February 4, 2009

experts comment on research suggesting resting heart rate can predict heart attacks in women, as published in the BMJ

The study suggested that having an elevated resting heart rate may be a predictive factor for heart attacks and similar coronary events in women.

Prof Peter Weissberg, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said:

“This study shows that having a high heart rate is a risk factor for future heart disease in women, a finding that has been known for some time in men. It adds heart rate to the numerous other risk factors known to influence the chances of having a heart attack. However, one’s heart rate changes minute by minute in response to things like activity and emotion, so people shouldn’t automatically assume that if their heart rate happens to be high at a particular time it is putting them at risk of a heart attack.”

Dr Tim Chico, Clinician Scientist, and Honorary Consultant Cardiologist, University of Sheffield, said:

“There are many factors that contribute to a person’s resting heart rate. We already have methods to predict someone’s risk of heart disease based upon things they can change, for example whether they smoke, eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, or things they can’t change, such as their age and sex. We all need to pay more attention to things we can do in our lifestyle to lower our risk of heart disease.”