Abnormally High Heart Rate

[gobl111n]

I am 29 years old, 6'5" and roughly 240lbs.  I am in great physical fitness, ex military, workout 4-5 times a week, and have a healthy diet.  I do not take any medication for anything.

Here is my question:  At rest my heart rate is roughly 90ish bpm.  When I do cardio at a moderate walking pace (3.0 at 8 incline) my heart rate holds steady at 160 bpm.  When I workout I break 180-190 pretty easily during sets.  When I run I break 200 and have gotten over 207 bpm on my heart rate monitor.  

Everything I read online points that this is due to poor physical shape or something cardiovascular.  That just is not the case here and I feel as if I cannot find any information on my particular case.  I am at a loss on what might or might not be wrong.  I do feel that this is abnormal and want to know what is going on.

I also have a family history of wolf parkinson white syndrone (extra nerve in the heart) but when I was EKG tested I did not have any symptoms of this.  

Please help!

[Jerry_NJ]

Good inputs (as usual) from "is_somnething..."

While much older than you and no longer I runner I can say I do have some matches, in my past.  When in my 50s I was 6'6" and weighted about 230 (maybe a bit more).  At that time I could run sum 10 minute (6 mph) miles on relatively level ground.  My HR was in the 150s, and I know know I had a leaky mitral valve at that time.  Later I developed (was diagnosed) with Atrial Fibrillation, a problem that seems to have an affinity for: older people (but some younger too), Tall people, and people who have a history of extreme physical exercise (marathon or triathlon types) .  I match on two of the points and am now in permanent AFib.  So I can't say what my HR would be if I was working out at your level, but I'd guess I could do the walking exercise at under 150 if I was in NSR.  At my age I better keep it under 150, and I rarely see a HR higher than 135. albeit I don't monitor it often.

A lot of extra to say I support your other input.  Check it out your physical condition suggests you should never have to go over (220 - 29)X0.9 =~ 170.  Using the familiar guideline yoiu may be familiar with.

Good luck, and let us know what your learn.  It may be you have a "small" cardiovascular system compared to your physical size.  Suggesting, don't overdue it on exercise.  Work longer but slower if you're trying to burn calories and maintain condition.  I've known (my son for one) some who are serious runners, competitive runners, and have a great emotional heart, but don't have the physical heart (Lungs) to be world class.

[is_something_wrong]

Could be that your blood pressure for some reason is low at the moment. If so, the heart must work harder to keep up with oxygen demand from your muscles.

I would recommend you to visit a doctor. He will probably do some blood tests, an EKG and maybe a stress test. Your symptoms couls be caused by lots of conditions, both physical and mental ones, and I'm not qualifies to diagnose you.

Suggestions could be low BP, electolyte imbalances, over-training, hyperthyroids, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, somatization disorders, anxiety, an infection you're not aware of, just to mention some. Only a doctor knows.

[gobl111n]

I want to say its new but through the military days I would have the same feelings after exercise and during.  I think with the heart rate monitor that I have now these things are showing their light so to say.

I dont think I am nervous during exercise and I keep very hydrated.

I do however have shortness of breath where I feel like I have to breath that much harder to get air in.  I do also get dizzy very frequently (and have many times in the past while exercising).  

As far as a regular heart rate while exercising. . I was paying close attention to this last night with my trainer.  My heart rate would peak at 170-180 during a set and within 1-2 mins after it would be back down to 130-120.  But like I said before I would get very dizzy and my head would feel swolen.

I have not had the cold or fly anytime recent that I can remember so hopefully that is not the case.  

I just want to make sure Im asking the doctor the right questions.  Ive searched and searched online to something, anything similar with no luck and I just dont want to have a heart attack just because of exercise.  

[is_something_wrong]

Is this new to you or have you always / often had a high heart rate while exercising? Some people do.

Could it be that you are nervous during exercise because the high heart rate is stuck on your mind?

Are you dehydrated?

If "no" to the questions I would strongly suggest you see your physician and that you get a stress EKG test done. If I were you I wouldn't exercise heavily until this is done. Do you have symptoms such as dizziness or shortness of breath? Is your heart rate regular while exercising?

Did you recently have a cold or a flu, or some other infection? In rare cases trivial infections can affect the heart and cause symptoms like those you mention. If that's the case you should NOT exercise. Heart inflammations would often cause other symptoms as well, but no need to take any chances.

It can be a good idea to see your physician concerning this. WPW would manifest with a sudden increase of heart rate, not a heart rate that's increasing too rapid.