Researchers from the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center say that an elevated resting heart rate that develops or persists during follow-up could signal health problems and increase the risk of death.

The study involved more than 9,000 participants over a period of five years. Subjects were divided into two groups – those that had a persistent heartbeat rate of 84 or greater per minute, and those that had less. That figure was selected because other studies had suggested it was linked to mortality risk.

They discovered that development of a heart rate of 84 beats per minute or greater that either developed or persisted in patients during the study period was linked to a 55 percent greater risk of cardiovascular death and a 79 percent greater risk of death from all causes.

The patients died from a variety of causes, but considering all factors, "heart rate remains a significant predictor of increased mortality," said lead researcher Peter Okin, M.D. "In addition to high blood pressure, this study demonstrated that changing heart rate over time is a highly significant predictor of mortality."

A healthy heart rate is between 60 and 80 beats per minute. Exercise and diet are considered the best way to lower an individual’s resting heart beat.