Tired = lower heart rate?

Bookworm1860

My heart rate stays pretty consistent day to day if comparing the same type of workout. But, every once and a while I just can't get it up even close to as high as usual. I noticed last night that I think it happens when I start out extra tired (as I was last night). Is this a normal response? Anyone else notice this?

kcjchang

Yes, and yes. See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2633298/ & https://www.trainingpeaks.com/blog/follow-your-heart-using-hr-to-gauge-fatigue/#.

Vladimirnapkin

Yes.

heybales

And if not doing it yet - start getting some readings every morning for a baseline (might be too late now) - so you can tell if that fatigue is moving on into a cold or such and getting elevated HR in the morning.

That would be the one of the few benefits I'd see to a HR-based tracker, getting morning reading before alarm-clock-HR-freak-out happens. Usually I'm back to normal by the time the snooze alarm goes off so I can get a good one.

I am curious though - were you able to discern a change in intensity - because if it's fatigue - pace/speed/intensity should have dropped because of the tired system.

Dazzler21

The fitter you get, the less likely your Heart Rate will sit high all the time. Mine for instance sits around 40BPM all day.

When I exercise it peaks but when I don't I know it'll be there or thereabouts.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

Yup. Not being able to get your heart rate up is definitely a sign of fatigue. Make sure you are getting enough rest.