1. What is Maximum Heart Rate (MHR)?

Maximum Heart Rate (MHR) is the highest number of beats per minute your heart can achieve during maximum physical exertion. The most common formula to estimate MHR is 220 minus your age.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard MHR equation:

Where:

• 220 — Baseline maximum heart rate
• age — Your current age in years

Explanation: This formula estimates that your maximum heart rate declines by about 1 beat per minute for each year of age.

3. Importance of MHR Calculation

Details: Knowing your MHR helps determine appropriate exercise intensity levels for cardiovascular training and is essential for calculating target heart rate zones.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Simply enter your age in years (must be between 1-120). The calculator will instantly compute your estimated maximum heart rate.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How accurate is the 220-age formula?
A: It's a general estimate with standard deviation of ±10-12 beats/min. Individual variations exist based on fitness level and genetics.

Q2: Are there alternative MHR formulas?
A: Yes, some suggest 208 - (0.7 × age) or 211 - (0.64 × age), but 220-age remains the most widely used.

Q3: What are typical MHR values?
A: For a 20-year-old: ~200 bpm; 40-year-old: ~180 bpm; 60-year-old: ~160 bpm.

Q4: Can you exceed your calculated MHR?
A: It's possible but not recommended as it may be dangerous for untrained individuals.

Q5: How is MHR used in exercise training?
A: Training zones are typically calculated as percentages (50-85%) of your MHR for different intensity levels.