Heart Rate and excercise

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a question about my heart rate. Based on optimum heart rate charts, I should maintain
somewhere approx 120-159 hbm. I wiegh 230 and am considered overweight despite a healthy and
active lifestyle. Generally, in the warm months, I run 20-30 miles per week and lift weights.
During the winter months, I move indoors and run on treadmill and use eliptical trainers. I
recently purchased a polar watch that monitor heart rate, and I have noticed that my heart rate
generally sticks around the 160-175 bpm range with easy exertion (good easy pace for me is a 9
minute mile)--I am not pushing myself or breathing very hard. I break a sweat usually within the
first 10-15 minutes. I hold my heartbeats/minute in this range for anywhere from 30m to 60m
depending on my workout. My resting pulse is usually 50-60. Is this typical? I am pushing it too
hard (I can't imagine going any slower)? Can I damage my heart? Thanks in advance.

This does seem like a big jump to me. I would double check the Polar monitor. Try measuring your
heartrate manually while exercising. Make sure the strap is damp and tight when you wear it. Try
holding it with one hand on each of the "rough" parts of the strap.

Bill

Bill

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a question about my heart rate. Based on optimum heart rate charts, I should maintain
somewhere approx 120-159 hbm. I wiegh 230 and am considered overweight despite a healthy and
active lifestyle. Generally, in the warm months, I run 20-30 miles per week and lift weights.
During the winter months, I move indoors and run on treadmill and use eliptical trainers. I
recently purchased a polar watch that monitor heart rate, and I have noticed that my heart rate
generally sticks around the 160-175 bpm range with easy exertion (good easy pace for me is a 9
minute mile)--I am not pushing myself or breathing very hard. I break a sweat usually within the
first 10-15 minutes. I hold my heartbeats/minute in this range for anywhere from 30m to 60m
depending on my workout. My resting pulse is usually 50-60. Is this typical? I am pushing it too
hard (I can't imagine going any slower)? Can I damage my heart? Thanks in advance.

This does seem like a big jump to me. I would double check the Polar monitor. Try measuring your
heartrate manually while exercising. Make sure the strap is damp and tight when you wear it. Try
holding it with one hand on each of the "rough" parts of the strap.

Bill

I agree. This sounds like a problem with the monitor. If not, you should see your doctor. If you
aren't breathing hard, a pulse of 160 is too high.

(Not a physician.)
--
Jim Chinnis Warrenton, Virginia, USA

Quoted message said:

I have a question about my heart rate. Based on optimum heart rate charts, I should maintain
somewhere approx 120-159 hbm. I wiegh 230 and am considered overweight despite a healthy and
active lifestyle. Generally, in the warm months, I run 20-30 miles per week and lift weights.
During the winter months, I move indoors and run on treadmill and use eliptical trainers. I
recently purchased a polar watch that monitor heart rate, and I have noticed that my heart rate
generally sticks around the 160-175 bpm range with easy exertion (good easy pace for me is a 9
minute mile)--I am not pushing myself or breathing very hard. I break a sweat usually within the
first 10-15 minutes. I hold my heartbeats/minute in this range for anywhere from 30m to 60m
depending on my workout. My resting pulse is usually 50-60. Is this typical? I am pushing it too
hard (I can't imagine going any slower)?

Depends on your age. If you are 20 years old or younger, the answer would probably be no.

Quoted message said:

Can I damage my heart?

Depends on the condition of your heart. If your heart is structurally normal and its arteries are
normal, probably not.

Quoted message said:

Thanks in advance.

You are welcome.

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

It seems to me I heard somewhere that [email hidden] wrote in article
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

I have a question about my heart rate. Based on optimum heart rate charts, I should maintain
somewhere approx 120-159 hbm. I wiegh 230 and am considered overweight despite a healthy and active
lifestyle. Generally, in the warm months, I run 20-30 miles per week and lift weights. During the
winter months, I move indoors and run on treadmill and use eliptical trainers. I recently purchased
a polar watch that monitor heart rate, and I have noticed that my heart rate generally sticks
around the 160-175 bpm range with easy exertion (good easy pace for me is a 9 minute mile)--I am
not pushing myself or breathing very hard. I break a sweat usually within the first 10-15 minutes.
I hold my heartbeats/minute in this range for anywhere from 30m to 60m depending on my workout. My
resting pulse is usually 50-60. Is this typical? I am pushing it too hard (I can't imagine going
any slower)? Can I damage my heart? Thanks in advance.

Which part are you asking about, the 160-175 during the run or the 50-60 at rest? ISTM both of
those could be perfectly normal - or not, depending on the individual. I've run for about 25 years
(tapering off now from age and eroding joints), and have never been able to get a heart rate above
about 165, while my really zonked-out resting rate is in the 30s ("active" resting is usually in
the 40s or 50s). Those are normal for me. If you can run easily and get your heart rate up around
170 it probably means that's within your normal range. Whether the rate will drop over time may
depend on how long you've been running (fitness level) and whether you toughen your sessions
(longer or faster).

Heart rate charts are badly in need of quality control and clinical substantiation; IMO they
range from wild guesses to faux-science. The only real way to know *your* max and optimal is to
undergo testing, though some useful approximations can be made from observations during running
or other exercise.

You didn't mention your age, which could be a consideration, nor your height, which could be
relevant to your weight. Also, is it a muscular 230 pounds, or is it flabby?

If you have any reason to wonder or to be concerned about your heart or your health, consult a
doctor. If you are simply curious, listen to your body.

If you're interested, rec.running may be a useful source of feedback from experienced runner.
--
Don [email hidden]

I am in my mid 30s, about 5'9'' with a stocky/muscular build. I can stand to lose 15-20 lbs though.
thanks for everyone's replies.

