Other than exercise, the heart rate can be affected by:
- medications, that can slow down or speed up the rate;
- some chemical substances like caffeine (that cab be found in coffee, tea, and soda);
- emotions, like stress and anxiety can raise the heart rate, as well situations when you are really happy or sad;
- body size differences, people with greater mass can have slightly faster pulse (obesity cases);
- weather, the pulse may go up a bit in higher temperatures and humidity levels.
The heart rate can be safely tested for those circumstances by: measure pulse before and after comsumption of substances with caffeine, before and after great news or really happy situations, between different body types, and before and after changing temperatures and humidity of the room. between between re -