High heart rate during exercise

[picks4]

I am a new paramedic, and I recently took the physical fitness test at the hospital.  I was told that as a 33 year old female, my maximum heart rate should be around 158 during activity.  It was 198 at one point.  Unfortunately my active heart rate has always been high, and until this test, it has never been a problem.  I was told I need to figure out how to correct this.  Any ideas? Certain exercises, or medications?

[my3reasonsy]

You could try yoga. It's a calming exercise. Maybe just walking for cardio exercise. Also, stay away from caffiene.  Oh, and make sure you don't get dehydrated, that will cause the heart rate to go up too.  I am 38 yr old female and my heart rate sometimes goes to 200+bpm during exercise. I also get pain when it's that high.  Dr. put me on a beta blocker to slow the heart rate down.  Check with your doctor about what might help you.  Good luck!

[mltnichols]

I am having the same problem. I can't figure it out at all. I am only 22, female, 5'5", 116, vegetarian, don't smoke....very healthy. I have super low blood pressure but my resting and exercising heart rates are extremely high. I went to a cardiologist and they told me I was just out of shape. I have been working out at least 5 days a week for 2 monthsnow, 2 hr's a day, 45 minutes of consecutive cardio each day, and my heart rate isn't budging. If you figure out something that works, please post it. I feel like I'm doing everything and am at a loss.

[Angie O Plasty]

I'm not a doctor or anything, but I do think some people just have higher exercise heart rates.  I am a 22yo female, 5'2", 108 lbs., and run three miles a day (not very fast--about 11 min/mile).  My heart rate reaches or exceeds 200 bpm at least once every run, and when I was on a Holter monitor a couple years ago (was having some palpitations checked out) I worked out and at one point got it up to 211.  My resting rate is in the mid 50's, which is down a bit from what it was when I started running (was in the mid 60's).  Now I usually wear a HR monitor while running and I have seen readings of 217 and 218 a couple of times that I think might have been legitimate readings as opposed to resulting from some interference, but I can't be sure on that.  When my heart rate gets really high like that, I do feel like I'm working very hard but I don't feel sick or anything--it just seems to be a normal occurrence for me.  So I guess what I'm saying is "join the club".  The number you were given for what your HR should have been may have come from the target HR formula that uses 220-age for your maximum rate.  That formula is an average and does not hold for everyone--maybe you're just someone who has a higher max HR.  (Personally I think that formula should be defenestrated--if you don't know what that means, look it up).  What did the physical fitness test involve?  I would be curious to know how strenuous it is.  Also, how were you feeling at the time your heart rate was so high?  Were you feeling OK and just feeling like you were working hard, or did you feel weak/dizzy/otherwise yucky?  If you were feeling bad, that would seem to make it more of a cause for concern.

[Angie O Plasty]

May I ask what your resting and exercise heart rates are?  How high is "extremely high"?  Also, what type of exercise do you do during your workouts?

[star queen]

When stress, like exercise, increases the heart rate, it makes you a higher risk for stroke and heart attack in this profession.  Since the stress levels suffered by EMTs in emergency situations, your heart rate may prevent you from getting and keeping a job.  Alot of time exercises that are aerobic bring down the heart rate.  Biking, swimming, low impact aerobics and power walking are good exercises that will give you a good workout without raising your heart rate too high.  If it continues to be high, then have the MD order a PET stress test to checkout the stress on the heart. good luck

[my3reasonsy]

Hello.  Could you tell me what a PET stress test is? I had a treadmill stress test with thalium, is that the same?

[star queen]

A PET stress test is not the same as a Thalium stress test.  Thalium is usually given first because the cost of the PET is higher.  PET is used to visualize the heart under stess by giving a radiolucent (shows up on xrays) chemical called Persartine (and others). This drug simulates exercise and the heart reacts as though you are experiencing a hard workout.  Pictures are taken on a special xray machine in the Nuclear Medicine department.  It is difficult to get the pictures off a regular treadmill test because the heart slows down too fast for the pictures to be taken. This test will visualize the heart and it's vessels, how the blood enters and leaves the ventricles, can check out stents, and will show any muscle weakness or valve problems.  It will not evaluate the vessels on the outside of the heart.  Hope this helps.

[my3reasonsy]

Thank you for the info. Maybe you can help me with this.  You seem to know a great deal about this subject. I have been through Stress/w thalium, echo, ecg, 24 hr. holtor, and ekg to check my heart.  I have bouts of pain only during exercise that happen about 2 times a week.  I workout 5 days.  The pain is squeezing, burning and lasts about 2-4 minutes.  Don't always have to stop, just slow way down. All test normal, except holtor showed heart rate at 200 during workout, at which time I was experiencing pain. The stress test was stoped at 9 min. as I reached the max rate of 151. I am not sure if this test would accurately pick up what is happening to me as I did't experience the pain.  I don't have the pain until at least 15 minutes into a workout.  Do you think a PET stress test would be more accurate, and/or wearing an event monitor? I am not sure if there is any concern for the pain I have, it seems to be just that my heart rate goes so high.  Cardio has me taking 25mg toprol and baby asprin daily. Says if this does not work I would need to go on a stronger med.  Last night in my spin class I felt my heart race and then a thump, I must have looked bad, because my instructor came over and checked my pulse.  She was worried as it would beat normal for about 10 beats then speed way up and then just seem to stop.  Repeating over and over for 2 minutes.  Heart rate at 15 minutes into very hard class was only 83.  That's why I think that it was way up and dropped too quickly. Just curious as to what you might think is going on.  Thank you!

[Duchess47]

Have you tried an event monitor?  You wear this monitor for usually 2 weeks.  It is like a mobile EKG machine.  When you experience any problems you push a button which records the event.  Once there are about 5 of these, call the number you have been given and dowload the informaion to the cardiac personnel.  Unless there is cause for alarm, the results will be reviewed at the end of the 2 weeks by your cardiologist.  This way, when you are exercising and have an event, it will be caught on the machine.

[my3reasonsy]

Thank you for the information.  I'll have to talk to my cardiologist about having an event monitor.  That certainly sounds like what I need to do next.  The toprol does seem to be slowing my heart rate, but I still, sometimes get the pain.  Thanks again!

[star queen]

Both an event monitor and a PET scan are good ideas to try. Ask you doctor for an EKG to check the electrical status of your heart. The pain you are experiencing at high heart rates is caused by a lack of oxygen. The heart is racing to the point that it's need for oxygen is greater than the supply and you get pain.  When you slow down the oxygen levels rise and the pain goes away. If this continues you can suffer from a "mini heart attack" which is without symptoms, but can leave heart damage.  Try reducing your workout and try breathing more.  When you reach the point that you are breathing hard or panting, slow down and do some belly breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth, gradually lengthening the breaths until your heart slows down and your breathing is easier.  Avoid breathing while bending downward. Stand or sit up straight and belly breathe.  Bending over when panting actually pushes air out of the lungs and prevents deep breathing, giving the body less oxygen.  You may become dizzy, visual "spots", experience nausea, muscle weakness, headaches, difficulty "catching" your breath and  get a burning sensation in the chest. good luck

[my3reasonsy]

Thank you for explaining this to me. I guess that is why my cardiologist is concerned about slowing the heart rate down.  I have just been looking for a cause for the pain and what you have said makes perfect sense.  Thanks again for your help.

[Duchess47]

It is scary to think that if you get pain in your chest when you exercise it is from cardiac related issue and you can have a mini heart attack.  I posted your reply to the heart forum for more information.  I, too have had pain in chest while exercising but never showed any past heart attack on EKG.

[Coldy]

I started the other thread with this subject: "High heart rate during exercize" and after reading the comments in this one, I decided to ask my MD. He is a healthy living guru and cycles extensively. I told him my blood pressure and resting heart rate (57) are extremly low, but my exercize heart rate is extremely high (175 - 190). His suggestion was strength training. He said a regular routine of lifting weights will strengthen all my muscles including my heart muscles, which should bring my heart rate into a more acceptable range. He also said strength training will also help the occasional knee pain I have when cycling. I hope this helps someone else. I know I have not emphasized strength training at all, even though I know it helps on the ski hill and with my golf swing.

[Duchess47]

You just jogged my memory about something my cardiologist said to me that is important.  When your muscles are weak, then your heart is pumping harder to make them work.  In other words, if you are walking up hill and your heart is pumping hard, that's becuae it is sending much needed blood to your legs.  When you are better conditioned, then your heart rate will be better.

[archicycle]

I've been wondering about this, too. I'm 39, female, very fit- have done gymnastics and bike racing all of my life. My blood pressure is fairly low at 60/100. I live at 8,000 feet. I currently race competetively, and have been training on a computrainer during the winter.  My resting heart rate is mid-50s, and when I exercise my heart rate is sustained at about 180-185, and the max that I've seen doing hard workouts with intervals is 203.  I do not experience pain, but sometimes feel dizziness. It sounds like I'm dealing with the same issue as you. Has the strength training been helping? Are there specific exercises your doctor prescribed?

[tovli]

I also have high heart rate during exercise and low resting heart rate.  Tests report "mild to moderately reduced exercise tolerance", negative EST, rare PACs, normal left vent, no defects, and 65% ejection fraction.   My cardiologist says there is no problem and my physician says ignore my heart monitor.  

For my own understanding, I did a Conconi test to find my actual peak heart rate.  Now, I slow my exercise when I reach 90% of my actual peak heart rate.  I tried the Couch Potato to 5k program (on time not distance) to increase the time before reaching 90% and saw improvement during the first three months.  I quit pushing my limits after six months.  After two years of 30 minutes on the treadmil twice a week, I hit 90% after 20 minutes at 3.2mph, 10 minutes at 4.5mph and 45 seconds at 8mph.  No where near "normal".

I have given up on reaching a minimum "normal for age" Cooper 1.5 mile running test.  After two years I can only get within 30 seconds of the minimum and only if I bust the 90% limit.  To "pass the test" it would require allowing my heart rate to reach and stay at the max for as long as I could stand it.  I would feel sick for two days afterwards and still would not consider myself "normal".

I worry that this "you're fine, no problem" condition is actually evidence that there is a problem or will someday be a problem, and that those of us declared "healthy with high exercise heart rate" are not being tracked and studied.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

I would advise you to do regular physical exercise every day like jogging or running or even a long walk.
You can also try breathing exercises and meditation to relax your mind and rid it off tension and anxiety. Keep us posted!

[tomshet]

I am not a doctor, I am an endurance athlete.  You can reduce your heart rate by following Dr. Phil Maffetone heart rate training.  180 minus your age will be your target training rate.  You will reach this very easily at first.  If you exercise regularly at or below this rate, you will experience cardiovascular adaptation, and in time it will be HARD for you to reach this heart rate.  I trained this way for 1 year, and am 46 years old.  Use to have high rate, now it is tough for me to reach 135 - 140 BPM.  Resting heart rate is also down to 50.  Get his book...heart rate training.  It works.

[NolaD]

Hi all
I read your comments with interest as I too, have an unusually high heart beat when exercising.
I am 59 years old, Have a personal trainer who started me off 1 year ago on a programme of stretching and core muscle building twice a week for an hour for 4 months.  During this time I did 3 weekly work outs aerobically which comprised 20 minutes on a treadmill and 20 minutes on a cycle.  My resting heart rate is 66.  In the beginning I could only keep within the "fat burn zone of 80%" using the cycle on level 1.  The treadmill was also a problem as my heart rate would reach the upper level (150) without much exertion.  

