How fast does your heart rate beat when scared?

Your heart rate can significantly increase when you are scared or experience fear. On average, a resting heart rate for an adult ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm). However, fear can trigger the body's "fight or flight" response, causing a surge in adrenaline and cortisol, hormones that elevate physiological functions to prepare for danger.

During this response, your heart rate can rapidly increase, going well beyond your resting rate. It is not uncommon for the heart rate to reach 130 to 150 bpm when someone is severely frightened. In extreme cases, it may climb even higher.

The accelerated heart rate helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to muscles and vital organs more quickly, enhancing the body's capacity to cope with threats or escape perilous situations. This sudden rise in heart rate is one of the physical manifestations of the body's primal defenses against dangers.