New research has revealed that the latest COVID-19 vaccine for the 2024–2025 season may be linked to fewer serious heart-related events among U.S. veterans. Researchers found evidence of a small reduction in COVID-19-associated cardiovascular events due to vaccination.

Meanwhile, doctors say monitoring something as simple as your resting heart rate could offer key insights into your overall health.

Resting heart rate refers to the number of times your heart beats each minute when you’re calm, awake and not moving, according to Mayo Clinic.

For most adults, a typical resting heart rate falls between 60 and 100 beats per minute. A lower rate often indicates that the heart is more efficient and doesn’t need to work as hard to pump blood throughout the body.

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Highly trained athletes may see resting rates closer to 40 beats per minute, Mayo Clinic notes.

However, a range of personal factors can cause fluctuations, including age, physical activity level, sleep quality, hormone balance, stress, and medical conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease or thyroid issues.

Cleveland Clinic warns that a heart rate consistently outside the normal range can at times signal a problem. Rates above 100 beats per minute could point to conditions like anemia, infection, or thyroid dysfunction.

Doctors recommend checking in with a healthcare provider if your heartbeat stays above 100 beats per minute or, for those who are not trained athletes, falls frequently below 60 beats per minute.

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Seeking medical advice becomes more urgent if you also experience symptoms such as dizziness, fainting or shortness of breath.

The Mayo Clinic suggests the best time to measure resting heart rate is early in the morning. You can track it by placing your index and middle fingers on the inside of your wrist or the side of your neck to locate your pulse.

Count the beats for 15 seconds, then multiply that number by four to determine beats per minute. Although wearable devices also offer tracking, their accuracy may vary.

Experts say it is possible to help lower a resting heart rate that is higher than normal. Harvard Health identifies vigorous exercise as "the best way" to strengthen the heart and reduce the resting rate over time.

For beginners, physicians emphasize easing gradually into a new fitness routine rather than rushing into intense workouts too quickly.

Some medications, including beta blockers, can lower heart rate. At the same time, stress management through meditation or yoga may also contribute to improvement.

Cleveland Clinic advises reducing or eliminating drugs and alcohol, which can raise heart rate by causing dehydration.

Quality sleep and maintaining a healthy weight can play a role in supporting a lower resting rate as well.

Cardiologist Tamanna Singh, M.D., told Cleveland Clinic that patience is essential because lowering heart rate through lifestyle adjustments takes time.

"Just like building your biceps and triceps, it takes time for your heart to become stronger," she said.

Dr. Singh also recommends paying attention to how heart rate shifts after factors like eating certain foods, feeling dehydrated, or starting new exercise or stress management routines.

"If you notice that your heart rate is consistently over 100, mention it to your doctor, especially if you’ve tried making lifestyle changes and they don’t seem to be working," she said.

She emphasized that while resting heart rate is not the definitive measure of a person’s health, it remains an important signal worth monitoring.