Heart Rate and Exercise

[MichelleP_3811]

I have a generally high heart rate.  Since I have fallen into a pvc cycle my heart rate is even more high.  Normally when I exercise/run it can get up into the 150s maybe 160s.  Now if I go full out it is getting up into the 170s and 180s.  So my question is how high is too high when exercising or does it not matter?

[is_something_wrong]

Just my personal opinion: I think everyone with slight obsession about their heart rhythm (and that would probably be most of us here ;) should sell their heart rate monitors. Personally, I've never used one and I never will.

I know several top athletes that never use them, even if they are not obsessed with their heart rhythm. I can't understand what benefits they provide. If I'm out  exercising, I walk or jog at a comfortable speed, which is determined by my condition or just if I have a good day or a bad day. There are probably several other factors as well; your blood pressure, fluid intake, how much (or if) you eat before exercise, and most important, if you are afraid your heart rate will be high when you run, it will.

What is important is:
1. That you don't feel dizzy while exercising
2. That you aren't abnormally out of breath.
3. That you don't have chest pain while exercising
4. That you don't feel an irregular heart rate while exercising.

From when I felt the temptation of using the pulse monitor on my threadmill, I know that some days my heart rate could be 150 while running and other days (if I exercised after a stressful day, etc) it could be 180.

Some people have a slow heart and some people have a rapid heart rate. My dad (60 y/o) will never get his heart rate above 120. My mom (also 60 y/o) will easily have a heart rate of 180 while running.

Let your body tell you when your heart rate is too high, not a stupid watch. That's just my opinion.

[MichelleP_3811]

Thanks Gothic.  Its nice to hear someone who has a similar heart rate.  I think I read somewhere that women's hearts beat faster then men's as a general rule.  I know my pvcs are why my heart rate is higher than normal but just wanted to be certain I wasn't doing any damage.  Thanks for your support.

[gothic_beauty]

My heart rate gets very high when I exercise: when I walk briskly it can get up to 140, and when I run it's anywhere from 160 to 185 depending on how fast I'm going. I used the same equation mentioned here, and when my numbers didn't fit, I thought I had a big problem. However, I've had a stress test done, and an assurance that there is nothing wrong with me. Exercise heart rates vary a lot between people, and official equations such as the one you have employed are meant to represent the average, not the universal rule. That being said, it sounds like there is nothing wrong with you. As long as your heart is healthy, you can exercise without fear. Get moving, girl!!

[MichelleP_3811]

When I exert myself it goes up normally but it stays high unless I completely stop.  Once I stop though it drops fairly quickly.  So I think it is acting normal.  I didn't use to have pvcs as bad as I have them now.  My heart is kind of acting erratic but I know now when the pvcs are acting up I am about 10-20 beats higher than I normally am when doing anything and I would say it rises quicker than it should as well so I will take it slow when they are firing since I also am getting shortness of breath.  I am only about 6 weeks out of an ablation for avnrt so the doctor is hoping with some more distance things will sort themselves out.  So I will take it easy on myself until then.  Thanks for your advice.  Hopefully one day I can put the monitor away as well.

[littlegreenman1]

By linear, I mean: as you increase exertion your HR goes up and when you decrease exertion your HR lowers and you are able to recover in "normal time."

I was ablated over a year ago, and I've quit using the HRMonitor. TMI. Listenn to your body.

[MichelleP_3811]

When I was trying to do research online to find what is a dangerous exercising heart rate I saw that equation.  And that for certain types of workouts it is only a percent of that number.   have to admit I never investigated the proper way to cardio train and when I tried the equation I actually found it hard to keep my heart rate that low without stopping.  They gave me an instrution book when I got the eliptical but I never read it.  Just got on and started running.  Anyways, the run has always invigorated me now that I am not doing caffine and I never felt adverse affects from being at 170 since my normal heart rate is on the higher side.  But I will slow it down a bit since 170 is technically too high according to the formula.  Hopefully if the pvcs pass I can get back down to 150-160.  

[MichelleP_3811]

If by linear you mean working out on the eliptical that is what I do.  I do it though like a sprint.  Pretty steady.  I don't feel in any danger around 170 but once it started to push 180 I thought I should make sure I am not hurting myself.  I never got that high before the pvcs became a problem so just wanted to be sure I wasn't hurting myself.  Well I think I will keep it to a jog until the pvcs pass just to be sure.  Thanks for your advice.

[littlegreenman1]

I would not worry about the HR.

I take it you're an experienced runner? Just do what your body tells you.

If that HR goes to 180 and is linear (vs exertion) going up and down... and you're comfortable... go with it.

My Garmin average is about 165-170  - I'm 42 years old. I can hit 180 pretty easily. I'll maintain 180 in race situations 10k and under.

[suzy74601]

I think thats a tad high?  I think it depends on your body.  Take 220 minus your age and thats suppose to be your max heart rate.  I could be wrong but that is the impression I got from reading and my cardio.