Normal heart beat rate for a human while awake but not doing anything energetic is between 60 and 70 beats per minute. It can get lower than this during periods of sleep. During periods of exercise it can rise sharply as the demand for oxygenated blood increases. It can rise as high as 150 beats per minute as a more rapid supply of blood is needed.

Heart beat rate can also rise during periods of illness or in cases of shock. It can also be affected by the introduction of certain drugs to the body.