Resting heart rate — the number of times your heart beats per minute when you’re sitting still — is an important vital sign.

Doctors measure it to check how your body is functioning, and the number can provide important clues to your health.

For most people, the resting heart rate is between 60 and 80 beats per minute, says Dr. Pamela Mason, a cardiologist at UVA Health.

“There's a wide variety of what's normal from person to person,” Mason previously told TODAY.com .

Resting heart rate can rise with anxiety, illness or strong emotions, she noted. It can be affected by age, excess weight and certain medications, according to National Library of Medicine .

A lower resting heart rate is a sign your heart is more efficient, she added.

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