Biomarkers

Heart Rate

The heart rate measures the number of times the heart beats per minute. It is a useful metric for monitoring user fitness level and overall health. Generally, a lower heart rate at rest implies more efficient heart function and better cardiovascular fitness. For example, a well-trained athlete might have a normal resting heart rate closer to 40 beats per minute.

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How is it calculated?

After systolic peak detection of the PPG signal, heart rate is calculated by counting the systolic peaks per minute in this pulse signal.

How can it be used?

The resting heart rate can be used as a first indicator of the body’s health state and mental health state. When a person experience stress, the body's sympathetic nervous system is activated, leading to an increase in heart rate frequency. This is part of the body's natural response to preparing for action. When we experience stress due to high workload, the body will react equally.

Chronic or prolonged stress can lead to sustained elevation of resting heart rate. If you frequently experience stress or have a high-stress lifestyle, your resting heart rate may be higher than average, even during periods of rest.

With IntelliProve, the resting heart rate can be measured and compared to the population and/or user baseline. Based on the interpretation table below, personalised recommendations can be made to bring the resting heart rate to an acceptable level. For example, multiple meditation and relaxation exercises would help the user to calm down.

Below, an illustrative example on how heart rate frequency can be used within your platform, along with a link to a personalized recommendation. You either present the heart rate directly or use a combination to calculate a health score, tailored to your offering.

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Interpreting results

Heart Rate is returned as an integer on a scale of 36 – 216 as a part of the output response JSON, with the key heart_rate.

Output

(beats per minute)

Definition

Example Color Indicator

Example User Text

36 - 56

Very low

Green

Your heart rate at rest is very low. In general, a resting heart rate for an adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute.

57 - 63

Low

Green

Your heart rate at rest is low. In general, a resting heart rate for an adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute.

64 – 71

Below average

Green

Your heart rate at rest is lower than the average heart rate. In general, a resting heart rate for an adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute.

72 – 85

Average

Green

Your heart rate at rest is average. In general, a resting heart rate for an adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute.

86 – 100

Above average

Yellow

Your heart rate at rest is higher than the average heart rate. In general, a resting heart rate for an adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute.

101 - 216

High

Red

Your heart rate at rest is high. In general, a resting heart rate for an adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute.