Your heart has a big job to do! With every beat, it pumps oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. Count up those beats in one minute, and you’ll get a sense of just how many the task takes. Generally, the fewer beats your heart makes during periods when you’re awake and relaxed, the better. In other words, the stronger, more efficient the pump, the lower your resting heart rate (RHR).

Check out this infographic to learn why it’s a good idea to keep track of your RHR and what your personal RHR trends can reveal about your overall health. And discover what you can do to improve your RHR over time.