Sometimes you may think it beats too slowly.
Or you might worry it's racing too fast.
The truth is, there's a lot you've heard about your pulse that's flat out wrong.
1. Myth: A normal heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute.
That's the old standard.
About 50-70 beats per minute is ideal, says Suzanne Steinbaum, director of women's heart health.
Recent studies suggest a heart rate higher than 76 beats per minute when you're resting may be linked to a higher risk of heart attack.
The better shape you're in, the slower your heart rate will be when you're not moving around.
It might be OK to have a resting heart rate of 80, but it doesn't mean you're healthy.
2. Myth: An erratic heart rate means I'm having a heart attack.
When your heart beats in an irregular pattern, you're having what's called palpitations.
You may feel as if it skipped a beat or speeds up.
Or it may seem like a brief flutter or a pounding in your chest.
Many things can cause palpitations, like:
1. Alcohol;
2. Caffeine;
3. Exercise;
4. Stress;
5. Dehydration;
6. Fever;
7. Thyroid disorders;
8. Smoking;
9. Dietary supplements like goldenseal, oleander, motherwort, or ephedra;
Having an irregular heartbeat doesn't mean you're having a heart attack.
