Resting Heart Rate - does it mean anything?

mpatts
mpatts Posts: 1,010
edited May 2013 in Training, fitness and health
My other half bought me a Garmin (watch) for my birthday, with a heart rate monitor. I have never measured my heart rate before - but my resting HR is 53. I did some googling, and it seems that this is a good thing - but as I have nothing to compare it to, should I pay much attention to it?
Insert bike here:

Comments

  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    Don't think so. Mine was about 42 the other day. I've yet to discover Indurain like qualities on the bike though.

    I suppose there is a broad correlation between it and fitness but it's not really that big a deal. Plenty of other things to pay attention to in data terms that are more relevant imo.
  • mentalalex
    mentalalex Posts: 266
    Its good to know, as a higher resting HR ie 10-20 beats higher can indicate illness/fatigued.
    I do science, sometimes.
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    mentalalex wrote:
    Its good to know, as a higher resting HR ie 10-20 beats higher can indicate illness/fatigued.

    or stress, or caffeine...
  • SBezza
    SBezza Posts: 2,173
    phreak wrote:
    mentalalex wrote:
    Its good to know, as a higher resting HR ie 10-20 beats higher can indicate illness/fatigued.

    or stress, or caffeine...

    Taken first thing when you wake up, and stress and caffeine are not likely to affect it too much, and as Alex says if it is way up compared to normal it can give you an indication of pending illness or fatigue. Fatigue is fairly easy to gauge however by other means, but the 2 together can be very useful.
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    Aye, true.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Well when i wake up up I've just been scared sh1tless by the bloody alarm clock, and still coming to terms with the fact that the violent dreams aren't real, so I'd need to measure it just before then.

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