High heart-rate while exercising

Hi, I'm a 26yo female around 15-20pounds overweight.
I have slightly to high blood pressure (usually around 135 / 90) and my resting heart rate is usually around 85-90.

When I exercise my heart rate goes waaaaaay up. Just while walking 1.5 mile (in 30min) my heart rate went all the way up to 182bpm. The average herat rate was 143bpm. When I'm doing something a little bit more extreme it can go up to 200 and the average is around 160bpm.

Should I be worried about this or is it just because I'm a little out of shape? My resting heart rate has always been around 90bpm even if I've been in a realy good shape. And should I just walk for now or is it ok to do something more difficult like ice-hockey or jogging?

Is it possible that I have POTs? When I sit my heart rate is 85-90 but when I stand up it goes to 120 within 2 minutes but than it goes down to around 110.

Thanks! :)

[cindy707]

The basic standard scale for reading your max heart rate or target rate for exercising or physical activity is that you take your age and deduct it from the number 220 altho docs prefer you to stay at about 85% of that.  I don't think that i would be too worried but you can always call your doc and run this all past them...what you may think is way up really may not be the case when at the gym or exercising...good luck and congrats on the work outs...

[RNRita]

I have a baseline high resting heart rate as well.  I take 25 mg of atenolol and have been for 20+ years.  When I exercise, my HR doesn't go above the 130s.  I tried to go off the atenolo; because I was in such good shape.  Did the stress test on the treadmill and my HR went up high really quickly.  They advised I go back on the atenolol.  I guess because I was in good condition and it happened.  However, when it happened and I hadn't been exercising years ago, they told me I was just out of condition.  Can be from either.  I never found a fast HR very comfortable, but that is just me. I prefer the 130s while exercising, but maybe I'm weird.

[Hrafnhildur]

Thanks for these answers :) I'm on a diet and trying to exercise and my cardiologist will revalue my "condition" in 3 months.
I don't really expect much improvement since my resting hr has always been high and I've had borderline hypertension for years.

But one more thing.. When I take a hot shower or a bath my heart rate also goes up and sometimes it gets so irregular that I can't even count it. When I've been able to messure it, it's been between 140-160bpm and I get out of breath and dizzy.
Does that indicate something or just heat-intolerance?

[littlegreenman1]

That max heart rate calc is for the birds. Every individual is different. Just checked my heart rate, I've been sitting for an hour: 54bpm. I average 165-ish when running at pace and my max HR is somewhere about 200 @ age 42.

Based on the rules of thumb and zones - I would not be able sustain a run.

The thing is: does that HR spike and slow INSTANTLY? 180 is HIGH for a walker - unless you're out there REALLY thumping it.

Since you know your HR dead on, I presume you're using a HRM.  Here's what SVT looks like on a Garmin:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/32997723

This is an average short run with "exertion." Trying to stretch, but not racing - after ablation.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/52569016

[Srwade88]

I was sprinting today and my heart rate was 224. Im 32 and am 6'1" 250. I normally run 9 to 12 miles a week consistently. My RHR is around 52. Is that bad? I'm haven't sprinted in months and months. No pain or dizziness or anything. Any thoughts??