After 4 months of strength training I progressed onto light weights and resistance training.  This I have been doing for 9 months now - increasing the weight as I have progressed.

  With this new programme I have noticed a distinct improvement in my heart rate in most of the aerobic work I do - however, on the elliptical trainer, I still find that it spikes to just short of 160 a minute.  At this stage I am perspiring - but am not in any pain or discomfort at all.  A Cardiologist did an effort ECG and solar scan on my heart and found that there was an imperfection to the "R" wave, but that it was "within normal limits".  I was given a clean bill to continue with my training.

My trainer has discussed my progress with the bio kinetikist at gym - and they have decided that I suffer from Tachycardia - but I am not in agreement with their diagnosis but they are saying that I should try "rate of perceived Exertion" instead of sticking to the Heart rate monitor.  I do not use the monitor anymore whilst training as I get tired of hearing it going off each time I increase above where it perceives my heart rate should be!!!!

Hope someone will offer some advice on the topic.

[runfit]

Can you elaborate on what your heart rate was before you started with the Dr. Phil Maffetone training program? I have been running for couple of years and my heart rate jumps to 160 very easily and then stays in high 160-170 for the entire range of the run. People I am running with on the other hand have heart rate in the 135-145 range so I am really keen on finding a solution.

[LadyLane]

This is the best thread I've come across for answers!  Maybe someone could answer for me specifically too.  I am 30 years, old 5'7, 131 lbs. and have exercised/extreme sports my whole life.  My BP has always been extremely low 60/90 sometimes 50/80, I think that is due to my slight anemia (so I've read).  My HR has always been low 60s.  When I workout/run my HR stays well above 190 range, but drops fairly quickly.  Am I supposed to be concerned?  When I'm on the treadmill I see the chart for HR and I think it's a joke, that's impossible to keep it that low, until I've read everyone's posts.  I never cared before until recently when I felt like I was going to faint while w/o.  Dehydration can do this to you though right?  My only other concern is that lately my resting HR has increased by 20 BPM for a few months now.  Is this something I should look into?  It seems 1/2 are saying it's no big deal, and others say rush to your doctor.  Any thoughts?

[handsome1]

My concern is at the same place as the runners,but the dynamics are different, I weightlift. I'm 50, 5'7" tall, 150 lbs,non smoker,non drinker,I've been trying to gain muscle though weight lifting. The problem is getting my stubborn slim body to grow muscle,I have to hit it hard. The concerning workout is the day I do lower body (squats),they can take a fair bit of exertion,,after an hour of progressively adding weight to the bar, I reach my present limit,about 70 lbs. my body is pretty warmed up at this point but my heart still blasts off from about 110 to about 161bpm in about 20 seconds after 8 reps with a barbell across my shoulders (had an ekg & treadmill done 8 months earlier,all fine) I drink 2 coffee per morning,wondering if the coffee might be hindering my heart rate when pushing it that high, and  wondering if there's any dangers of spiking your heart rate like this,I've read its suppose to be good for you, like 'coldy' suggesting strength training.Wondering if anyone had any input for strength training where the exertion is primarily short bursts.

[HighHeartBeat]

Not to scare anyone - Posting this for somebody qualified to share their point of view on this study  ...here is an article from a highly reputed medical journal on association between sudden deaths among health men

1. High resting heart beat (> 75)
2. No enough jump up in heartbeat while exercising hard (<113)
3. & low drop in heartbeat 1 min after exercise (< 40)

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/352/19/1951

The second point is seems to have surprised the researchers a little ...

[wondergirl59]

I have this problem too. I am 50, have always been active, and have always struggled to stay in the cardio HR zone during my workouts( I usually go above the recommended HR zone). I feel fine the entire time and actually feel like I could push myself even harder but am afraid to. I have tried a spin cycle class several times and always get up to 170-190 during the hardest part of the class. My face gets red and I am sweating up a storm, never do I have any pain or do I feel like I'm dying during or after the workout. I still wonder why my heart rate still goes so high even though I do elliptical, run, weight train, jazzercise, something almost every day and have for years.

