Worried about heart @18

[violoncello]

Hi,

Well first off, here are my stats:
Age:18
Height:5'11"
Weight: 170
I am around average....I have little fat on my arms and legs, but I have a belly.

I started working out for the first time about two months ago. Lately I have been worrying that there is something wrong with my heart. Last year I thought I was having problems because I often felt my heart way too distinctly and felt thirsty and weak all of the time. I often had trouble falling asleep also. I got a ton of tests done (blood, ekg, 24 hour monitor, and something that resembled an ultrasound for the heart). My doctors insisted there was nothing wrong with me and eventually the symptoms went away.

Sorry for that long into but I just wanted to get out that I once thought I had a heart condition. Well my routine includes weights, then cardio. I do my cardio on an eliptical. My question is concerning how high my heart rate should be for how much work I do. I will often see an older person doing a similar thing while their heart rate is around 110, and mine will be 170. What I normally do it 20 min, which gets me about 1.8 miles. My heart rate peaks at 175ish but will stay around 165. Today I did 30 min and got 2.8 miles, with my heart rate topping at 175ish as well. Is this a very small distance and intensity to have such a high heart rate? I do vary the incline and resistance so that is also a factor.

When I run, I will run about a mile in 10-12 min depending on the day. I run 6.5 mph and my heart rate will go up to 180.

During my 5 min cool down, my heart rate will generally drop to 140.

I just need to know if this is a cause for concern. I feel like I am doing little work for how high my heart rate gets.

Thanks,
John

 

[Cynic]

If you're new to exercise, you're developing your energy system and stamina.

I wouldn't worry about 170. Your heartrate is 220 - age, making your theoretical max 202.

 

[jenn]

I agree with Cynic. If you are still concerned however..... I would look more at what your resting heart rate is = when you wake up before you get out of bed. I would also look at your blood pressure both just sitting for five minutes then after laying down for five minutes and then sitting for about 30 secs or so. I would also check your bp about 5 mins after exercising (including your cool down and thats 5 min of rest). Then I would look at any associated symptoms you have if any ( which it doesn't sound like you do) and go from there. However if you haven't be very active before and are just starting out now it takes time for the body to adjust and recondition.

 

[Blooming lotus]

If you're feeling weak and thirsty I suggest that maybe you just need more potassium.
It's potassium that makes your heart pump blood through your body which during exercise and in recovery, carries the oxygen , that's more needed at those times.
..maybe also lacking in glucogen ( muscle sugars) has something to do it with aswell.
try to incorperate no-fat milk drinks ( with milo is good for males) into your day and some fresh orange juice ( or strawberrys and tomatoes etc) and maybe sip on soda water every now and then. Soda water is also high in potassium and has other benits toward general well being also.