Is a high pulse rate a cause for concern?
I am a 69-year-old male, with a relatively low blood pressure reading of about 120/80. My pulse averages 90-95 beats a minute. I believe myself to be in good health and fit, average weight for my height, a non-smoker and I eat a sensible diet. Dr Fred Kavalier answers your health question: The British Heart Foundation says the “normal” adult heart rate is between 60 and 90 beats per minute. The US National Institutes of Health defines “normal” as 60-100 beats per minute. So your heart rate is on the borderline between normal and fast. There are various pathological causes for a fast heart rate, such as an overactive thyroid and a rare tumour of the adrenal gland called a phaeochromocytoma. But I suspect your heart rate is normal for you. If your heartbeat is not irregular, and if you do not get any symptoms (such as faintness, palpitations or fatigue), I don’t think you need do anything different. Next time you see your doctor, ask him to check your pulse. He may suggest a thyroid func