[vk118]

I'm going to jump in on this discussion with my own problems too, which seem to be the same as everyone elses! Non smoker, 5'3", 55kg, on my feet all day in my job. Slightly high blood prrssure from the pill, resting heart rate in high 50s.

I recently joined the gym, expecting to be caught out on my rubbish fitness level, but was very surprised that my VO2 max was at an 'elite' level, apparently (on a polar watch mind you). This contradicts my actual performance in the gym - when i first started, walking at a steady pace on a small gradient bought my heart rate up to about 150bpm within 2 minutes - the trainer came back and looked slightly puzzled. After some more faffing around we decided I just had 'a high heart rate', so I should work out according to percieved exertion instead.

8 weeks later and my endurance has vastly improved, but i still peak at 160-170 on the cross trainer with a percieved exertion of about 6 -  can keep this up for my whole workout it's not hard. Jogging on the treadmill at 7.5mph will bring it up to 180+ with percieved exertion of about 7.

Everytime i see those target heart rate charts i also think they're some kind of conservative joke. To keep in my fat burning zone i would have to walk on the treadmill and keep a snails pace on the cross trainer!

I'm thinking of bringing this up at my next gp appointment, but i know they will probably brush it off.

[shany25m]

I have read all posts - and noticed there are two types of folx sharing symptoms here

1) Those who have always had high heart rates
2) Those who actually noticed increased/high heart rates.

I am category #2.  

35yo F 5'9" 170 - Active Duty Military 16 years (fitness is our lifestyle is the point).  I do cardio/muscular strength endurance(MSE)6x per week - Sunday off -  30 minuntes minimum each - I alternate upper/lower body MSE every other day to balance out.

---Before Exhertion Intolerance Change (1991 through Aug 04)
a) resting heart rate ~55bpm  (45 while sleeping)
b) maximum Hr (actually attained and HARD to get) 155bpm
c) blood pressure  ~ 110/55

---After Exhertion Intolerance Change  (Aug 04 - curr)
a) resting heart rate ~85 (65 sleeping)
b) maximum Hr - 208  (185 in 4 mins of light jog - daily)
c) blood pressure ~ 135/89  

** Note: Aug 04 was my first Physical Test while stationed in Korea - run time went from 16:15 to 18:25 with no explanation.  I was acclimated - on station for 6 months.  I have never been able to run since (and slightly before) that pt test, it is the first documentation of the breakdown though.**

I used to get my adrenaline rush from running 7 minutes in - like clockwork.  Once I caught the rush, I could run for miles and miles and never skip a beat and barely break a sweat.

Now I jog - if you can call it that - doing a mere 6.0 mph and in 4 minutes my heart rate is at 195 and I can't breath.  If i could run through it I know my heart rate would continue up - its as if the "stop cap" was removed and my heart has no limit.  I can feel the energy pulsing and want to keep going, but i just can't breath, so I have to stop.  I have been working for the last 5 years to get my heart rate to go down and I have made absolutely no difference whatsoever - intervals, endurance, short distance, long distance - absolutely nothing helps.

Heck, I did 70 sit ups the other day (2 minutes) and my HR was 172bpm... so it isnt just aerobic exercise sparking the HR.  (on that note, a few minutes after cardio, I layed down to do those situps and in 22 seconds my heart rate went from 176 to 83 - and it HURT!!!!  Won't do that again.)

My last Army Physical Fitness Test was my "maximum effort" and worst run time ever (18:45 - 2 miles) Sep 30, 2008 - it landed me in the hospital.  I was blinded for 30 minutes (huge spot covering all but peripheral vision in both eyes, my Creatine Kinase (CK - protein)  was 3510 (140 is normal) 2 days after the PT Test, and 3755  (went up while in a hospital bed for 2 days?) 4 days after the PT Test- other blood tests were jacked up, too, but I won't get into all of that.  They did xrays of my lungs, MRI/MRA of my brain and neck, and did tests to find out why my pupils are suddenly mis-dialated.

