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Low resting heart rate, high exercise heart rate
Boynebarb posted:
I am 62, 128 lbs., female. I just recently decided to see what my heart rate is. My resting heart rate ranges from 49 to 55. I run 3.5 miles or ride a bike 20 miles almost every day and have been doing this or similar exercise daily for many years. When I run, I can't keep my bpm below 150, no matter how slowly I run. If I go at a faster but still comfortable pace, it goes up to 167. On my bike, at 12-13 mph, my Bpm was 145, but I was breathing easily through my nose. I don't get dizzy, fatigued or out of breath, in fact I feel great during and after exercise. All the advice says 140 is the maximum level I should exercise at. Do I need to see a doctor, and if so, what kind?
3 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Low resting heart rate, high exercise heart rateI am 62, 128 lbs., female. I just recently decided to see what my heart rate is. My resting heart rate ranges from 49 to 55. I run 3.5 miles or ride a bike 20 miles almost every day and have been doing this or similar exercise daily for many years. When I run, I can't keep my bpm below 150, no matter how slowly I run. If I go at a faster but still comfortable pace, it goes up to 167. On my bike, at 12-13 mph, my Bpm was 145, but I was breathing easily through my nose. I don't get dizzy, fatigued or out of breath, in fact I feel great during and after exercise. All the advice says 140 is the maximum level I should exercise at. Do I need to see a doctor, and if so, what kind?
Rich Weil, MEd, CDE responded:
Hi Boynebarb,
You're working at 95% of your maximum when it's over 150. Some people have naturally high heart rates during exercise, but 95% is very high for sustained periods. First is to make sure this is accurate. If you're taking it manually then you should have someone check it for you. If it's with a heart rate monitor make sure the contacts on the straps are clean, and confirm it's accurate by having someone take it manually. If indeed it's a true heart rate, then you should speak with your primary care physician about a stress test to make sure everything is okay. In fact, you should discuss this issue with your doctor no matter what you do. Vagal tone is one part of the nervous system that controls how high heart rate goes during exercise. You can search for that online to learn more about it.
As for the range your heart rate should be at, I recommend the heart rate reserve method. Here's the formula and an example of the method for someone 27 years-old, assuming a resting heart rate of 70bpm, and a training range of 70%. If you plug in other values, you can get other ranges.
1) 220-Age = Max HR
2) Subtract resting heart rate from Max HR = Heart Rate Reserve (HRR)
3) multiply HRR times percent you want to train at
4) Add back resting heart rate.
Assuming a resting heart rate of 70bpm, 27 years old, and 70% training range:
220 - 27 = 193
193 - 70 = 123
123 x .70% = 86
86 70 = 156
Go ahead and give your doctor a call. You're asking about it and right to be concerned, and so your doctor should know what's going on.
Take care, Rich
You're working at 95% of your maximum when it's over 150. Some people have naturally high heart rates during exercise, but 95% is very high for sustained periods. First is to make sure this is accurate. If you're taking it manually then you should have someone check it for you. If it's with a heart rate monitor make sure the contacts on the straps are clean, and confirm it's accurate by having someone take it manually. If indeed it's a true heart rate, then you should speak with your primary care physician about a stress test to make sure everything is okay. In fact, you should discuss this issue with your doctor no matter what you do. Vagal tone is one part of the nervous system that controls how high heart rate goes during exercise. You can search for that online to learn more about it.
As for the range your heart rate should be at, I recommend the heart rate reserve method. Here's the formula and an example of the method for someone 27 years-old, assuming a resting heart rate of 70bpm, and a training range of 70%. If you plug in other values, you can get other ranges.
1) 220-Age = Max HR
2) Subtract resting heart rate from Max HR = Heart Rate Reserve (HRR)
3) multiply HRR times percent you want to train at
4) Add back resting heart rate.
Assuming a resting heart rate of 70bpm, 27 years old, and 70% training range:
220 - 27 = 193
193 - 70 = 123
123 x .70% = 86
86 70 = 156
Go ahead and give your doctor a call. You're asking about it and right to be concerned, and so your doctor should know what's going on.
