconds as well.
In this blog, we will thoroughly discuss How many times heart beat in one second? And uncover some worthy insights into heart rate in the realm of cardiac care.
Understanding the Human Heart Function
Before diving into the conundrum how many times heart beat in one second, let’s understand the basics of heart function. The human heart is located at the centre of the left chest. It consists of four chambers- two atria and two ventricles. Within these chambers, the conduction of the heart occurs. The heart contracts and relaxes and the circulatory system is managed. The contraction of the human heart is called systole and the relaxation of human heart is called diastole.
The harmony of this contraction and relaxation is the heartbeart. This heartbeat is also represented in the form of a pulse rate. To measure the heartbeat, the standard unit that is used is BPM, the full form of which is Beats Per Minute.
How many times heart beat in one second?
A normal human heart beats 60 to 100 times per minute. However, athletes or individuals with high fitness levels may have lower resting heart rates due to their efficient cardiovascular systems. Moreover, factors such as stress, illness, or physical exertion can elevate heart rate temporarily. Now, let’s convert the heartbeat in terms of per second. To do so, we will simply divide the average heart rate of human being by 60.
Hence, for instance, if we have taken the average heart rate at 70 BPM, then on dividing it by 60, we get 1.17 beats per second. Hence, if a human heart is beating 70 BPM, then it is beating 1.17 beats per second.
Implications of Heart Rate
For the assessment of cardiovascular health and fitness, understanding heart rate is of pivotal importance. Monitoring the changes in heart rate gives vivid insights into overall cardiovascular health of the individual. The fluctuations in the heart rate of a person at the state of rest could indicate a medical condition called cardiac arrhythmia of different arrhythmia classifications. If a person’s heart rate is exceeding the normal range of 100 BPM, then he/she might be suffering from tachycardia.
On the other hand, if your heart rate is lower than the normal range of 60 BPM, then you might be suffering from a condition called bradycardia. Keep in mind that these medical conditions require prompt medical intervention and if you are affected by them, you must consult a healthcare professioanl immediately. These conditions are identified by accompanying symptoms, such as chest pain or discomfort, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, etc.
However, you can also experience exercise-induced tachycardia or nocturnal bradycardia, which are completely harmless and are part of our routine. Hence, it is important to identify symptoms associated with the heart rate and act accordingly.
Factors Influencing Heart Rate
There are numerous factors that influence the heart rate of a person. These factors range from physical activity to stress to age. Let’s learn about these factors in details below.
- Physical Activity: When you exercise, your heart rate tends to go above its average range of 100 BPM. This happens because at the state of physical exertion, the body requires more oxygenated blood to fuel to muscles.
- Stress and Emotions: There are several emotions such as anxiety, fear and stress that can propel the heart rate to exceed its normal range of 100 BPM. However, this increase in the heart rate is only for a fleeting moment.
- Temperature: If the temperature is extreme whether hot or cold it can effect the body in a way that causes the heart rate to increase. This happens because the body attempts to maintain the optimal internal conditions.
- Medications and Substances: There are some medications and substances that can make alterations in the physiological responses of the body and alter the heart rate.
- Age and Fitness Level: The people who are older tend to have a lower heart rate. Similarly, people who are physically fit tend to have a lower heart rate due to a highly efficient cardiovascular system.
In conclusion, the conundrum of How many times heart beat in one second has a simple answer. You just have to divide your heart rate at a specific period to time by 60 and you get your heart rate per second. Even in normal individuals, the heart rate tends to fluctuate with different conditions. However, it is only concerning when the heart rate change is persistent and it doesn’t go back to its normal range after a period of time. In such a case, you must consult a healthcare professional and seek worthy medical assistance.