Heart Rate while exercising

D

dilbert

New member
I am 46 yrs old
so 220-46 174 is max heart rate

I have read that exercise should not exceed 85% of your max heart rate.

I use a treadmill and I have been doing speed intervals.

a 30 minute session with low speed of 3.8 mph and top speed of 5.2 and some variances in between.

My heart rate starting may be low 70s but by the end I hit 165. Is this dangerous? I have been doing an easier interval at times as it makes me nervous.
 
I don't think it is dangerous, as long as you have a healthy heart.

I have a history of heart valve disease, arrhythmias and heart failure and my cardologist told me that there are "no longer any limits" for me after my latest stress test. :smash:

I would think that 85% is what is achievable during a "sustainable" level of exercise, while anything higher than that is only possible for shorter periods of time.

-edit-

Well look what I found...


Overview
Maximum heart rate occurs during extremely strenuous physical activity. It is the maximum number of times your heart beats in one minute. Knowing your maximum heart rate allows you to calculate the appropriate level of intensity you should aim for during exercise.

Calculating
To obtain a true maximum heart rate you must go through a physically demanding activity, like a stress test. During a maximal workload test, you are medically monitored, with particular effort placed on monitoring your heart rate and rhythm. During that test, your heart rate will increase as the intensity increases. Eventually, your heart rate will plateau, which usually coincides with physical fatigue. The heart rate at that plateau is your true maximum heart rate, or MHR.

Estimating
Because many people don't get the opportunity to have their true maximum heart rate measured, a variety of formulas have been developed that predict maximum heart rate based on age. The most widely used formula is the simple 220 minus your age. This equation has been used for decades, but the American College of Sports Medicine notes that it is widely variable. It tends to underestimate those under the age of 40, and overestimates those over the age of 40. ACSM recommends the formula of 206.9 -- (0.67 X age) as a more accurate method.

MHR and Exercise
Maximum heart rate helps in calculating the intensity at which you should exercise to obtain cardiovascular benefits. This level of intensity is known as your target heart rate zone.



Target heart rate is the zone where you want your heart rate to be while exercising. The Cleveland Clinic suggests training between 60 and 80 percent of your maximum heart rate, while the American Heart Association suggests 60 to 85 percent. To calculate your training zone take your maximum heart rate--either actual or age-predicted--and multiply it by 0.60. This will give you the lower end of your training range. Then take your maximum heart rate and multiply it by 0.80 or 0.85, which will give you the upper end of your training zone.

Training Response
The more conditioned you are, the lower your maximum heart rate will be. With exercise, your heart becomes stronger and more efficient. The stronger it becomes the more oxygenated blood it pumps out with each beat. Because the heart can get more blood and oxygen to the working muscles with each beat, it doesn't need to beat as fast, therefore resulting in lower heart rates.

Warnings
The Cleveland Clinic warns that there is little benefit to exercising at greater than 85 percent of your maximum heart rate. The risks of cardiac and orthopedic injuries far outweigh the benefits. The American Heart Association also notes that many medications, like beta blockers and blood pressure medications, can affect your maximum heart rate. Talk with your physician about setting appropriate target heart rates before beginning any exercise program.
 
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Have you checked with your doc about this? I am certainly no expert, but I can say my doc cleared me for 85-90%, after a recent heart attack. So, if I approach 90%, I scale back.
 
Thanks for the info.

I talked to my doctor about it this week. He said hitting heart rate of 160 should be okay just don't let it hit 180 he said.

I am getting more comfortable with my harder workout now as I did the same interval as last time and

my max heart rate was 155 for about 20-30 secs near the end of the run

I will do it again today and see if I can do it with out breaking 150!
 
I'm 36 so 220-36 = 184 for me. My at rest heart rate is 55.

I ran this morning and assuming the treadmill monitor is correct my heart rate was 185-188 at the end of the hour. I felt fantastic during the run and I don't think I was damaging myself with a high pulse.

I don't check during the run but only at the end. I'd guess it shoots up to 160-170 pretty fast though and then ticks up over time to +/-185

Typically on the warm down my heart rate drops from about 180 to 120 in 4-5 minutes.
 
I don't measure my heart rate while working out.

Once I start sweating, that's when my time starts. So if I go to workout for 45 min and it takes me 5 min to start sweating, well I workout for 50 min lol.
I'm sure my heart rate was already up but this is my style and my own way ^_^

But I can understand being cautious of a maximum rate. Especially if you have or had heart problems.
 
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