Your target heart rate is a range of beats per minute (bpm) that indicates how hard your heart should work during physical activity to gain the most cardiovascular benefit without overexerting yourself. It’s important because it helps you maintain an appropriate intensity level during exercise, ensuring safety and maximizing health benefits.
The American Heart Association suggests a simple way to determine your target heart rate:
- Subtract your age from 220 to get your maximum heart rate. This is the maximum number of times your heart should beat per minute during exercise.
- Aim for 50-70% of your maximum heart rate for moderate-intensity exercise.
- Aim for 70-85% of your maximum heart rate for vigorous-intensity exercise.
For example, if you’re 30, your maximum heart rate would be about 190 bpm. During moderate exercise, you’d aim for a target heart rate of 95-133 bpm; during vigorous exercise, you’d aim for 133-162 bpm.
Monitoring your heart rate during workouts can help ensure you’re getting the most out of your exercise routine without risking injury or undue stress on your body.
Disclaimer: Before starting any new exercise program, speaking with a healthcare provider is always recommended. This information is intended as a general guide, and individual target heart rates can vary.