140 bpm resting pulse
Get same-day care for a very high or very low heart rate
- A resting heart rate above about 120 to 130 bpm, or a new heart rate below 40, should be checked the same day.
- Call 911 or your local emergency number for chest pain, fainting or trouble breathing.
- Fever, dehydration and some medicines can raise your heart rate. A reading this far from usual still needs same-day care.
Source: American Heart Association 2
When to see a doctor
Few people your age have a resting heart rate this high. Sit quietly for a few minutes and check again. If it's still this high, talk with your doctor soon, even if you feel well.
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.
Is 140 bpm normal at every age?
Children's hearts beat faster, so the same heart rate can mean different things at different ages.
| Age group | 140 bpm is | Middle 90% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 to 39 years | Well above usualAbove the 99th percentile | 54–92 | |
| 12 to 15 years | Well above usualAbove the 99th percentile | 58–98 | |
| 16 to 19 years | Well above usualAbove the 99th percentile | 54–95 | |
| 40 to 59 years | Well above usualAbove the 99th percentile | 54–91 | |
| 60 to 79 years | Well above usualAbove the 99th percentile | 54–91 | |
| 80 and older | Well above usualAbove the 99th percentile | 54–93 | |
| Under 1 year | Typical for ageAbout the 79th percentile | 103–156 | |
| 1 year | Higher than mostAbout the 96th percentile | 95–138 | |
| 2 to 3 years | Well above usualAbove the 99th percentile | 86–124 | |
| 4 to 5 years | Well above usualAbove the 99th percentile | 75–114 | |
| 6 to 8 years | Well above usualAbove the 99th percentile | 68–105 | |
| 9 to 11 years | Well above usualAbove the 99th percentile | 63–101 | |
Looking for one age? Resting heart rate at age 35 Resting heart rate at age 70 All ages
What 140 bpm means for you
140 bpm is 69 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
- Sit quietly for 5 minutes. Skip caffeine and exercise for an hour before.
- Place two fingertips on the thumb side of your inner wrist.
- Count the beats for 30 seconds and multiply by 2.
- Repeat on 2 or 3 mornings and use the average.
- At 140 bpm, you'd count about 70 beats in 30 seconds.
Nearby heart rates
Common questions
Short answers about how these calculators work.
Is 140 bpm a good resting heart rate for a 70-year-old? 140 bpm is well above usual for adults ages 60 to 79. It's higher than 99 out of 100 people in this age group.
Is a lower resting heart rate always better? 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.
Does a smartwatch reading count as a resting heart rate? 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.
What resting heart rate is too high? 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
- 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
- All about heart rate (opens in a new tab) - American Heart AssociationNormal resting heart rate range for adults
- Bradycardia: slow heart rate (opens in a new tab) - American Heart AssociationWhen a slow heart rate needs medical care
- Target heart rates chart (opens in a new tab) - American Heart AssociationHow to take your pulse
- Pulse (opens in a new tab) - MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of MedicineNormal heart rate ranges by age
Related calculators