diff --git a/messages/de.json b/messages/de.json
index 67e3f9651..a2d2e6d9e 100644
--- a/messages/de.json
+++ b/messages/de.json
@@ -2748,8 +2748,8 @@
         "last7days": "letzte 7 Tage",
         "last30days": "letzte 30 Tage",
         "last90days": "letzte 90 Tage",
-        "lastYear": "Jahresrückblick",
-        "allTime": "gesamter Zeitraum"
+        "lastYear": "letzte 12 Monate",
+        "allTime": "gesamter Zeitraum (12 Monate im Detail)"
       },
       "windowLabel": "Zeitraum",
       "settingsAriaLabel": "Coach-Einstellungen",
@@ -3047,7 +3047,7 @@
       "loadError": "Diese Messgröße konnte gerade nicht geladen werden.",
       "blutdruckDescription": "Dein systolisch-/diastolisch-Verlauf mit altersangepassten Zielbereichen und einer textbasierten Einschätzung.",
       "gewichtDescription": "Gewichtsverlauf gegen das aus deiner Größe abgeleitete gesunde Band, mit Einschätzung.",
-      "pulsDescription": "Pulsverlauf gegenüber dem persönlichen Karvonen-Zielband, mit Einschätzung.",
+      "pulsDescription": "Ruhepuls im Vergleich zu einem alters- und geschlechtsabhängigen Referenzband aus CDC/NCHS-Populationsperzentilen, mit Einschätzung.",
       "stimmungDescription": "Tägliche Stimmungswerte im Zeitverlauf mit einer textbasierten Einschätzung.",
       "medikamenteDescription": "Einnahme-Kalender pro Medikament plus eine textbasierte Einschätzung.",
       "bmiDescription": "BMI aus deinem Gewicht und deiner Größe abgeleitet, mit Einschätzung.",
diff --git a/messages/en.json b/messages/en.json
index 4d689f6bf..ba0a5ac87 100644
--- a/messages/en.json
+++ b/messages/en.json
@@ -2748,8 +2748,8 @@
         "last7days": "last 7 days",
         "last30days": "last 30 days",
         "last90days": "last 90 days",
-        "lastYear": "year so far",
-        "allTime": "all time"
+        "lastYear": "last 12 months",
+        "allTime": "all time (12 months of detail)"
       },
       "windowLabel": "Window",
       "settingsAriaLabel": "Coach settings",
@@ -3047,7 +3047,7 @@
       "loadError": "Could not load this metric right now.",
       "blutdruckDescription": "Your systolic / diastolic trend with age-personalised target zones and a written assessment.",
       "gewichtDescription": "Weight trend mapped against your height-derived healthy band, plus a written assessment.",
-      "pulsDescription": "Pulse trend against the personalised Karvonen target band, plus a written assessment.",
+      "pulsDescription": "Resting pulse against an age- and sex-based reference band from CDC/NCHS population percentiles, plus a written assessment.",
       "stimmungDescription": "Daily mood scores over time with a written assessment.",
       "medikamenteDescription": "Per-medication adherence calendars and a written assessment.",
       "bmiDescription": "BMI derived from your weight and height, with a written assessment.",
diff --git a/messages/es.json b/messages/es.json
index da064100b..632a9f9ed 100644
--- a/messages/es.json
+++ b/messages/es.json
@@ -2748,8 +2748,8 @@
         "last7days": "Últimos 7 días",
         "last30days": "Últimos 30 días",
         "last90days": "Últimos 90 días",
-        "lastYear": "lo que va de año",
-        "allTime": "Todo el tiempo"
+        "lastYear": "últimos 12 meses",
+        "allTime": "todo el tiempo (12 meses en detalle)"
       },
       "windowLabel": "Periodo",
       "settingsAriaLabel": "Ajustes del coach",
@@ -3047,7 +3047,7 @@
       "loadError": "No se pudo cargar esta métrica ahora mismo.",
       "blutdruckDescription": "Tu evolución sistólica/diastólica con rangos objetivo ajustados a la edad y una valoración en texto.",
       "gewichtDescription": "Evolución del peso frente a la banda saludable derivada de tu altura, con valoración.",
-      "pulsDescription": "Resting pulse vs. the personalised Karvonen target band, plus a written assessment.",
+      "pulsDescription": "Pulso en reposo frente a una banda de referencia por edad y sexo basada en percentiles poblacionales de CDC/NCHS, con una valoración escrita.",
       "stimmungDescription": "Valores diarios de estado de ánimo en el tiempo, con una valoración en texto.",
       "medikamenteDescription": "Calendario de tomas por medicamento, más una valoración en texto.",
       "bmiDescription": "IMC derivado de tu peso y altura, con valoración.",
diff --git a/messages/fr.json b/messages/fr.json
index 19ff3c528..5e03401f1 100644
--- a/messages/fr.json
+++ b/messages/fr.json
@@ -2748,8 +2748,8 @@
         "last7days": "7 derniers jours",
         "last30days": "30 derniers jours",
         "last90days": "90 derniers jours",
-        "lastYear": "depuis le début de l'année",
-        "allTime": "Toute la période"
+        "lastYear": "12 derniers mois",
+        "allTime": "toute la période (12 mois en détail)"
       },
       "windowLabel": "Période",
