I'm a 26 year old male in relatively good health I'm 5'9" and 230lbs (I know that sounds like I'm out of shape but i used to be a power lifter and have a lot of muscle on my frame) I'm genetically predisposed to heart disease i.e. my father and grand father had hypertension, high cholesterol and both have had heart attacks. I was also diagnosed hypertensive when I was 24 and have been on 80mg of Diovan since, my cholesterol is only slightly elevated 3 or 4 points off the norm.
I was a smoker for 10 years (recently quit)
I take fish oil and an 81mg asprin daily along with a fiber supplement, and eat healthy.
My issue is that I'm trying to strengthen my heart so that I don't have to be concerned as much with heart disease as I get older and I am avidly working on my cardio on an eliptical. my routine is 35-60mins 6 days a week (depending on the day) at a medium pace and my HR stays around 155-170 and I always do a 5-8min cool down. however, after my workout my HR stays at around 95-105BPM for at least 1 to 2 hrs and resting HR normally of 75-80BPM.
I've had every work up imaginable
EKG, stress echo, blood work, echo cardiogram, all of which say I have a structurally normal heart and normal rhythms.
Why is it taking so long to go back to resting HR?
Is my heart that out of shape?
Is this any cause for concern?
And what can I do to fix it i.e. less intensity, duration etc
or am I just freaking out for no reason and I just need to give it time for my heart to get into good shape?
Thanks
Sean
This discussion is related to
elevated HR after exercise.