Reasons Women Have Higher Resting Heart Rates

Men and women have many differences, but one of the more distinct is their resting heart rates, or the number of heartbeats per minute when they are at rest.

Average Resting Heart Rates

• Average resting heart rates for women are considered to be 70 to 80 beats per minute. For men, they are between 50 and 75. Both depend on fitness levels, with people who are more fit having lower resting heart rates.

Heart Sizes

• A man’s heart, on average, is 25 percent larger than a woman’s. This is a reflection of most mammals--the larger the animal, the larger the heart.

Lung Capacity

• Men also have a 25 to 30 percent greater lung capacity than women, also a reflection of size difference. Taller people tend to have taller lungs and greater lung capacity.

Heart Rate Differences

• Because of the differences in size and lung capacity, a man’s heart generally pumps more blood with each beat. A man’s heart rate is five to eight beats a minute slower, thus lowering his resting heart rate because it doesn't have to beat as often.

Risks Due to Differences

• Lower heart rates reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. A study published by the British Medical Journal showed that heart rate is a particularly good way to predict the risk of heart attack in women older than 50. An Israeli study that adjusted for age and size and other factors showed that a woman's risk of death from heart attack is 1.7 times higher.