Resting Heart Rate Makes No Sense!

redux23

Mine always is constant laying down before getting out of bed in the morning (Always 48-58). Sitting up after getting out of bed in the morning it is 64. The kicker is, most days my 'resting heart rate' just sitting around can be 80-100. It then dips back down a few hours before bed to 62-72 sitting. Even more strange, sometimes my RHR sitting around can be a constant 62-72 for the entire day for three or so consecutive days. Then all of a sudden, one day it will kick back up to around 80-100 for the entire day. I don't get it... so I'm apparently reasonably 'physically fit' for some days and then all of a sudden in incredibly 'poor' condition others. How am I supposed to accurately gauge my fitness level with this nonsense? That variability is astounding. I'm also confused as to why the afternoon RHR can get to be 20-40bpm above the morning RHR and night RHR. Most people I've talked to said it's only supposed to be about a 5-10bpm difference. I've been eating the same every day, exercising in the same manner, and not taking any stimulants (caffeine or otherwise), so why is it so different day-to-day? As you can likely tell, I'm a rambler and might have not made sense, but what I'm really asking is why I can one day be unfit and the next be fit? Also, how can I gauge my fitness accurately if the measurements are so scattered???



Charted, it is somewhat like this:

Good days (easy to run and such because heart rate is already low and less sensitive to exercise)


(Taken while sitting down)
5:30am -- 64 bpm
6:30am -- 68 bpm
7:30am -- 71 bpm
8:30am -- 71 bpm
9:30am -- 71 bpm
10:30am -- 71 bpm
11:30am -- 71 bpm
12:30pm -- 75 bpm
1:30pm -- 72 bpm
2:30pm -- 72 bpm
3:30pm -- 72 bpm
4:30pm -- 71 bpm
5:30pm -- 70 bpm
6:30pm -- 68 bpm
7:30pm -- 67 bpm
8:30pm -- 66 bpm
9:30pm -- 64 bpm
10:30pm -- 64 bpm

Bad days (horrible to run and such because I'm already having a light aerobic workout sitting down!)


(Taken while sitting down)
5:30am -- 64 bpm
6:30am -- 76 bpm
7:30am -- 76 bpm
8:30am -- 84 bpm
9:30am -- 88 bpm
10:30am -- 92 bpm
11:30am -- 92 bpm
12:30pm -- 92 bpm
1:30pm -- 100 bpm
2:30pm -- 96 bpm
3:30pm -- 92 bpm
4:30pm -- 85 bpm
5:30pm -- 81 bpm
6:30pm -- 76bpm
7:30pm -- 76bpm
8:30pm -- 72 bpm
9:30pm -- 70 bpm
10:30pm -- 66 bpm

RHR is starting to seem like a bunch of malarkey unless I'm just abnormal.

iplayoutside19

You charted a bunch of data, but I don't think you're being self aware enough. For instance. In the afternoons with a higher resting HR were you stressed? Did you take the reading after you got done moving around. What type of workout did you do that day.

I know after weight lifting a HR can be elevated several hours afterwards. Even your emotional reaction to stuff you read or watch on TV can have an effect.

The human body is not linear, and all kinds of factors can effect everything.

TAsunder

Resting heart rate is supposed to be taken when you first wake up in the morning. Too many variables influence taking it at random times of the day.

ElliottTN

When your heart rate tops out around 100 do you every get dizzy or lightheaded? Have you ever noticed it jump rapidly while resting like from the 70s up to the 100s? Ever get short of breath when you notice it spike?

kefryar

I don't know if this is medically sound, but I feel like some people just operate at a higher level than others. I do 30-60 mins of cardio daily, am smack in the middle of my BMI range, and have a pretty healthy diet, but my heart rate is off the charts and can get up to 175-199 during intense cardio (really and I never get dizzy or light headed).
However, I also have extreme anxiety and am on a stimulant, IDK how much outside factors have to do with your heart rate.

Luv2Smile55

Don't take this personally but if you feel fine, why are you stressing over this? I think it's a bit obsessive taking your pulse every hour on the hour if you weren't medically advised to do so.

hill8570

Fitness is being able to do stuff, screwing around with measuring heart rate during the day doesn't tell you jack. Measure it right after waking up, laying in bed. And all that gives you is one baseline for targeting your heart rate during exercise.

_Zardoz_

Resting heart rate is supposed to be taken when you first wake up in the morning. Too many variables influence taking it at random times of the day.

^^^^ This at any other times of the day that's not your resting heart rate

frayst

Are you drinking coffee? Are you stressed? Are you about to walk out the door to do errands, go to work, go to school, pick up the kids? Did you just get into a fight with your mother? Your boss? Did you drink tea? Eat candy? There's millions of variables that can affect your heart rate. Resting heart rate is not actually resting unless you just wake up or have been zoned out on the couch for an hour completely relaxed.