52 bpm resting pulse

52 bpm
Below normal range

Lower than usual, and often harmless. A resting heart rate of 52 bpm is below the normal adult range of 60 to 100 beats per minute.

Only about 3 out of 100 adults ages 20 to 39 have a resting heart rate this low (about the 3rd percentile). This is common in fit adults and during deep rest.

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52 bpm
406080100120
BelowNormal rangeAbove

When a slow heart rate needs attention

  • See a doctor soon if a heart rate under 60 comes with dizziness, unusual tiredness or getting out of breath easily.
  • Call 911 or your local emergency number if you faint or have chest pain.
  • Tell your doctor if you take heart or blood pressure medicines. Some of them slow your heart rate.

Source: American Heart Association, Bradycardia 3

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 slow heart rate needs attention

  • See a doctor soon if a heart rate under 60 comes with dizziness, unusual tiredness or getting out of breath easily.
  • Call 911 or your local emergency number if you faint or have chest pain.
  • Tell your doctor if you take heart or blood pressure medicines. Some of them slow your heart rate.

Source: American Heart Association, Bradycardia 3

When to see a doctor

A resting heart rate below 60 bpm is common in athletes and very active people, during sleep, and with some medicines, such as beta blockers. If you're not an athlete and your resting heart rate is often below 60 bpm, talk with your doctor, especially if you also feel tired, weak, dizzy or short of breath.

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 52 bpm normal at every age?

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

Age group52 bpm isPercentileMiddle 90%
20 to 39 yearsBelow normal rangeAbout the 3rd percentileAbout the 3rd percentile54–92
12 to 15 yearsBelow normal rangeAbout the 1st percentileAbout the 1st percentile58–98
16 to 19 yearsBelow normal rangeAbout the 3rd percentileAbout the 3rd percentile54–95
40 to 59 yearsBelow normal rangeAbout the 3rd percentileAbout the 3rd percentile54–91
60 to 79 yearsBelow normal rangeAbout the 4th percentileAbout the 4th percentile54–91
80 and olderBelow normal rangeAbout the 3rd percentileAbout the 3rd 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 52 bpm means for you

52 bpm is 19 bpm below 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.

A low heart rate is common in fit people. Trained athletes often have a resting heart rate of 40 to 60 bpm. A slow heart rate without symptoms usually isn't a concern. But a new slow heart rate with dizziness or tiredness should be checked.

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 52 bpm, you'd count about 26 beats in 30 seconds.

Nearby heart rates

48 bpm49 bpm50 bpm51 bpm52 bpm53 bpm54 bpm55 bpm56 bpm

See all resting heart rates from 40 to 200 bpm

Common questions

Short answers about how these calculators work.

52 bpm is below the normal range of 60 to 100 bpm for adults ages 60 to 79. It's at about the 4th percentile for this age group, and it's often harmless if you feel well.

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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