       "settingsAriaLabel": "Paramètres du coach",
@@ -3047,7 +3047,7 @@
       "loadError": "Impossible de charger cette mesure pour le moment.",
       "blutdruckDescription": "Ton évolution systolique/diastolique avec des plages cibles adaptées à l’âge et une évaluation textuelle.",
       "gewichtDescription": "Évolution du poids face à la bande saine dérivée de ta taille, avec évaluation.",
-      "pulsDescription": "Resting pulse vs. the personalised Karvonen target band, plus a written assessment.",
+      "pulsDescription": "Pouls au repos comparé à une plage de référence selon l'âge et le sexe, issue des percentiles de population CDC/NCHS, avec une évaluation rédigée.",
       "stimmungDescription": "Valeurs d’humeur quotidiennes dans le temps, avec une évaluation textuelle.",
       "medikamenteDescription": "Calendrier des prises par médicament, ainsi qu’une évaluation textuelle.",
       "bmiDescription": "IMC dérivé de ton poids et de ta taille, avec évaluation.",
diff --git a/messages/it.json b/messages/it.json
index eb36f3640..eb02d4511 100644
--- a/messages/it.json
+++ b/messages/it.json
@@ -2748,8 +2748,8 @@
         "last7days": "Ultimi 7 giorni",
         "last30days": "Ultimi 30 giorni",
         "last90days": "Ultimi 90 giorni",
-        "lastYear": "anno in corso",
-        "allTime": "Tutto il tempo"
+        "lastYear": "ultimi 12 mesi",
+        "allTime": "tutto il tempo (12 mesi in dettaglio)"
       },
       "windowLabel": "Periodo",
       "settingsAriaLabel": "Impostazioni del coach",
@@ -3047,7 +3047,7 @@
       "loadError": "Impossibile caricare questa metrica al momento.",
       "blutdruckDescription": "Il tuo andamento sistolico/diastolico con range obiettivo adattati all’età e una valutazione testuale.",
       "gewichtDescription": "Andamento del peso rispetto alla fascia sana derivata dalla tua altezza, con valutazione.",
-      "pulsDescription": "Resting pulse vs. the personalised Karvonen target band, plus a written assessment.",
+      "pulsDescription": "Battito a riposo confrontato con una fascia di riferimento per età e sesso, basata sui percentili di popolazione CDC/NCHS, con una valutazione scritta.",
       "stimmungDescription": "Valori giornalieri di umore nel tempo, con una valutazione testuale.",
       "medikamenteDescription": "Calendario delle assunzioni per farmaco e una valutazione testuale.",
       "bmiDescription": "BMI derivato dal tuo peso e dalla tua altezza, con valutazione.",
diff --git a/messages/pl.json b/messages/pl.json
index 8976add7f..18514d304 100644
--- a/messages/pl.json
+++ b/messages/pl.json
@@ -2748,8 +2748,8 @@
         "last7days": "Ostatnie 7 dni",
         "last30days": "Ostatnie 30 dni",
         "last90days": "Ostatnie 90 dni",
-        "lastYear": "od początku roku",
-        "allTime": "Cały okres"
+        "lastYear": "ostatnie 12 miesięcy",
+        "allTime": "cały okres (12 miesięcy szczegółowo)"
       },
       "windowLabel": "Okres",
       "settingsAriaLabel": "Ustawienia coacha",
@@ -3047,7 +3047,7 @@
       "loadError": "Nie udało się teraz wczytać tej metryki.",
       "blutdruckDescription": "Twój przebieg skurczowego/rozkurczowego z zakresami docelowymi dopasowanymi do wieku i oceną tekstową.",
       "gewichtDescription": "Przebieg wagi na tle zdrowego pasma wyliczonego z twojego wzrostu, z oceną.",
-      "pulsDescription": "Resting pulse vs. the personalised Karvonen target band, plus a written assessment.",
+      "pulsDescription": "Tętno spoczynkowe na tle zakresu referencyjnego według wieku i płci, opartego na percentylach populacyjnych CDC/NCHS, wraz z oceną opisową.",
       "stimmungDescription": "Dzienne wartości nastroju w czasie wraz z oceną tekstową.",
       "medikamenteDescription": "Kalendarz przyjęć dla każdego leku plus ocena tekstowa.",
       "bmiDescription": "BMI obliczone z twojej wagi i wzrostu, z oceną.",
diff --git a/src/components/insights/__tests__/hero-strip.test.tsx b/src/components/insights/__tests__/hero-strip.test.tsx
index 7f59ad7b3..c13e4e984 100644
--- a/src/components/insights/__tests__/hero-strip.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/insights/__tests__/hero-strip.test.tsx
@@ -241,12 +241,35 @@ describe("<HeroStrip>", () => {
     );
   });
 
-  it("renders the personal-baseline meta line", () => {
-    const html = render(<HeroStrip briefing={null} now={morningLocal} />);
+  it("renders the personal-baseline meta line under a real briefing", () => {
+    const html = render(
+      <HeroStrip briefing={sampleBriefing} now={morningLocal} />,
+    );
     expect(html).toMatch(/data-slot="insights-hero-strip-baseline"/);
     expect(html).toContain("Based on your last 90 days");
   });
 
+  /**
+   * Inverted from the previous assertion, which rendered with
+   * `briefing={null}` and still expected the baseline line.
