TODAY'S TIP: RECOVERY HEART RATE An important indicator of heart health is the heart recovery rate after exercise. Physically fit people generally recover more quickly due to their cardiovascular systems being more efficient. The recovery rate has two stages: the first minute after exercise, during which the heart rate drops sharply, and the resting plateau, during which the heart rate gradually decreases. The first drop in heart rate immediately after exercise is the indicator of fitness. The resting plateau is insignificant to heart fitness.
To determine your recovery heart rate, take your pulse immediately at the end of your exercise for six seconds and add a zero to that number 12 = 120 beats per minute). Take your pulse at the end of one minute for six seconds and add a zero to that answer. Subtract the one-minute pulse rate (recovery heart rate after one minute) from the exercise pulse rate and divide by 10. Recovery heart rate = (exercise heart rate - recovery heart rate after 1 minute) divided by 10. A higher number is an indication of a healthy heart. Use the following scale:
6 or more: super
4-6: excellent
3-4: good
2-3: fair
Less than 2: poor