Getting your heart to work at the right pace is important. It means you’ll develop better aerobic endurance. This happens because your heart gets stronger and more efficient from the challenge. A stronger heart can pump more oxygen to your muscles. Then you don’t get tired as quickly when doing hobbies, sports, or daily activities.
Listening to your body is the best way to decide if an exercise pace is right for you. If you do too much, you’ll get tired too quickly or get hurt. If you do too little, you won’t get the health rewards you want.
During or after exercise, you should not feel sick, dizzy, or extremely tired. After you’re done, you should feel normal again in about 10 minutes. If you’re very tired or very sore the next day, you may have exercised too hard.
When you exercise, you should keep your heart rate within a safe range. This is called your target heart rate range. Your heart rate is measured by taking your pulse. If you don’t know how to take your pulse, ask your healthcare provider to show you how. Take your pulse often as you exercise. This helps to make sure you’re within your target heart rate range. When you exercise at the right heart rate, you will get the most out of your exercise safely.
Your average target heart rate is based on a person's age and health. It's important to ask your healthcare provider how much exercise is safe for you. If you’re healthy, you can use the chart to find the average target heart rate range of people in your age category. If your heart rate goes too high, slow down until you’re back in your range.
Age (Years)
Target heart rate zone, 50% to 85%
Average heart rate, maximum (don't go above)
20
100-170
200
35
93-157
185
40
90-153
180
45
88-149
175
50
85-145
170
55
83-140
165
60
80-136
160
65
78-132
155
70
75-128
150