+   *
+   * That pinned the defect. The line claims the subtitle above it was drawn
+   * from the reader's own last 90 days, but with no briefing the subtitle is
+   * `heroFallbackSubtitle` — fixed copy computed from nothing. Both siblings in
+   * the same meta row (the freshness caption, the no-provider hint) already
+   * gate on their own data; this one did not, so an account with no briefing at
+   * all was told its generic sentence rested on a personal baseline.
+   */
+  it("withholds the personal-baseline meta line when there is no briefing", () => {
+    const html = render(<HeroStrip briefing={null} now={morningLocal} />);
+    expect(html).not.toMatch(/data-slot="insights-hero-strip-baseline"/);
+    expect(html).not.toContain("Based on your last 90 days");
+    // The fallback subtitle still renders — only the provenance claim goes.
+    expect(html).toContain(
+      "A daily read of your trends, drawn straight from the numbers you&#x27;ve logged.",
+    );
+  });
+
   it("renders the freshness caption when updatedAt is supplied", () => {
     // v1.22 — the hero freshness line now uses `formatUpdatedLabel` for parity
     // with the briefing + per-metric cards: a same-day timestamp reads
diff --git a/src/components/insights/hero-strip.tsx b/src/components/insights/hero-strip.tsx
index 3ba16e578..ef92e9184 100644
--- a/src/components/insights/hero-strip.tsx
+++ b/src/components/insights/hero-strip.tsx
@@ -199,14 +199,24 @@ export function HeroStrip({
             <ProseBlocks text={subtitle} />
           </div>
           <div className="text-muted-foreground flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-3 gap-y-1 text-xs">
-            <span data-slot="insights-hero-strip-baseline">
-              {t("insights.heroPersonalBaseline")}
-            </span>
+            {/* The baseline line describes where the SUBTITLE came from, so it
+                may only show when the subtitle IS a briefing. Without one the
+                subtitle falls back to generic copy derived from nothing, and
+                this line went on claiming a personal baseline underneath it —
+                the one part of the row that was ungated while both its
+                siblings already checked for their own data first. */}
+            {briefing && (
+              <span data-slot="insights-hero-strip-baseline">
+                {t("insights.heroPersonalBaseline")}
+              </span>
+            )}
             {generatedLine && (
               <>
-                <span aria-hidden="true" className="opacity-50">
-                  ·
-                </span>
+                {briefing && (
+                  <span aria-hidden="true" className="opacity-50">
+                    ·
+                  </span>
+                )}
                 <span data-slot="insights-hero-strip-generated">
                   {generatedLine}
                 </span>
diff --git a/src/components/insights/metric-target-summary.tsx b/src/components/insights/metric-target-summary.tsx
index 199711035..81fdc0277 100644
--- a/src/components/insights/metric-target-summary.tsx
+++ b/src/components/insights/metric-target-summary.tsx
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ import { apiGet } from "@/lib/api/api-fetch";
  * nothing and a cold sub-page warms the cache its siblings reuse. We
  * never recompute the ranges here: the route is the single source of
  * truth for the age-based ESH blood-pressure band, the WHO weight / BMI
- * band, the Karvonen pulse band, the AASM sleep band, the ADA / DDG
- * glucose bands, and the medication / mood targets.
+ * band, the CDC/NCHS percentile pulse band, the AASM sleep band, the
+ * ADA / DDG glucose bands, and the medication / mood targets.
  *
  * The panel is a compact reference panel carrying the full target
  * context:
diff --git a/src/lib/analytics/pulse-targets.ts b/src/lib/analytics/pulse-targets.ts
index 4acc0ad56..fb3420941 100644
--- a/src/lib/analytics/pulse-targets.ts
+++ b/src/lib/analytics/pulse-targets.ts
@@ -68,14 +68,19 @@ export function getPersonalizedPulseTarget(
   age: number | null,
   gender: PulseGender,
 ): PersonalizedPulseTarget {
-  // AHA fallback for adults when profile context is missing.
+  // No age to personalise against (missing profile, or under 20 where the
+  // percentile table does not apply), so this arm returns a fixed band that is
+  // the same for everyone. The source label says so in as many words: the
+  // surrounding UI describes the pulse band as age- and sex-based, and a reader
+  // who falls into this arm needs to know theirs is not.
   if (age == null || age < 20) {
     return {
       greenMin: 60,
       greenMax: 100,
       orangeMin: 55,
       orangeMax: 105,
-      source: "AHA (adults, resting pulse 60-100 bpm)",
+      source:
+        "AHA general adult range (resting pulse 60-100 bpm) — not personalised",
     };
   }