- Types Of Heart Beats
- 1 Heart Beat Per Second
- Normal Heart Beat
- Heart Beat Per 10 Seconds
- The Beat Per Second Of Your Heart
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a heart condition featuring episodes of an abnormally fast heart rate.
When a person is relaxed, his /her heart beats at a slower pace. When a person is nervous or performs some kind of physical activity, the heartbeat speeds up. To get the period between heartbeats, 1 minute or 60 seconds must be divided by the number of beats per minute. For example, if the heart beats 70 times per minute, we divide 60 second by 70. The simple answer to this question is between 0.5–4.0 times per second (and while this large range may surprised you, read on). The typical 30 year old male will beat at 1 beat per second, and the typical 30 year old female will beat at 1.5 beats per second. Doctors consider a heart rate below 60 beats per minute as low, Dr. Baez-Escudero says. If you have bradycardia, you’ll have a sustained heart rate below 60 even when you’re awake and active. Lifestyle triggers. Strenuous exercise, not getting enough sleep, or drinking too much caffeine. Free online Tap BPM tool allows you to calculate tempo and count Beats Per Minute (BPM) by tapping any key to the rhythm or beat. Tap for a few seconds to quickly calculate BPM without waiting the whole minute. You may optionally configure it for Beats Per Second (BPS) or Beats Per Hour (BPH). Counting the meter of your music manually is a drag.
The heart will suddenly start racing, then stop racing or slow down abruptly.
Episodes can last for seconds, minutes, hours or (in rare cases) days. They may occur regularly, several times a day, or very infrequently, once or twice a year.
The heart rate may be as high as 250 beats per minute, but is usually between 140 and 180 (a normal heartbeat should be 60-100 beats per minute at rest).
What it means
- 'Supraventricular' means that the problem occurs in the upper chambers (atria) of the heart.
- 'Tachycardia' means an abnormally rapid heart rhythm.
What happens
Types Of Heart Beats
When the heart beats normally, its muscular walls contract (tighten and squeeze) to force blood out and around the body. They then relax, so the heart can fill with blood again. This process is repeated for every heartbeat.
In SVT, the heart muscle is contracting so fast that it cannot relax between contractions. This reduces the amount of blood being pumped around the body, which can make you feel dizzy and short of breath.
You usually feel heart palpitations (noticeable heartbeats) and a fast pulse.
Why it happens
SVT is caused by abnormal electrical impulses that start suddenly in the upper chambers of your heart (the atria). These impulses override your heart's natural rhythm.
It is often a short circuit in the electrical system of your heart that causes these spontaneous impulses. The short circuit causes an electrical signal to travel continuously around in a circle. Each time the signal completes the circuit, the impulse spreads out to the rest of your heart, forcing it to beat rapidly.
SVT attacks often happen for no obvious reason. However, they may be triggered by a change in posture, exertion, emotional upset, coffee or alcohol.
Who is affected
SVT can occur in anyone at any age, but it often occurs for the first time in children or young adults.
Outlook
In the vast majority of cases, attacks of SVT are harmless, do not last long and settle on their own without treatment.
If necessary, SVT can be treated with drugs that correct the abnormal heart rate. It can also be permanently treated with a very effective surgical procedure called catheter ablation, which interrupts the abnormal electrical circuits.
Learn about normal and irregular heart rates and find out how to check your own pulse.
In this article
Learn how to check your pulse
What is your pulse?
When your heart beats it pushes blood around your body. This heart beat can be felt as your 'pulse' on your wrist or neck.
Your pulse is measured by counting the number of times your heart beats in one minute. For example, if your heart contracts 72 times in one minute, your pulse would be 72 beats per minute (BPM). This is also called your heart rate.
A normal pulse beats in a steady, regular rhythm. However, in some people this rhythm is uneven, or 'jumps about'. This is known as an irregular pulse.
How do you find your pulse?
The easiest place to find your pulse is in your wrist.
- Turn your hand so that your palm is facing upwards.
- Now place the three middle fingers from your other hand over your wrist below the base of your thumb.
- Press lightly to feel the pulse under your fingers. If you can't feel anything press slightly harder.
How do you check your pulse (heart rate)?
You can measure your heart rate manually by checking your pulse. Follow these three steps.
- Find your pulse in your wrist (as explained above).
- Count each beat for a total time of 30 seconds.
