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?

[vamfiera]

my resting heartrate is 90. so if i subtract that from 180, I get 90. So, how do I even exercise at all? I have HBP & must lose weight so I started to try to workout, & I say 'try' because after 1 minute of just walking slowly my heartrate is up to 130 & I get chest tightening & pains. suggestions?

[SheraldF]

I don't know as an expert, but I had similar "feelings"some number of years ago.  It turned out that I had a collapsed artery.  We were not able to determine that without having an angiogram.  Angioplasty was performed while we were in, and was fine for almost 10 years.  Finally had to have stents inserted, and have been excellent for about 7 years more.  I would get a second opinion.  I Had three opinions before the final cardiologist said there was no way to be sure without an Angiogram.  He was right. I am also on Metoprolol Succinate ER (Toprol generic) 25mg, plus Lipitor.  I am 66 years old, walk 4.5 miles in under an hour "every" day.  I take my meds religiously, and watch my diet (to some extent).  Feel great.

[ashlieann]

So i kind of have the same problem as everyone else but its a little different. I'm 20 years old, 4'11 and 120 pounds, I already have been diagnosed with a irregular heart beat and have a mediatronic chip implanted in my chest to monitor my heart beat so the doctors can figure out what goes on when i sometimes pass out (my cardiologist hasnt been working too hard to find out whats the real problem) Anyways i just got a gym membership and noticed the machines keep turning off on me because my heart rate gets maxed out within LITTERALLY 2 minutes of walking on the treadmill. I even met with a personal trainer to figure out what excersizes would be best for my high heart rate and she basically told me just to diet and go on short walks, ya again not alot of help! i feel fine when i work out i know my limits to when im going to pass out i just want to know if i ignore my heart rate what is the worst thing that could happen to me?...

[CJConrad]

I am a 56 yo male, 6'0", 210 lbs (was abt 225 for awhile) never smoked, minor alcohol during college years, tea-totaller until two years ago, now a glass of red wine each of about 5 days per week.  Was very, very active in college, but career led me to become fairly sedentary.  Always had a low resting heart rate (now 58-60 when I wake up before getting out of bed).  I have PVCs -- I sometimes have a "run" of these that lasts maybe 10 seconds that will leave me light-headed and anxious, but I've learned to recognize what it is and relax through it.  I sometimes had these 1-2 times per week, but much less frequently now (and was rarely related to exertion).  I had exhaustive heart tests (stress, nuclear, etc) about seven months ago and was found to be "out of shape" but no real problems.

Enough background ...

Anyway, I was 220 lbs again two months ago, and decided to: (a) cut out most red meat from my diet; (b) cut all carbonated beverages (I don't drink coffee, and rarely have tea); (c) eliminate nearly all sweets/desert (well, *sometimes* I treat myself to an ice cream).  I still eat cheese and other non-healthy things.  I also started back on the treadmill.  Always 30 minutes, with a base rate of 4.0mph, with 2 to 3 short sprints (7.0mph for 1 to 1.5 minutes, stopping when I just can't go any more).  My heart gets to about 110bpm after about 6 mins at 4.0, which is when I generally do my first sprint.  It reaches about 151, then I go back to 4.0, and it settles after a minute or two to about 116bpm.  About 5 mins later, I repeat, and the heart goes to about 156, then settles to about 120-122bpm. I am soaked in sweat after the second sprint.  If it gets back under 120, I'll do another sprint, but then it will only settle to about 124 and not lower.

Last night, I was on my second sprint and it hit 162 after 1.24 min.  I slowed to 4.0, expecting it to settle back as usual. This time, however, it took longer to slow, went down to 156bpm, then started rising again to 163 and wouldn't lower (my breathing, though, was recovering some).  I felt a bit light-headed, stopped and laid down.  It did settle, of course, but it scared me.  Am I over-doing it?

I have lost 10 lbs (to 210), but want to lose another 20 and strengthen my heart.

Thanks in advance!

[Ariben]

I bought a heart monitor a week ago. I'm 39 and more or less fit, so I should have a MHR around 181. My minimum heart rate is 56-58. Well, I start jogging, and I'm 160. When running at my average level, 5:40 min/Km I'm +185, and when I go uphill, it goes well +200. I can assure you I'm totally OK, really confortable. Those formulae to calculate the MHR must give an average, but there is obviously a very wide range over and under that level. My conclusion is that a lot of people must be very under or over training.

[newbie496]

Can someone tell me why when testing heart rate during exercise - someones heart rate can be higher before light exercise then after?