26m with hr @100 up to 2hrs after cardio

[SeanP03]

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.

[Rokit]

I had a triple bypass six months ago, despite being relatively young (mid 40s) and pretty fit (ran a half marathon in 1hr 45mins in 2007).

Started cardio rehab classes after three months, but got moved to the gym after four weeks because I was too fit.

However, despite weekly visits to the gym, and four-times weekly fast walking (sub-13-minute miles), my heart rate does a similar thing to yours and RowerLarry's from the previous discussion.

I get it up to 180+ in the gym, and it drops like a stone when I stop....back to 120 in under two minutes. However, it then levels out at 100 and stays there for two hours, unless I lie down, when it rapidly settles back in the 80s. In the morning it's in the high 50s to low 60s.

My heart was very irritated by surgery and raced along at 125bpm for several weeks post CABG, but the rhythm was normal and the surgeon wasn't at all worried.

I know it is hard....but I think not worrying is the key ingredient to a full recovery, If you're always thinking you're about to drop dead, it's hard to enjoy life in general, let alone exercise.

So don't sweat it. Just do it.

Rokit.

[Pum]

I think the important thing is that you are doing good things for your heart by exercising. you have had the tests that would show if there was a problem so it's probably just something that is normal for you or something that will reduce as you get fitter. If you are anxious at all about your heart-rate it will do this ie stay high. I had a very similar problem that is much better now I make sure I'm hydrated before exercising (I drink 2 glasses of water), have reduced anxiety, and am fitter.

Try to not focus on it and just enjoy your exercise.

Take care.