Resting HR
bpm
Lowest sustained heart rate recorded during sleep, a primary indicator of cardiovascular recovery status.
Typical optimal range 45 bpm - 65 bpm
Population median 62 bpm
Key factors
- Alcohol consumption
- Aerobic fitness level
- Hydration status at bedtime
What affects this metric
- Aerobic fitness lowers it over months of training.
- Dehydration and a warm room raise resting heart rate overnight.
- Immune response after vaccination raises it for a day or two.
- Alcohol raises resting heart rate for the whole night.
- Late meals and late training keep it elevated.
- Illness and fever raise it several beats before symptoms appear.
References
Peer-reviewed sources supporting the key factors, contributing factors, and typical optimal range shown above.
- Ostchega Y, Porter KS, Hughes J, Dillon CF, Nwankwo T. Resting pulse rate reference data for children, adolescents, and adults: United States, 1999–2008. Vital and Health Statistics, Series 11, No. 41. 2011. www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_11/sr11_041.pdf
- Reimers AK, Knapp G, Reimers CD. Effects of exercise on the resting heart rate: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2018;7(12):503. doi.org/10.3390/jcm7120503
- Pietilä J, Helander E, Korhonen I, Myllymäki T, Kujala UM, Lindholm H. Acute effect of alcohol intake on cardiovascular autonomic regulation during the first hours of sleep. JMIR Mental Health. 2018;5(1):e23. doi.org/10.2196/mental.9519
- Radin JM, Wineinger NE, Topol EJ, Steinhubl SR. Harnessing wearable device data to improve state-level real-time surveillance of influenza-like illness in the USA. The Lancet Digital Health. 2020;2(2):e85–e93. doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(19)30222-5
- Presby DM, Capodilupo ER. Biometrics from a wearable device reveal temporary effects of COVID-19 vaccines on cardiovascular, respiratory, and sleep physiology. Journal of Applied Physiology. 2022;132(2):448–458. doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00420.2021
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your clinician about your own results.