What’s Considered an Elevated Heart Rate?

It's not uncommon for your heart rate to change slightly throughout the day. Your morning workout or a cup of caffeinated coffee may slightly speed up your heart rate, while relaxing with a book or winding down for bed may slow it down.

However, there are times when an elevated heart rate — especially one that occurs when resting or for an extended period — can be a sign of a health issue and require a visit to your AdventHealth primary care provider as soon as possible.

Let's talk more about what an elevated heart rate is and when it might signal a health issue requiring medical attention.

What Is a Normal vs. Elevated Heart Rate?

A normal resting heart rate for an adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (BPM), with the healthiest range between 50 and 70 BPM. So what's considered an elevated heart rate? A resting heart rate over 100 BPM is generally considered elevated, medically known as tachycardia. It’s important to know that there are several different types, including:

• Atrial tachycardia occurs due to faulty electrical signals in the heart's upper chambers
• Sinus tachycardia, which is a normal elevated heart rate due to exercise, stress or dehydration
• Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) or paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) that occurs above the heart ventricles, such as atrial fibrillation
• Ventricular tachycardia affects the heart's lower chambers

In general, children's heart rates are slightly higher. For example, infants generally have a heart rate of 100 to 150 BPM, which gradually decreases as they grow, reaching the healthy adult range around age 12.

Your normal heart rate is dependent upon several factors, including:

• How much caffeine you consume each day
• How stressful your work and life are
• If you have any chronic conditions
• If you smoke or drink alcohol
• The types of medications you take daily
• Your daily water intake
• Your physical fitness

Now that we’ve established the difference between a normal and elevated heart rate, let’s explore some of the common causes of an elevated heart rate.

Common Causes of an Elevated Heart Rate

There are many reasons why you may experience an elevated heart rate. One of the most common causes of an elevated heart rate is physical activity. Even just walking around your neighborhood can elevate it. And if you have a physically demanding job, your heart may be beating rapidly for the majority of your day.

Certain foods and drinks we consume can also elevate our heart rate, such as:

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Fried foods
• High-sodium foods
• Spicy foods
• Sugary treats

There are quite a few medical conditions that can lead to a spiked heart rate, including:

• Anemia
• Arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythm
• Bacterial or viral infections that cause a fever
• Dehydration
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
• Pregnancy
• Respiratory illnesses
• Stress and anxiety

And some medications can lead to a fast heart rate, such as:

• ADHD medications
• Antidepressants
• Antibiotics
• Asthma inhalers
• Cold and allergy medications
• GLP‑1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide
• Stimulants
• Thyroid medications

It’s important not only to know what causes an elevated heart rate, but also to recognize the symptoms that may warrant a visit to the ER.

When an Elevated Heart Rate May Signal a Health Concern

Now that you have a better idea of what's considered an elevated heart rate, let's talk more about when an increased heart rate might be a sign of a medical problem.

If you have a consistent resting heart rate above 100 BPM, it should be monitored closely and checked out by your primary care provider. A persistently elevated heart rate can be a sign of an underlying health issue or a signal to your doctor that a medication change is needed.

If you or a loved one consistently experiences an elevated heart rate with any of the following symptoms, then that can be a sign of an emergency and needs a trip to your closest emergency room:

• Chest pain or pressure
• Confusion
• Extreme sweating
• Fainting
• Lightheadedness
• Pain in the jaw, neck or back
• Rapidly pounding heart or heart palpitations that don't stop
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness or numbness

Experiencing a constantly elevated heart rate with some of these symptoms may signal emergency heart conditions like:

• Heart attack or cardiac arrest
• Heart failure
• Pulmonary embolism (blood clots in an artery)
• Sepsis or severe infection
• Stroke
• Ventricular fibrillation (life-threatening arrhythmia)

A great way to potentially prevent emergency heart conditions is to closely monitor and track your heart rate for signs of abnormalities, so you can seek prompt care when symptoms are most treatable.

How to Track and Monitor Your Heart Rate

Checking your heart rate regularly is very easy — all it takes is your index and middle fingers and knowing where to place them on your body. You can monitor your heart rate by feeling your pulse on the inside of your wrist or by feeling it in the carotid artery in your neck.

Thanks to smartwatches and smartphone apps, it's rather easy to track and monitor your heart rate throughout the day for one-time readings, and then every day, week and month to spot a consistently elevated heart rate that could be troublesome.

If you decide to use a smart device to track your daily heart rate, make sure to schedule a physical exam with your primary care provider to discuss their recommendations and the best way to use it.

Whether you decide to keep an eye on your heart rate using old school manual methods, smart-tech or an app, here are a few tips to help ensure your readings are accurate and consistent:

• As soon as you wake up, measure your resting heart rate
• Continue to check your heart rate at specific times during the day, every day
• Don't check your heart rate for at least two hours after exercising or drinking caffeine
• If using a smartwatch, make sure it's placed one or two inches above your wrist bone and that it fits snugly
• Keep the back of smartwatches and other tech clean for more accurate readings
• When using manual methods, train yourself on exactly where to place your fingers to fully feel your pulse

If you notice your heart rate is slightly higher than it should be, the good news is that there are practical ways to lower it through lifestyle modifications.

Steps That Can Help Lower an Elevated Heart Rate

The good news is that an occasional elevated heart rate without severe symptoms is usually not a cause for concern. In fact, there may be certain lifestyle changes that you can make to lower it, including:

• Avoiding stimulants like caffeine, nicotine and alcohol
• Cooling down your face or neck with cold water or a cold pack
• Eating a nutritious, heart-healthy diet
• Getting enough quality sleep
• Improving your cardiovascular fitness
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Managing stress and anxiety levels
• Practicing deep breathing techniques
• Sitting and resting quietly for a few minutes
• Staying hydrated

However, if your rapid heart rate remains constantly elevated or is accompanied by any other symptoms that are a risk factor for life-threatening health conditions, like a heart attack or stroke, you should call 911 or immediately seek medical help.

When to Seek Medical Care

If you or a loved one experiences a rapid heartbeat with no clear reasoning as to why it's happening — such as just finishing a run, drinking too much caffeinated coffee or dealing with a stressful project at work — visit your local AdventHealth Primary Care+ to discuss it with them and make them aware of the issue.

Experiencing an elevated heart rate could alert your doctor to a medical condition you may not have already known you had. Your primary care provider can also make changes to your medications to help keep your heart rate at normal levels, and can provide you with guidance and referrals to mental health specialists or for dealing with stress, anxiety and substance use disorders or cardiology for specific heart conditions.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend certain medical procedures to help lower your heart rate, such as:

• Cardioversion (electrical shock to help reset the heart's rhythm)
• Catheter ablation (uses heat or cold to remove tissues that may be affecting your heart rate)
• Implantable medical devices, such as an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or pacemaker
• Medications like beta-blockers, blood thinners and calcium channel blockers
• Vagal maneuvers

And remember, if your elevated heart rate is accompanied by any emergency-related symptoms like chest pain, breathing issues or fainting, get yourself to the nearest emergency department immediately.

Wholehearted Health Care Tailored to You

We hope that you now have a clearer picture of what an elevated heart rate is, why it may rise and what to do if it's accompanied by symptoms that may indicate an emergency.

If you or a loved one would like to learn more about your heart rate and why it may rise during the day, make an appointment with your AdventHealth primary care provider today. Rest assured, you’re in good hands with us because we put our hearts into caring for yours.