Resting Heart Rate
Lowest heart rate recorded during sleep.
Detailed Description
Oura records the lowest HR during sleep — the most accurate resting HR measure. In fit adults, typically 45–65 bpm. An increase of 5+ bpm above personal baseline is an early marker of illness, stress, alcohol, or overtraining.
Daytime resting pulse by age (NHANES)
| Age | Average resting pulse | Note |
|---|---|---|
| under 1 year | 129 bpm | highest value, then falls quickly |
| ~5 years | 96 bpm | still declining |
| early adolescence | 78 bpm | decline nearly complete |
| adult men (20+) | 71 bpm | plateau reached already in early adulthood |
| adult women (20+) | 74 bpm | plateau reached later, by middle age |
Daytime resting pulse from a clinical exam (seated, ~4 minutes of rest), NHANES 1999–2008, n=35,302. This is NOT a ring's nighttime minimum — in fit adults that typically runs lower, 45–65 bpm. Use the table as general context, not a diagnosis.
How to Improve
- Aerobic training 3–5 times per week
- Reduce caffeine consumption
- Stress management (meditation, breathing exercises)
Frequently asked questions
What is a good resting heart rate?
Per NHANES data, daytime resting pulse plateaus around 71 bpm in men and 74 bpm in women by adulthood. A ring's nighttime minimum is usually lower — 45–65 bpm in fit adults. Use your own baseline as the reference, not someone else's numbers.
How does resting heart rate change with age?
Resting heart rate drops most steeply in childhood and adolescence — from about 129 bpm in the first year of life to about 78 by early adolescence (NHANES data). In men the plateau arrives already in early adulthood; in women, later, by middle age.