What is the term for a resting heart rate lower than 60 BPM?

Bradycardia refers to a resting heart rate that is lower than 60 beats per minute (BPM). This condition can signify various physiological factors, such as improved cardiovascular fitness, especially in well-trained athletes, or it may indicate underlying health issues if it occurs in non-athletes. Understanding this term is important for recognizing heart rate variations and their implications for overall health and fitness.

In contrast to bradycardia, tachycardia describes a resting heart rate that exceeds 100 BPM, which is often associated with conditions requiring attention. Atrial fibrillation refers specifically to an irregular heartbeat due to chaotic electrical activity in the heart's atria, and arrhythmia is a general term for any irregular heartbeat, including both tachycardia and bradycardia. Thus, bradycardia distinctly indicates a lower-than-normal heart rate.