I just had my CPX today, Fitness Stress Test last monday (CK was 251 - still over 140 normal range) - echo last month, ekg/ecg Oct 08 - and noone can tell me anything!  Little oddities with each test, but nothing to make one specialist concerned in one specific area.  It's weird.

I am not going to stop pursuing these doctors until someone can explain to me what the heck is happening to my body - but here is the real point -

~~  If you are working out, feeling a bit tingly from the adrenaline, have a light misting of sweat on your forhead, you decide to put your hands on on the pulse sensors because you are curious what your HR is, and you are shocked to see it is 190 - 200... you probably don't have an issue to worry about.

~~  If you are working out, find you can't catch your breath no matter how hard you try to control your breathing, the towel around your neck is heavy with the sweat you have mopped off your face and neck, and you decide to put your hands on the pulse sensors because you need to know what your HR is, you see it is 190 - 200 and aren't suprised in the least..., stop exercising and go to the doctor.

If you are having symptoms AND have a high heart rate, get a thorough exam.  If you have a high heart rate but no symptoms, at your next physical (you should be having these regularly if you are exercising anyway) talk to your doctor about the HR and see if more testing is necessary.  *nods*

In the meantime -keep your fingers crossed for me- because, although noone can pinpoint it, I can feel something wrong!

[laur1209]

same here, very high HR when working out.

I am a 29 yo female, 5 foot 5.5 inches, 160 pounds (very muscular, moderate body fat, read very busty) non-smoker, low blood pressure, occasional drinker, decent cardiovascular fitness.  

My RHR is in the high 50's to an even 60, while my max HR when working in high percieved exertion (a 9) in interval training is 201.  (I wear a polar f6/chest strap)

I feel fine other then sweating buckets and breathing very heavy, not dizzy or sick feeling at all.

even in a steady state run hy HR is in the mid 190's.  drops back to 120 in about 5 minutes.  PE about a 7.

When I do dynmaic heavy lifting, it can get into the 180's (droping into the 120's during a rest period)

my HR will stay in the 130's after a good workout untill I sit down.  When I am totally done working out and back as my desk or in the car drining home, it will drop back into the 80's-90's, but I have to sit for that to happen.  As long as I walk around the gym, stretch, stand and change my clothes, it won't drop below 130.

When I go for a brisk walk, in non-workout mode, my HR will go between 120-135.

But as soon as I start working, it jumps up.  It's like my HR can do 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th gear.  my HR skips 3rd consitently, unless i am cool-off mode.

[fayiz]

Hey all,
i am a 28 year old male,200 lbs,5.5 feet high,never smoked,never drinked,
i just started my workout the begining of april,and as u all can see i was planning to do cardio for the weight loss and fat burn plan (the six pack dream)
i start by doing the Synchro machine which is like a total body work out where ur hands and legs move together as if u are jogging,for 30 minutes with effort level (1 is minimum - 25 is maximum) starting at 11 for 2 minutes and 30 seconds and then i increase the effort to 16 for 2 minutes and 30 seconds,then go back to 11 again..up and down like that for 30 minutes with a water bottle next to me and i drink while working out little by little.
after that i go on the tread mill and do 15 minutes in the same technique,starting with 3.4 miles and incline of 10% going to 15% every 2 and half minutes and back down to 10% and so on.
i reach the 170+ and the monitor starts buzzing and saying High heart rate,and i tend to slow down when i do get that,
however, today where i decided to make the effort on the synchro go to 18 and down to 13 for the sake of burning more calories,and i tend to hit the high heart rate zone quite frequently (around 4 times in 30 seconds) which made me a bit confused if that is a good sign or a bad sign.
more over,i feel a slight tingling pain in my chest where the heart is located,which made me a little concerned if i am doing somthing wrong.
my diet has been very strict,i eat around 1200 calories a day only and in the gym i burn around 600 if i dont do any weight lifting.
i dont know what is my ideal resting heart rate and whats my ideal fat burn heart rate.
please advice,i dont wanna end up doing the wrong thing and hurt my self,all opinions are highly appreciated.
thanks
Fayiz.

