Calling BG Cardiology!

[sephir]

I've been using a HRM for various endurance sports for a few months in an attempt to determine my Aerobic and Anaerobic zones (I was sucessful at doing this). Recently I have begun sharing this information with a coach I hired last month. During the initial testing phase he was shocked at how high my heart rate goes during exercise (even low intensity stuff). I am 22 years old and my maximum heart rate is 199BPM. However, I am able to carry on a convorsation with someone without breathing heavily or without too much physical strain while maintaining a heart rate of 180BPM. Many of my teammates who are the same age and physical condition as I am are on the floor and completely spent at 180BPM.


My blood pressure is perfectly normal and my resting heart rate is 52BPM. But the instant I do any sort of exercise beyond something as relaxing as walking around my heart rate shoots up to about 120 to 140.


Any thoughts on why this could be? Should I be worried about this? I usually do about 20 hours of exercise a week, with 12-15 hours being very intense activities, and eat a fairly healthy diet.

[Naggi]

I'm not sure why you've come on a forum to ask about this, since none of us could properly assess you over the internet. I would say go to your GP, because unless a qualified medical doctor is browsing this forum, your post will not receive meaningful responses.

[Chun Liroy]

I'll give you a meaningful response: You're going to die.

[antihero]

cancer

[Restrat]

If you are within the normal range of bpm for your age/physique you don't have much to worry about.

[Tyche]

your resting heart rate is your heart rate the instance you wake from slumber. That's the point in which your heart is the least active. So stick your heart rate monitor on and go to sleep. Check it when you open your eyes. Just by getting up and walking around, it's going to increase from that number significantly. My HR is 92 just sitting in my computer chair. As endurance and fitness increases are made, your heart should be able to maintain a normal load with less BPM. The heart is a muscle, it becomes more efficient. Low intensity exercise shouldn't put you within 5% of max.

[Holly Short]

Lupus

[happydude]

goto a fucking doctor?

[Dimmauk]

What kinds of supplements are is the OP taking? Sometimes that can cause increases in heart rates.

[sephir]

Just coffee.


My family doctor is extremely difficult to deal with, I'm trying to move to a different one but there is a lack of GP in my area - not to mention ones that are taking patients.


I'm not super concerned about it, but it is something worth understanding at least. I posted here just incase someone else has something similar, or knows someone who has something similar.

[Tristam]

HRM is at least partially hereditary, many people I used to train with would consistently get above 200, myself included, so your range isn't anything too uncommon. Are you worried about what happens during light activity? 180+ doing light jogging or walking seems very odd.

slowtwitch.com would be a good place to dig up some info.

[Blubbartron]

Clearly you were born with a rare genetic gift that gives you the ability to bend the ballistic trajectory of bullets. My minor knowledge of biology aside, it's my understanding that your heart beats faster in response to muscles needing more oxygen in order to get energy. If your heart rate skyrockets instantly, I suppose it could be indicative of an oxygenation problem, but your lungs are doing fine if you can carry on a conversation. That leaves a blood problem, in my mind. Hemoglobin failing to carry oxygen? I dunno, I'm pulling shit out of my ass. See a doctor, shit's unnatural.

[Mikelee0351]

Although I'm not a doctor, I am an EMT though... Basically disclaimer saying I don't know what I'm talking about.

But I have a very similar thing when I exercise as well, when I get good and going and can start to feel the strain I am riding about mid 190's. I have gotten as high as 203 but I can't sustain it long as it's beyond the limits of my in-shapeness.

I recently got hired by a fire department, and as part of the hiring process I was sent to an extremely detailed physical at the university in the city I was hired by. They hooked me up to a 12-lead (EKG) and had me run on a treadmill. They were kinda surprised about how my HR got so high so quickly and that it didn't bother me, but they said it's not a huge deal.

(My opinion) I'm guessing that's it's something that isn't very common, but also not something to be concerned about. I mean, I still got cleared to become a firefighter.

Edit: 170-180 HR is also a joke for me, that barely get's me breathing hard

[Shazaam]

I am a Paramedic/RN and I work in an ER in one of the busiest hospitals in my area. I am also still in school working on my master's degree and am contemplating either continuing on to become a PA or possibly a DO or MD (doubtful though, why go through another 6 years of school when I already get to treat patients.. it would be just for the ability to prescribe without oversight)

Long time reader of BG, (work caused me to quit FFXI and WOW, but I am looking forward to FFXIV because it might allow me to play for 30 mins and log out feeling I had accomplished something and had fun, so I came back to read the threads).

