Resting Heart Rate varies on App

[Emujo]

Something like this was posted some time ago and I think the poster had the same question I had, but the thread went off into a "heart health" tangent.

When I wake up in the am and sync my device to the app for the previous days data, my RHR will show up anywhere from 46-50. Not in the least concerned with the low numbers as I am pretty active, and this number has dropped from the high 70s over the last year. My question is why would the app show a change in my resting heart rate 2 hours after the last sync? Again, I get up, sync, go to work, take the long walk in (1/2 mile), sync again and the RHR number will go from 47 to 48, and if I repeat the process in the afternoon it will jump again to 49. Why the fluctuations? If it's a resting heart rate, and I'm sleeping, and the surge is very accurate with sleep tracking, and it determines a number, now, I'm no longer resting, but activly getting through my day, why would it add a number or 2, and why does it never do the reverse? I never changes it's mind and says "sorry did the math wrong, you are actually running a 45 RHR. And my RHR does drop into the high 30s when I can get a full 8 hours. Thanks, Emujo

[Julia_G]

Hi, @Emujo, many definitions of resting heart rate calculate it based on a reading when you first wake up, when you are awake, but inactive.  Fitbit calculates it a little differently.  It calculates your resting heart rate throughout the day taking readings from periods when you have not recently exerted yourself and are awake and inactive.

This means that Fitbit's RHR may be a little different from other calculations.  This doesn't really matter, as it is likely to be within a few beats per minute of other calculations, and what is really important, given that you obviously have a very healthy RHR by any standards, is relative movements in the rate.

So don't worry, and keep up the good work!

[dogenzenji]

What Julia Said...

I have also noticed that the RHR displayed on the app is different from the Website. Informed Fitbit who said the difference is a bug they are aware of.