[geezer466]

Ok, there seem to be better answers here than I have gotten other places. I am 62 years old, I run a lot, finished a marathon (my 3rd) last year in 4:03. About a year and a half ago, after a poor marathon performance, I changed my diet and virtually eliminated any fats. (I should have about 25% fat by calories, I am working back to that.) Last fall I put my self in the hospital with a gall bladder attack, my analysis is since there was no fat, the gall bladder stopped working and sludge built up.

That's not the question though, when I run I always wear a heart rate monitor (Garmin 305) and I get a graph of the heart rate for every run. My resting heart rate is around 45. My normal running heart rate is in the range of 125 to 140, depending.

Here is the weird part, when I just start out on a run, my heart rate frequently jumps to 175-180 for the first mile or half mile, then abrubtly drops to the normal range.

I am guessing this is lack of fat in the liver, or lack of energy for the short term (liver, blood stream?) but when the other energy mechanisms kick in, the heart rate goes back to normal.

This did not happen two years ago or more, when I weighed 20 lbs more and ate lots of bagels. I assume its diet, but I don't want to gain the weight back.

Any ideas?

[Dr Vinod]

Your heart rate increases by sympathetic/parasympathetic stimulation and in no way related to energy intake or no fat in your body.
Your body keeps glucose in blood and liver which are utilized initially then you need energy and it will come from glycogen,
When you are stiff the whole day and start running immediately then your sympathetic system increases the heart rate to pump in more blood, but slowly you level it perfectly as you are healthy.
Try warming up for some time before you switch on the aggresive (aggressive) way.
Take care!

[geezer466]

To shany25M

I am not a doctor, and I am certainly not an expert in exercise, but it occurs to me that you may be suffering from overtraining. If the doctors can't find anything, and you keep pushing harder and harder with no increase in performance, it sounds like over training.

Try doing nothing for 3, 4, or 6 weeks, then try easing back into it. I know its an ego buster (I fried an LT band once and missed a marathon, did nothing for weeks except annoy my wife, not fun). But it might help, and based on your overall fitness it won't hurt anything but your pride.

As I said I am not an expert, and free advice like this is worth what you pay for it.

Good luck, take care.

[roobsta]

You have described me pretty much exactly. I too am searching for an explanation. I'm 6ft3, 14stone / 92kg and 37yrs old.
I have always had a low resting rate, in the upper 30s, low 40s.
I have always enjoyed my sports and pushed hard, once I realised it was only pain and you could often go further longer and harder than you think, until the fuel actually runs out :) Particulary cycling / running / swimming.

Recently, I have suspected that I'm overtrained from reading things on the web. For 2years now, I have caught every virus going, and even had tonsilitis twice (never had it before!). When I go for a simple 5-10km run at very easy/snail pace, my heart is up in the 190s. I was using a Garmin forerunner, so I switched to my Polar 725, from the bike, and saw the same readings!
Perceived exertion not that high, but according to the monitors, really quite high indeed.
If I push it on a run now, I go over 200bpm, then have to stop to get my breath. Body and muscles feel OK, but heart and lungs just won't play ball.
I have an underlying feeling that something is up, I just need to find it.
I have raised creatin kinase enzyme 1200 (about 10 fold normal) even after a week off the exercise.
EMG tests on the muscles reveal that I have a higher proportion of short fibres, consistant with some sort of myopathy, but apparently within normal range.
I have a theory that heart muscle is being regenerated for some reason, and the new muscle is shorter and twitches faster causing a fast heart rate during mild exertion?

