101 bpm resting pulse

101 bpm
Above normal range

Higher than usual. A resting heart rate of 101 bpm is above the normal adult range of 60 to 100 beats per minute.

Only about 2 out of 100 adults ages 20 to 39 have a resting heart rate this high (about the 98th percentile).

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101 bpm
406080100120
BelowNormal rangeAbove

When a fast heart rate needs attention

  • See a doctor soon if a resting heart rate over 100 comes with dizziness, chest discomfort or shortness of breath.
  • Fever, dehydration, caffeine and some medicines can raise your heart rate. If a new high reading lasts, get it checked.
  • Call 911 or your local emergency number for chest pain, fainting or trouble breathing.

Source: American Heart Association; MedlinePlus 2

Middle 90% (bpm)
54–92
Median (bpm)
71
One reading at rest isn't a diagnosis. Fitness, sleep and some medicines can change your heart rate. Sources: national CDC survey1, American Heart Association2

When a fast heart rate needs attention

  • See a doctor soon if a resting heart rate over 100 comes with dizziness, chest discomfort or shortness of breath.
  • Fever, dehydration, caffeine and some medicines can raise your heart rate. If a new high reading lasts, get it checked.
  • Call 911 or your local emergency number for chest pain, fainting or trouble breathing.

Source: American Heart Association; MedlinePlus 2

When to see a doctor

Stress, worry, pain, heat and a fever can all raise your heart rate for a while. If your resting heart rate is often above 100 bpm, talk with your doctor, especially if you also feel weak, dizzy or like you might faint.

Call 911 or your local emergency number right away if your heart rate is suddenly very high or very low and you have chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting.

Check another heart rate

Is 101 bpm normal at every age?

Children's hearts beat faster, so the same heart rate can mean different things at different ages.

Age group101 bpm isPercentileMiddle 90%
20 to 39 yearsAbove normal rangeAbout the 98th percentileAbout the 98th percentile54–92
12 to 15 yearsAbove normal rangeAbout the 96th percentileAbout the 96th percentile58–98
16 to 19 yearsAbove normal rangeAbout the 97th percentileAbout the 97th percentile54–95
40 to 59 yearsAbove normal rangeAbout the 99th percentileAbout the 99th percentile54–91
60 to 79 yearsAbove normal rangeAbout the 99th percentileAbout the 99th percentile54–91
80 and olderAbove normal rangeAbout the 99th percentileAbout the 99th percentile54–93
Your age group is listed first. Percentiles come from a national CDC health survey from 1999–20081. For ages 12 and older, the normal range is 60 to 100 bpm, from the American Heart Association2. For younger children, typical means between the 5th and 95th percentiles. Well below or well above usual means lower or higher than 99 out of 100 people the same age.

Looking for one age? Resting heart rate at age 35 Resting heart rate at age 70 All ages

What 101 bpm means for you

101 bpm is 30 bpm above the 71 bpm median for adults ages 20 to 39.

Why it changes. Your resting heart rate goes down with regular aerobic exercise. It goes up with stress, fever, dehydration, caffeine, nicotine and some medicines. A reading taken right after climbing stairs or drinking coffee can be 10 to 20 bpm higher than your true resting heart rate.

Look for trends, not one number. If your watch or fitness tracker shows a change from your usual resting heart rate that lasts for days, make a note of it. Mention it at your next checkup.

How to take your resting heart rate

  1. Sit quietly for 5 minutes. Skip caffeine and exercise for an hour before.
  2. Place two fingertips on the thumb side of your inner wrist.
  3. Count the beats for 30 seconds and multiply by 2.
  4. Repeat on 2 or 3 mornings and use the average.
  5. At 101 bpm, you'd count about 50 beats in 30 seconds.

Nearby heart rates

97 bpm98 bpm99 bpm100 bpm101 bpm102 bpm103 bpm104 bpm105 bpm

See all resting heart rates from 40 to 200 bpm

Common questions

Short answers about how these calculators work.

101 bpm is above the normal range of 60 to 100 bpm for adults ages 60 to 79. It's at about the 99th percentile for this age group.

No. A lower resting heart rate often comes with regular aerobic exercise. But a very low reading can also come from a medicine or a heart rhythm problem. How you feel, and whether the number is new for you, matters more than the number alone.

A watch can show you a trend. A true resting heart rate is counted at the wrist after you sit quietly for 5 minutes. Use a watch reading only if it was taken while you were resting, not walking.

For anyone 12 and older, a resting heart rate above 100 bpm is above the normal adult range. A reading higher than 99 out of 100 people your age is well above usual. Fever, dehydration, caffeine and some medicines can raise it.

Sources

Where these numbers come from

  1. Resting pulse rate reference data for children, adolescents, and adults: United States, 1999–2008 (opens in a new tab) - National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, 2011Typical resting heart rates by age and sex
  2. All about heart rate (opens in a new tab) - American Heart AssociationNormal resting heart rate range for adults
  3. Bradycardia: slow heart rate (opens in a new tab) - American Heart AssociationWhen a slow heart rate needs medical care
  4. Target heart rates chart (opens in a new tab) - American Heart AssociationHow to take your pulse
  5. Pulse (opens in a new tab) - MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of MedicineNormal heart rate ranges by age
Medical disclaimer Healthly is for general information only. It isn't medical advice and can't diagnose or treat any condition. Talk with your doctor about your own numbers. If you think you're having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number. How we get our numbers

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