- Double the number of beats you counted. This is your heart rate or pulse, measured in beats per minute.
Also make a note of whether your heart beats at an even or uneven rhythm. A normal heart beats at a steady rhythm like a clock, tick tock tick tock.
Some people like to use a heart rate monitor to measure their heart rate. These monitors are often included in fitness trackers, which are now widely available in sports stores and other retail outlets. However, their accuracy depends on the quality of the device.
What is a normal heart rate?
A normal heart rate, when you're not being active, is between 60 – 100 beats per minute. This is called your resting heart rate. If you've been active, you'll need to wait at least five minutes before taking your pulse.
When you're active, your heart beats faster to get more oxygen to your working muscles. The harder your body is working, the faster your heart will beat. For example, your heart rate when you're sprinting will be much faster than your heart rate when you're walking. If you're exercising hard it's normal for your heart rate to get up to 160 beats per minute or more.
There are other things that can make your heart beat faster, like caffeine, nicotine, recreational drugs and some kinds of medications (such as beta blockers). Your heart will also beat faster when you feel strong emotions, like anxiety or fear.
Athletes or people who are very fit may have resting heart beats of less than 60 bpm.
What is an irregular pulse?
An irregular pulse is when the heart doesn't beat in a regular, steady rhythm. This is also called an irregular heart rate or an arrhythmia.
If your heart rate is irregular, you may notice that your pulse:
- seems irregular or is 'jumping around'
- is racing, even when you're at rest
- seems unusually slow some or most of the time.
Why is it important to get it checked?
Often an irregular pulse is harmless. However, it's important to get it checked by a health professional, because sometimes it's a sign of a heart condition.
The most common kind of heart rhythm condition is atrial fibrillation (AF), which can put you at greater risk of having a stroke. Fortunately, if you have AF, there's medication you can take to help reduce this stroke risk.
Your doctor can do a simple test called an ECG (electrocardiogram) to further check your irregular pulse.
1 Heart Beat Per Second
What are heart palpitations?
A heart palpitation is when you suddenly become aware of your heart beating, usually in an irregular way. Sometimes you can feel it in your ears or your chest when you’re lying down. Your heart beat may feel:
- too fast or slow
- like it’s fluttering
- like it’s thudding, or pounding.
It is not unusual to feel heart palpitations occasionally and mostly they are harmless. However if you’re experiencing them on a regular basis, see your doctor.
Exercise and heart rate
Like any other muscle, your heart needs exercise to keep it fit and healthy. Regular exercise can help reduce your risk of heart disease and other health conditions, such as diabetes.
To keep your heart healthy, you should aim to do 150 minutes of low to moderate intensity exercise a week. If you have a heart condition, talk to your doctor about what exercise and target heart rates are safe for you.
Normal Heart Beat
One way to measure the intensity of your exercise is by using your heart rate. To exercise at a low to moderate intensity your heart rate should be at 50 to 70% of your approximate maximum heart rate.
The easiest way to get an approximate maximum heart rate (MHR) is to calculate 220 – your age. You then need to calculate 50 to 70% of your MHR.
For example, if you're 40-years-old:
![Normal heart beat Normal heart beat](/uploads/1/1/8/5/118512470/973544525.jpg)
Heart Beat Per 10 Seconds
- your approximate maximum heart rate is: 220 – 40 = 180 beats per minute
- 50% of your MHR is 180 X 0.5 = 90 bpm
- 70% of your MHF is 180 X 0.7 = 126 bpm.
The Beat Per Second Of Your Heart
Alternatively, you can use our heart rate chart below to get a rough idea.
Remember if you're on medications to slow your heart rate down, you may not be able to meet these upper heart rates and the aim should be to exercise at a rate that makes you lightly puff.
Heart rate zones chart
Estimated heart rates for exercising.
Age | Approximate Maximum Heart Rate (MHR) | Target heart rate for low to moderate intensity exercise (50-70% of maximum for MHR) |
---|---|---|
20 | 200 bpm | 100 - 140 bpm |
30 | 190 bpm | 95 - 133 bpm |
40 | 180 bpm | 90 - 126 bpm |
50 | 170 bpm | 85 - 119 bpm |
60 | 160 bpm | 80 - 112 bpm |
70 | 150 bpm | 75 - 105 bpm |
80 | 140 bpm | 70 - 98 bpm |
90 | 130 bpm | 65 - 91 bpm |