The most basic function of the heart is to keep the body alive. It works continuously, but to what extent? Every day, every year, and throughout a lifetime, how many heartbeats does each person experience?
The heart is the most imaginative part of the body. Throughout human history, people across the globe have written, spoken, and sung about the heart in thousands of languages, describing it as the vessel of love, kindness, and courage.
The heart works continuously, but how many beats does it make each day and throughout a lifetime? (Image: Getty Images).
However, the fundamental function of the heart is to keep us alive. This organ is made up of muscle and is only the size of a fist, yet it controls the entire circulatory system, pumping oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. It can speed up or slow down depending on our emotions, activities, or even injuries and illnesses, but generally, a healthy heart beats steadily.
So, how many times does the heart beat each day and over an entire lifetime?
There are many variations in heart rate throughout the day. Whether you are sitting at your desk, walking to the store, or running on a treadmill, your heart will respond to different energy demands, resulting in it beating faster or slower.
Dr. Partho Sengupta, Chief of Cardiology at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA, states that the most fascinating aspect of the heart is its ability to adjust its rhythm and function according to metabolic needs. It almost has a mind of its own to sense the body’s requirements.
To estimate the number of heartbeats in a lifetime, we start by counting the heartbeats per minute (BPM). A healthy adult heart beats approximately 60 to 100 BPM at rest. However, according to Harvard Medical School, most adults have a heart rate ranging from 55 to 85 BPM.
According to the Benioff Children’s Hospital at the University of California, San Francisco, the average heart rate of newborns is between 70 to 190 BPM to meet the higher energy demands of their faster metabolism at that age.
For adults, a heart rate outside the normal range can indicate a health issue.
The heart rate tends to slow down somewhat with age because the heart muscle weakens over time. For example, aging can lead to fibrosis – the development of excess tissue that obstructs the heartbeat – or abnormal heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation, the most common type of arrhythmia. These issues can affect the heart rate, making it either faster or slower.
An individual with an average resting heart rate of 70 BPM would experience 100,800 heartbeats each day, amounting to approximately 36.8 million beats per year. The average lifespan of a healthy person from birth is 61.9 years (as of August 2024 data from the World Health Organization), which means that over a lifetime, a person’s heart beats around 2.28 billion times.
Is there a maximum threshold for how many times a heart can beat before it stops completely? Factors such as age, genetics, injuries, and illnesses can gradually negatively impact heart function. However, the more we take care of this “hardworking” organ, the better it can perform its functions persistently and effectively.
Although aging is an inevitable process and all bodily functions gradually decline over time, we at least have the ability to reduce stress on the heart caused by tension. For instance, we can prioritize a good night’s sleep, a healthy diet, and regular exercise, can’t we?
“There are many questions to ask about how well we meet our body’s needs and whether we are taking care of ourselves,” Dr. Sengupta remarked.