Quoted message said:

I am in my mid 30s, about 5'9'' with a stocky/muscular build. I can stand to lose 15-20 lbs
though. thanks for everyone's replies.

You are welcome.

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

I think my heart rate monitor is at fault. When I used the machine grips, my rate decreased to about
normal. Any ideas why my polar watch would be so inaccurate?

[email hidden] wrote in part:

Quoted message said:

I think my heart rate monitor is at fault. When I used the machine grips, my rate decreased to
about normal. Any ideas why my polar watch would be so inaccurate?

Yes. It can pick up other monitors and electronic noise in the area.
--
Jim Chinnis Warrenton, Virginia, USA

"Jim Chinnis" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] wrote in part:

Quoted message said:

I think my heart rate monitor is at fault. When I used the machine grips,

my

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

rate decreased to about normal. Any ideas why my polar watch would be so inaccurate?

Yes. It can pick up other monitors and electronic noise in the area.
--
Jim Chinnis Warrenton, Virginia, USA

Jim's suggestions make sense - particularly if there is another monitor in the area. They go wacko.

There are really two electrical paths. One is from your body to the strap. You need to make sure
there is a good connection with the skin. The strap needs to be moist and clean. If you have a lot
of hair this could interfere with the connection. Try holding it in your hands as you would the
machine grips and see if this improves things. If it does, it suggests the problem is with how you
are using the strap.

The other connection is a radio transmission between the strap and the watch. See if placing the two
closer together helps.

If you are still concerned, it can't hurt to see a Dr. and have him do a EKG stress test to be
absolutely sure everything is OK.

Bill

1) exercise can't harm a healthy heart
2) go by percieved exertion - on your "hard" exercise days your exertion should feel heavy, or
very heavy.
3) maximun pulse rate deviates by 15 bpm (standard dev) from formula 220 - age.
4) use your monitor to find out your recovery heart rate. After a minute rest your pulse rate should
decline by at least 15 bpm.

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a question about my heart rate. Based on optimum heart rate charts, I should maintain
somewhere approx 120-159 hbm. I wiegh 230 and am considered overweight despite a healthy and
active lifestyle. Generally, in the warm months, I run 20-30 miles per week and lift weights.
During the winter months, I move indoors and run on treadmill and use eliptical trainers. I
recently purchased a polar watch that monitor heart rate, and I have noticed that my heart rate
generally sticks around the 160-175 bpm range with easy exertion (good easy pace for me is a 9
minute mile)--I am not pushing myself or breathing very hard. I break a sweat usually within the
first 10-15 minutes. I hold my heartbeats/minute in this range for anywhere from 30m to 60m
depending on my workout. My resting pulse is usually 50-60. Is this typical? I am pushing it too
hard (I can't imagine going any slower)? Can I damage my heart? Thanks in advance.

This does seem like a big jump to me. I would double check the Polar monitor. Try measuring your
heartrate manually while exercising. Make sure the strap is damp and tight when you wear it. Try
holding it with one hand on each of the "rough" parts of the strap.

Bill

Bill

On 25 Jan 2004 11:40:10 -0800, [email hidden] (Brad

Sheppard) said:

1) exercise can't harm a healthy heart

Incorrect.

antwrp.gsfc.nasa.govap031122.htmlOpen ↗ Lift well, Eat less, Walk fast, Live long.

It seems to me I heard somewhere that Jim Chinnis wrote in article
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] wrote in part:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I think my heart rate monitor is at fault. When I used the machine grips, my rate decreased to
about normal. Any ideas why my polar watch would be so inaccurate?

Quoted message said:

Yes. It can pick up other monitors and electronic noise in the area.

FWIW, I've used two or three brands (my current one is a Polar), and the interference symptoms have
been similar with all of them. I may get a reading some 40 or 50 beats lower than it really is, or
under intense interference (power lines) I may read zero until I get clear of them. Only fairly
seldom do I get readings higher than the real rate (I can count the beats fairly well as I run,
since I can feel the pulse at several body points).

You probably are aware of this, but even though HRMs are precision machinery they don't give
precision results under typical use conditions. IMO it's important to mentally average readings over
time and not be either bothered or elated by transient readings.
--
Don [email hidden]

Quoted message said:

I have a question about my heart rate. Based on optimum heart rate charts, I should maintain
somewhere approx 120-159 hbm. I wiegh 230 and am considered overweight despite a healthy and
active lifestyle. Generally, in the warm months, I run 20-30 miles per week and lift weights.
During the winter months, I move indoors and run on treadmill and use eliptical trainers. I
recently purchased a polar watch that monitor heart rate, and I have noticed that my heart rate
generally sticks around the 160-175 bpm range with easy exertion (good easy pace for me is a 9
minute mile)--I am not pushing myself or breathing very hard. I break a sweat usually within the
first 10-15 minutes. I hold my heartbeats/minute in this range for anywhere from 30m to 60m
depending on my workout. My resting pulse is usually 50-60. Is this typical? I am pushing it too
hard (I can't imagine going any slower)? Can I damage my heart? Thanks in advance.

I'm 53 and I did 2*20 minutes of intervals with my HR at 170 earlier today. This was a hard
perceived effort on my account since it is close to my Lactate treshhold. What I'm trying to say
though is that you should forget about those estimated maxHR, even about the estimates of how far
off the can be. My maxHR is 190 and according to the charts it should be 167. With you being 20
years younger than me there is nothing strange at all that you do not perceive any exertion at the
same HR. Also I've never done a maxHR test. I just use the highest HR recorded as my max. It might
not be my absolute max but so what. It is close enough for me to figure out my HR zones.

--
Perre

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