I am a 50 yr old female, obese, high blood pressure, otherwise generally healthy. For most of my life I have had high pulse rate, resting or not. I have not always been overweight but have had high blood pressure since my early 20's. I was in emerg in my 20's with tachycardia (125+ bpm) while stressed. My resting pulse rate is around 80 and over. It's not hard to find my pulse at 118 while shopping. I started using the elliptical at the gym in January and have been going minimum 2 times per week. I workout from 15 to 30 minutes. I monitor my heart rate while doing so. I don't have to work hard at all to maintain a heart rate of about 136 or so and I may start to puff a little at 142 or so. If I am to follow the charts for exercise zones, and to not exceed my maximum heart rate, I am working in the anaerobic (hardcore training) range. I want to work in the weight control to the aerobic/cardio training range but I am barely working to keep my heart rate in the appropriate range. I sweat quite a bit but I don't puff much. My feet fall asleep after about 10 to 15 minutes as well. I am a bit afraid to keep exercising as I don't want to force a heart attack. I don't know what I should do next. I need the exercise but is it dangerous? I get palpitations but not only when I am exercising. I've mentioned my high pulse and palpitations to my doctors before and have had a holter over night which only showed the occasional pvc I believe. Suggestions on course of action?