This centerpiece of the human cardiovascular system literally is the life and death machine of each and every person .

 Thus, longevity, and one’s quality of life,rests largelyon a healthy circulatory system, as is underlined by in an article titled, “ High Heart Rate: A cardiovascular Risk Factor?” in the European Society of Cardiology.

The eye-opening report discussed the importance of heart rates in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Here are its more revealing points:

·          the resting heart rate is the pulse taken while the patient is resting.

·          A rapid resting rate is not always an indicator of preexisting illness, but in the general population , a pulse rate higher than 90 beats per minute may be harmful.

·          A high resting heart rate is frequently related to arterial hypertension .

·          Also, as with cholesterol  levels, the risk of death from cardiovascular causes rises with increasing resting heart rate.

·          The reasons why humans live longer than other mammals include lifestyle changes, drugs (particularly antibiotics), prevention and nutrition.

·          There is a 21 percent chance that resting heart rates can be inherited . But environment causes (body mass index, blood pressure , smoking and alcohol consumption) also factor in the rapidity of the heartbeat.

·          Persons, especially females with high resting heart rates have been observed to have high insulin and glucose levels, waist circumference, blood pressure, atbp.

·          The rationale for techniques and medications aimed at lowering heart rate may be stated this way: If heart rate conditioned the fate of base energy consumption and that total energy per life is predetermined, life span should depend on heart rate. As in a car battery average battery life is shortened as energy requirement increase.

·          Exercise is a well-known intervention to lower resting heart rate and increase survival .

·          In patients with chronic heart failure, heart-rate lowering therapies have been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death.

·          The recommended lifestyle changes emphasize prevention of anxiety,stress and toxics C caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, amphetamines or cocaine), screening for drugs and prescribing exercise or rational behavior therapies.

·          One therapy worth considering : Pet ownership can lower your resting heart rate .

·          As current medical evidences are enough to demonstrate their efficacy , drugs that lower heart rate should be prescribed in patients with myocardial infraction, diabetes mellitus and / or heart failure  They are also recommended for hypertensive patients.

  So the next time you consult your health care provider for a check – up, remind him to take your pulse rate. It might save or at least change your life.