All theories welcome _ particularly interested in shany25m comments!

[KnLBurks]

I guess I'm in the same boat.  Was always active as a teenager and my heart rate was normal when exercising.  I have always had bad allergies (sneezing, etc) but now have mild asthma (diagnosed as an adult).  

My resting heart rate is still normal (between 60-80) but my heart rate jumps to 200 very quickly, making it very hard for me to do cardio (out of breath quickly).  So for the past few years, I've lifted weights instead.  

I was referred to a cardiologist where I did a stress test.  It went up to 200 as expected.  The doctor thought my heart looked great.  I got a second opinion as well and asked how I would know when to stop running, because I really wanted to do cardio.  They told me to stop when it hurt.  

Because I haven't done much cardio, my metabolism has suffered.  I didn't really like the answer I got and plan on going back to the doctor soon.  

My question for all of the others who are experiencing this... Do you have asthma or allergies?  What I'm thinking is that since the blood delivers oxygen to the body, perhaps this increase in heart rate is needed to get the amount of oxygen needed sent throughout the body.  This time around, I'm going to start with a pulmonary specialist.

[Dr Vinod]

Heart Rate can only stabilize with time and continous cardio exercise. You should have proper breakfast and a balanced diet. You can do till you are comfortable and the best part with you is you had a cardio examination and you have a healthy heart. Check the monitors in the place of your workouts. You should avoid all forms of allergies, Take care!

[Schisandraa]

Ladies, ladies, ladies- I'm 52 years old, 5'4" and 185 lbs., WAAAAY out of shape, but I just started using a treadmill at work and watching my pulse on it.  Today my pulse  maxed at 160 bpm, about the highest I've seen it.  I ran 2 miles at about 12 mpm.  I do not have a slow pulse normally.

WHO told the 33 y/o Paramedic she had to get her pulse down herself?  I'd say it takes a medical professional to help do that.  But my question to all of you young ladies who have high pulses- HOW MUCH CAFFEINE/STIMULANTS DO YOU USE?  I personally am not tolerant so I never have caffeine except occasional chocolate (which makes me nearly narcoleptic).  

If I were to try and lower my pulse I would do it thusly:
Decrease stimulants
Exercise daily & with a heart rate monitor watch or GPS
Meditation or Biofeedback
See ANOTHER doctor.  

My 2 cents. Good luck.
Schisandraa

[Dr Vinod]

Till your heart is functioning properly and all basic parameters are in normal range  and you are symptomless nothing to worry for all ages.
Associated medical problems like Diabtes and Hypertension causes problems and with increasing age eating healthy and keeping your system in normal ranges is always good for symptomless & doctor free living.
Take care!

[Schisandraa]

I'd said:

If I were to try and lower my pulse I would do it thusly:
Decrease stimulants
Exercise daily & with a heart rate monitor watch or GPS
Meditation or Biofeedback
See ANOTHER doctor.  

Dr. Vinod said:  Eat properly, which I agree and add to my list.

I thought of another last night:  GET ENOUGH SLEEP!  I used to work in EMS, hubby still does, and I know the lifestyle of you Paramedics!  Unreal!  Slow down!  I'm gonna repeat what I think I would do to decrease max pulse rate:

If I were to try and lower my pulse I would do it thusly:
Decrease stimulants
Exercise daily & with a heart rate monitor watch or GPS
Meditation or Biofeedback
Eat Properly
Get enough sleep and some R&R during the day.

[Dr Vinod]

Good post... and please add stress free living to it for complete good health.

[Schisandraa]

Lower my pulse list:

If I were to try and lower my pulse I would do it thusly:

Decrease stimulants
Exercise daily, with a heart rate monitor watch or GPS if possible
Meditation or Biofeedback
Eat Properly
Get enough sleep and some R&R during the day.
Decrease stress / stress management