I wear a heart monitor when I climb the stairs here. When I first started my heart rate was reaching 190. In the two weeks since I started, it has steadily decreased. Last night I added an extra 14 floors to the 28 i normally do (go up to 14, then down to 1, up to 28, then down to 1) and my heart rate barely got over 170. Is this normal as my body gets used to the exercise or is it something that I should really be worried about because my heart isnt keeping up anymore?
2006-07-21 15:19:22 · 6 answers · asked by Flit 2 in Health ➔ Diet & Fitness
First and foremost, ensure your heart rate monitor is operating correctly. Take your radial pulse (palm up, thumb side, on your wrist) with your index finger and take a 6 count and multiply by 10 to ensure it coincides with your heart rate monitor.
190 is quite high (at any age) unless you're running up the stairs. If you're over 30 years of age, you are exceeding your maximum heart rate for exercise.
The fact that your heart rate is adapting is a good thing. Your cardiovascular system is becoming more efficient. Your resting heart rate is likely decreasing as well. Your heart is becoming more efficient at pumping blood with every beat.
Keep up the great work. You are slowing changing your body for the better.
Target Heart Rate:
http://www.preventdisease.com/healthtools/articles/thr.html
Calories burning walking:
http://www.preventdisease.com/healthtools/articles/while_walking.html
2006-07-21 16:26:55 · answer #1 · answered by FitGuy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you're just getting in shape. One way to find out is to go out and do something extremely strenuous (e.g. run up a hill as fast as you can). That should cause you to reach your maximum heart rate. If that gets your heart rate up to 190 or higher, that's all it is - conditioning. The only thing that should normally decrease your max. heart rate is aging. You lose roughly 1 beat per minute per year. A very rough formula to compute what it should be is 220 - (your age). See the links I put under "(Sources").
It's remotely possible that your heart-rate monitor got out of calibration or otherwise defective, but that's extremely unlikely.
2006-07-21 15:32:39 · answer #2 · answered by pollux 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your heart rate should be lower. MUCH LOWER.
190 is a walking heart attack. Your heart isn't meant to beat that fast.
Most fit people are around 60-72 beats per minute at rest. 100-140 bpm for climbing 14 flights of stairs is average.
Decreasing heart rate is a good sign.
2006-07-21 15:24:35 · answer #3 · answered by Iomegan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations your becoming fit!! The target heart rate during exercise is typically 220 minus your age and you should keep exercising at this rate for 30 minutes. And they say I never studied in college. I am glad that your not a human hamster and using a stairmaster. Keep it up, sounds like you doing great.
2006-07-21 15:26:05 · answer #4 · answered by jedibaileydog 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GOOD GOD DON"T STRAIN!!!
You are knocking on thanatos's door here (death). It's good but Christ, your heartrate shouldn't exceed 150. Ever, really.... It's good but don't add more until it is reasonable! You could all of a sudden hurt yourself even if you don't feel tired or show any warning signs with this sort of thing.
....Pray your heart moniter is somehow broken.
2006-07-21 15:32:33 · answer #5 · answered by ergonomia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope...this is good news...and your right your body is getting into shape...but...you should always have a regular check up....
2006-07-21 15:25:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