Max heart rate when exercising

[Nipper60]

Having read a few articles it would appear that although I’m not really pushing myself on the rowing machine my pulse rate is higher than the recommended level. Compared to the 220 minus age calculation my ppm is around 150% of the recommended rate, even though I’m rowing at around 80% of my maximum speed. I row for 10 minutes as part of my regular circuit and don’t find myself short of breath or really sweating that much at the end. I’m heading towards retirement and don’t want to risk future health problems but feel that if I drop down to the recommended pulse rate when exercising it’ll hardly be worth it.

[Hidden]

I suggest you talk to the BHF Heart Helpline nurse as under about your heart rate situation. You might have a medical condition which gives a high heart rate during exercise, and I would have thought it advisable to have this checked out.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[Hrty]

I agree with the others and that you should talk to someone ahout it. The figure may well need adjustment for meds and any health condition. I asked at rehab and the nurse worked mine out as 112. On the 220-age calculation I'd be 108 (I'm 63)! Mind you, I was struggling to get it over 100 during exercise but I was getting up from a RHR of 40-50.I've now stopped Bisoprolol, following a review on Weds, so will be asking for a new figure as I want to push a bit harder during exercise. I've lost weight but want to recover the fitness I've lost through not being able (allowed) to swim or walk very far.

[Hjiu in reply to Hrty]

Can I ask under what circumstances we're you given the go ahead to come off bisoprolol? I'm on 1.25mg, my resting HR is around 55-60. I do struggle with dizziness from bisoprolol but the cardiologist wants to keep me on them.

[Hrty in reply to Hjiu]

My rhr was averaging out around 40 but often dropping into low 30s. I was struggling with fatigue, dizziness and brain fog. Real effort to get out of bed some mornings. The rehab nurse had commented on it last week when she took a reading at the start and it was 43 and that was just after I'd walked up from the car park. The low readings weren't just whilst sleeping but happened throughout the day. Had I been asymptomatic with the low rate it would have been less of an issue I suspect. I feel a lot better in myself, wife says I'm more "with it" and my rhr is getting back up to pre Ha levels of around 50-60.

[Andyman]

My resting heart rate is about 45. I struggle to get my heart rate above 120 when exercising flat out. I'm 69. The calculation doesn't work for me.

[CyclingTime]

I'm 60 and using the formula I have seen mine works out to be 161 which is about where I get to flat out.I follow a lot of cycling and the top athletes are usually only in the @180 area flat out. If yours is that high then as someone recommended you need to speak to the doctor

[Prada47]

I was told Medication plays a large part in your Heart Rate ie Bisoprolol which is to Slow it down and block Adrenalin.

I have to ask the question Why do you want to get to your Max H R when everything points to you needing to be slowing your Heart Rate Down ?? Being Fit is not Necessarily being Healthy, There is a reason when we get Older that we can't get to the HR we used to when we were Young and Fit and Healthy, AGE lol which comes to all of us !!!

You need to understand what you are trying to achieve when you are Training is it for the Aerobic System or are you Training for Anaerobic exercise Aerobic is 60-70% of Max HR to be in the Anaerobic Zone 80-90% of Max HR.

Just another point which I am sure most people will have been told

For Moderate intensity you should be able to Talk but not Sing during the exercise.

For Vigorous intensity you'll not be able to say more than a few words before pausing for Breath

Regards

[Laurap18]

You should ask your consultant. My resting heart rate is about 80. A few days ago I went to the gym and I did 10 minutes of stair master and my heart rare went to 197. When I told my cardiologist he told me that, as long as the heart rate increases and decreases slowly and I feel fine, I shouldn't be worried. Obviously if you feel dizzy or extremely out of breath stop. So I felt relived but I am still trying to keep my heart rate to maximum 180. But this is me, for you it could be different. It's always better to ask the doctor 🙂

[Hrty]

That scale looks very similar to the one we use at Rehab.

[Norton]

Hi

I don’t know if once rehab is finished we will be advised to calculate how hard we are working our hearts during exercise differently but when I asked about the heart rate during exercise the rehab team (Scotland) said they don’t use 220-age only the BORG scale they have actually added the descriptions utilising Scottish phrases like a doodle, a skoosh, bae bother, pechin, puggled and knackered 😀 advised to work between 3-5 on Borg scale

[Purpled]

I was told by cardio team that I should try to reach my target heart rate not my maximum. Which is 220 minus age then it’s 67%-76% of that that was the range the told me to exercise to.

[Hjiu]

I had a STEMI 15 months ago at 44. I'm not sure if I had high blood pressure before the HA but my cholesterol was 9.2. I have since changed my lifestyle completely. I eat well and exercise every day. I'm not overweight at 5'11" 76kg. I just feel that bisoprolol are hindering me rather than helping.

[Hjiu]

I was fortunate to only suffer minimal to no damage. This is why I'm questioning the reason as to why I'm kept on the beta blockers. I know that after an event such as a HA, you are put on a cocktail of drugs as standard but this doesn't suit all. I currently jog 5k 4 nights a week along with upper and lower body strength training at the gym. I feel like bisoprolol hinder me. Anyway, I will talk to my cardiologist about coming off them on my next visit. I also feel that the cardio rehab syatem that is currently in place is outdated and not aimed at people such as myself who have had a HA at a younger age than most. Even though it did help me mentally more than physically.

[Hjiu]

I've been under the cardiologist for 15 months now. I see them every 3 months.