Fitbit's resting heart rate calculations...

[NarrowHippedVixen]

... How reliable do you think they are?

This is todays apparently - but based on that graph can't see how my resting heart rate has an average of 65, surely it should be lower, or have I misunderstood?

(The spike at the end of this graph was me going to the toilet in the morning, so after I was awake )

Just bumping for the morning crowd

You resting heart rate varies according to how fit you are. My average is 55 but that's very low. 65 seems normal to me. What do you expect it to be?

I don't know, isn't it supposed to be your lowest heart rate when at rest?

Fitbit tells me I'm usually between 60 at the start of a period and 70 right as I'm due one, but I've never looked at the data like in the chart above, which would suggest mid 50s surely?

It also says this but I don't know how reliable it is

Resting heart rate is your heart rate when you are awake but sitting quietly. That graph shows your sleeping time.

That's probably about right? Mine is lower but I'm fitter than average, so 65 is probably around average?

I think my question is more around Fitbit's calculations - if it's based on "you sitting still during the day", why does it only show the heart rate after a night's sleep, and get swayed by how well you slept or not?

(Not expecting anyone here to be a Fitbit engineer with all the magical answers just wondering if anyone's looked into it!)

I guess I'm wondering how reliable it is as a measurement.

I had a minor op last year and when I was hooked up to the theatre monitors my fitbit hr rate was identical to their higher tech machines

Until then I was slightly skeptical and I don't think mine always picks up a good trace sometimes but on that day it was bang on

I've had heart problems over the last few years so have been hooked up to heart monitors a lot and my Fitbit has always been pretty much in line so I trust mine

Thanks @Lzzyisgod @Skala123, that's good to hear.

Out of curiosity, do your heart rates all rise and fall every month too?

Again I'm assuming that's normal for women but then sometimes people confidently say "I have a resting heart rate of XX" like it's fixed?

Yes mine rises towards the end of mycycle and then falls away again into high 50s

I've not actually monitored it with regards my cycle but I look at it a lot of I've had more booze than normal and that makes a huge difference

Resting heart rate can change depending on a number of factors. When I was working in a stressful job my resting here rate was always very high but when I retired and was less stressed it fell a lot. Add in then getting a dog and getting fitter, it fell further still. However if I drink any alcohol or get very stressed my resting heart rate soars even when I am totally at rest and sleeping.

I feel sure I read someone on MN say the RHR should be calculated over at least 20 minutes while you were sitting up or some other such activity. Not just lying in bed awake.

I didn't feel I could agree with that. It's not what we did in the 80s & 90s...

In old days... we did it by hand lying in bed first thing in morning. Fitbit is maybe 3-8 beats above that method.