Have a resting heart rate of 75 beats per minute DOUBLE your risk of premature death

Having a resting heart rate of 75 beats per minute at the average age could double your risk of premature death, according to a study.

Men whose resting heart rate was 75 years or older in their 50s were twice as likely to die in the next two decades compared to those whose heart rate was 55 beats per minute or less.

And each heartbeat at extra rest per minute was badociated with a risk of death three times greater, regardless of the cause.

Having a resting heart rate of 75 beats per minute at the average age could double the risk of premature death, according to a study from the University of Gothenburg (stock)

The research was conducted by the University of Gothenburg and led by Dr. Salim Bary Barywani, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine.

Resting heart rate is the number of times the organ beats per minute when you are not exercising.

The authors wrote in a British Medical Journal publication, Open Heart, a normal reading.

A lower heart rate usually indicates better cardiovascular health and fitness.

To find out how changes in our heart rate might affect the risk of premature death, the researchers badyzed 798 men. They are all born in 1943.

Men completed a questionnaire in 1993 about their lifestyle, stress, and family history of heart disease.

They also underwent a medical examination including the measurement of their resting heart rate.

The men were divided into four groups: those whose resting heart rate is less than or equal to 55 bpm; 56 to 65 bpm; 66 to 75 bpm; and more than 75bpm.

Resting heart rate was measured again in 2003 and 2014 among the 654 and 536 participants, respectively, who were still alive and willing to participate.

During the 21-year study period, 119 – just under 15% – of participants died before their 71st birthday.

And 237 – nearly 28% – have developed cardiovascular disease. This is a general term for conditions that affect the heart or blood vessels.

Some 113 (slightly more than 14%) developed coronary heart disease when the blood supply to the heart is blocked or interrupted by fat accumulation in the coronary arteries.

The results revealed that those whose resting heart rate was 75 or higher in 1993 were twice as likely to die of any cause in 21 years than those whose heart rate was 55 beats per minute or less.

And have a stable resting heart rate & # 39; between 1993 and 2003 – when men were between the ages of 50 and 60 – was badociated with a 44% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease over the next 11 years compared with those whose heart rate increased during this period . time.

The results also revealed that each additional heartbeat per minute was badociated with a higher risk of death of 3%.

This was also badociated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease of 1% and a 2% increase in the risk of coronary heart disease.

Men whose heart rate in 1993 was greater than 55 bpm were more likely to smoke, to be inactive and stressed.

They were also more likely to have "risk factors for heart disease", such as hypertension or obesity.

The researchers point out, however, that their study was observational and that it can not establish the cause of these deaths or heart-related events. In addition, it only included men of a certain age and might not apply to the general population.

Nevertheless, they hope that their study will monitor our resting heart rate to detect any changes that may reveal our future risk of heart disease.