Take care, Rich
Report This| Share this:Low resting heart rate, high exercise heart rateHi Boynebarb,<br /> <br />You're working at 95% of your maximum when it's over 150. Some people have naturally high heart rates during exercise, but 95% is very high for sustained periods. First is to make sure this is accurate. If you're taking it manually then you should have someone check it for you. If it's with a heart rate monitor make sure the contacts on the straps are clean, and confirm it's accurate by having someone take it manually. If indeed it's a true heart rate, then you should speak with your primary care physician about a stress test to make sure everything is okay. In fact, you should discuss this issue with your doctor no matter what you do. Vagal tone is one part of the nervous system that controls how high heart rate goes during exercise. You can search for that online to learn more about it. <br /> <br />As for the range your heart rate should be at, I recommend the heart rate reserve method. Here's the formula and an example of the method for someone 27 years-old, assuming a resting heart rate of 70bpm, and a training range of 70%. If you plug in other values, you can get other ranges.<br /> <br />1) 220-Age = Max HR <br /> <br />2) Subtract resting heart rate from Max HR = Heart Rate Reserve (HRR)<br /> <br />3) multiply HRR times percent you want to train at<br /> <br />4) Add back resting heart rate.<br /> <br />Assuming a resting heart rate of 70bpm, 27 years old, and 70% training range:<br /> <br />220 - 27 = 193<br /> <br />193 - 70 = 123<br /> <br />123 x .70% = 86<br /> <br />86 70 = 156 <br /><br /><br /><br /> <br />Go ahead and give your doctor a call. You're asking about it and right to be concerned, and so your doctor should know what's going on.<br /> <br />Take care, Rich
An_246179 replied to Rich Weil, MEd, CDE's response:
Dear Dr. Rich,
Shouldn't this formula continue as in the following:
156 '/, 193 = 80% = Maximum training rate desired for anyone at any age.
Shouldn't this formula continue as in the following:
156 '/, 193 = 80% = Maximum training rate desired for anyone at any age.
Report This| Share this:Low resting heart rate, high exercise heart rateDear Dr. Rich,<br />Shouldn't this formula continue as in the following:<br /> <br />156 '/, 193 = 80% = Maximum training rate desired for anyone at any age.
Hi An,
First, there should be a plus sign between 86 and 70 86 70=156. You've asked a good question, but no, 156 is 70% of the maximum. In the equations you see where I multiplied 123 times .70%. If I used .80% in that place then that would be 80%. This is the heart rate reserve method (HRR), not a straight percent of maximum. HRR considers resting heart rate because a straight percentage assumes the heart rate goes down to zero, which obviously it does not. You can search for Heart Rate Reserve or the Karvonen formula to learn more. I hope that helps.
Take care,
Rich
First, there should be a plus sign between 86 and 70 86 70=156. You've asked a good question, but no, 156 is 70% of the maximum. In the equations you see where I multiplied 123 times .70%. If I used .80% in that place then that would be 80%. This is the heart rate reserve method (HRR), not a straight percent of maximum. HRR considers resting heart rate because a straight percentage assumes the heart rate goes down to zero, which obviously it does not. You can search for Heart Rate Reserve or the Karvonen formula to learn more. I hope that helps.
Take care,
Rich
Report This| Share this:Low resting heart rate, high exercise heart rateHi An,<br /> <br />First, there should be a plus sign between 86 and 70 86 70=156. You've asked a good question, but no, 156 is 70% of the maximum. In the equations you see where I multiplied 123 times .70%. If I used .80% in that place then that would be 80%. This is the heart rate reserve method (HRR), not a straight percent of maximum. HRR considers resting heart rate because a straight percentage assumes the heart rate goes down to zero, which obviously it does not. You can search for Heart Rate Reserve or the Karvonen formula to learn more. I hope that helps.<br /> <br />Take care,<br />Rich
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