A persons heart rate or pulse should typically be between 60 and 100 beats per minute. However, many factors can affect it, and some people naturally have a higher or lower heart rate than others. Whether a heart rate is dangerous or not will depend on various factors, including a person’s overall health, age, usual heart rate, usual activity levels, and activity at the time of measuring the heart rate.

In general, a heart rate above 100 beats per minute at rest or below 60 beats per minute at rest is considered dangerous for an adult. However, there may be times when a person experiences a heart rate that’s faster or slower than what’s normal for them, and not every instance of bpm imbalance is considered dangerous, especially when a doctor is monitoring it.

Certain underlying conditions are typically the true decider of what a “dangerous” heart rate is. If a person is already living with heart disease, heart failure, or a history of heart disease and notices a fluctuation in their heart rate, they should go to the doctor as soon as possible, as it could be a sign of a serious complication.

Its important to note that a consistently fast or slow heart rate may not always be heart-related, and other factors such as dehydration, anxiety, fever, medications, anemia, sleep deprivation, an overactive thyroid, or another issue could be driving the heart rate up or down.