King Saud University
College of Applied Medical Sciences
Radiology Sciences Department
Factors Affecting Heart Rate
1. Age
People with Young age have a faster heart rate than older people.
2. Smoking
Smoking increases the heart rate.
3. Environment temperature
High environmental temperature will increase the heart rate.
4. Emotions
Emotions for example like anger, anxiety, fear will increase heart rate, depression
decreases the heart rate.
5. Body mass
Obesity will increase heart rate.
6. Medications
Medications can either increase or decrease heart rate, for instance Atropine
increase heart rate, atenolol decreases heart rate.
7. Position of the body
For example In standing position heart rate is high, left recumbent position slows
heart rate.
8. Cardiovascular disease
Tachycardia means high heart rate above 100/bpm, bradycardia means slow heart
rate less than 60/bpm.
9. Fitness
Individuals and Athletes in a good physical condition have a lower heart rate.
10. Exercise
Being Active increase the heart rate.
Resources:
Tiwari R, Kumar R, Malik S, Raj T, Kumar P. Analysis of Heart Rate Variability and Implication of Different Factors on Heart Rate Variability. Curr Cardiol Rev.
2021;17(5):e160721189770. doi: 10.2174/1573403X16999201231203854. PMID: 33390146; PMCID: PMC8950456.
Spinella TC, Stewart SH, Naugler J, Yakovenko I, Barrett SP. Evaluating cannabidiol (CBD) expectancy effects on acute stress and anxiety in healthy adults: a
randomized crossover study. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2021 Jul;238(7):1965-1977. doi: 10.1007/s00213-021-05823-w. Epub 2021 Apr 4. PMID: 33813611;
PMCID: PMC8233292.
Michalik M, Wolf O. Zu einigen allgemeinen Einflussfaktoren auf die Herzfrequenzvariabilität [Some general factors affecting heart rate fluctuations]. Psychiatr
Neurol Med Psychol Beih. 1990;43:45-52. German. PMID: 2082396.