I just created an account so I could give you a piece of serious medical advice, if you have a normal heart rate of 120-140 while just 'walking around' and a resting heart rate in the 50's, then there IS something wrong.

Also when you say your blood pressure is normal... what exactly is that pressure? 120 systolic over 80 diastolic at all times? Or does it change when you stand up? These are called orthostatic vital signs and a significant change between lying down and standing up in your BP/heart rate can show a significant problem.

Either you are a physical specimen that rivals Greek gods, or you have a possible heart condition. A walking heart rate of 140 will inevitably lead to left ventricle hypertrophy that will drastically increase your chances of a myocardial infarct.

End of story: go see a cardiologist if you really have a walking heart rate of 140.

Oh, and hi to the BGLS boards, never made an account but I have read this on and off for the last 7-8 years... wish I could play a MMO, but I settle for skimming the front pages every couple of days.

[sephir]

I just created an account so I could give you a piece of serious medical advice, if you have a normal heart rate of 120-140 while just 'walking around' and a resting heart rate in the 50's, then there IS something wrong.

Also when you say your blood pressure is normal... what exactly is that pressure? 120 systolic over 80 diastolic at all times? Or does it change when you stand up? These are called orthostatic vital signs and a significant change between lying down and standing up in your BP/heart rate can show a significant problem.

Either you are a physical specimen that rivals Greek gods, or you have a possible heart condition. A walking heart rate of 140 will inevitably lead to left ventricle hypertrophy that will drastically increase your chances of a myocardial infarct.

End of story: go see a cardiologist if you really have a walking heart rate of 140.

.

no no, I hit 140 when I start doing moderate amounts of exercise, such as jogging at 10km/h or biking at 28-30km/h. Just talking around gets me to about 80bpm.

The last blood pressure test I did I had 117 over 79, which from what I'm told is great. I did the test when in a seated position, so as far as it changing when I stand up, I cant answer that.


The poster above you gave the exact answer I was looking for. For me 170bpm is about 60% of my max effort, and 180 feels closer to 80%. The breathing hard only seems to come around 185bpm.

[Sylvrdragon]

Maybe it's a tumor.

[Mikelee0351]

Also, want to add that I spent 4 years in the Marine Corps as infantry and did 2 tours overseas. I never had any problems performing the duties of an infantry Marine, and let me tell you they are intense, I've done a 19 min 3 mile run, run as far as 12 miles, and done a 20 mile hike while wearing over 100 pounds.

If you have the same situation as whatever I have, congrats. **However, it wouldn't hurt to get an EKG or some other tests done, just to be sure,** it can't possibly hurt anything.

I'm not saying it makes me a superman or anything as lots of people with "standard" heart rates can run faster and longer than me, it just means some of us run hot /shrug.

[Shazaam]

Then chances are you are just in really good physical shape and are in your teens or mid-twenties.

You just are in good shape accompanied by good physical genetics.

Getting a high heart rate is fine during strenuous exercise, but the end goal should be to have as low a HR as possible while doing such exercise.

I'm not a trainer, I am involved with emergency medicine, so I don't know what more you want to know from these posts other than you aren't going to die.

Yes, your BP isn't just normal, its perfect. Your HR is perfect. And yes, you SHOULD be breathing hard at 185 HR.

(and no offense to the poster above me, but an EMT and a Paramedic/RN are a little different... but I would be nowhere without a good EMT backing me up)

So you are fine from what you have posted. Sleep easy.

[Shazaam]

Mikelee, glad you are in shape, because I'm not.

It's called ALS for a reason: Ain't lifting shit.

[drglass4]

To start.... everyone is different. That being said, you must be very fit and have great endurance i assume.

A body in that good of shape will definitely see a sub-normal resting heart rate. Think of it as a form of compensation. During times of stress and physical activity, your body reacts amazingly and gives you enough oxygen to maintain your endurance and continue to do what you do with relative ease. But while you are down, your body maintains itself very efficiently, requiring less beats to produce adequate oxygenation of your bodies tissues.

All in all, you have an amazing heart and great capabilities to be more active than most people your age. Nothing is wrong by any means. You have a gift most of us WISH we had.