Heart rates

LeanneC_09
LeanneC_09 Posts: 4 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hello,
I've recently taken up the gym and I've noticed that my heart rate (on the machines) is a lot higher than the expected/guideline Heart rate that is noted on the machine for my age. I'm not sure if this is a problem, but it never seems to drop even though I've been using the gym for 10 months now. I thought it may have dropped the fitter I get, but this doesn't seem the case. Can anyone give me anymore info on this, if this is unhealthy or anything?

Sorry, this is something that plays on my mind when I'm exercising and I don't know if I should be worried or not.

Thanks in advance.

Replies

  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    Some people have a naturally elevated heart rate.

    I know I do.

    The numbers on the machines are just general guidelines set for the entire populace. What you should do is determine what your maximum heart rate and/or your lactate threshold and work off of your unique numbers.
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    LeanneC_09 wrote: »
    I've noticed that my heart rate (on the machines) is a lot higher than the expected/guideline Heart rate that is noted on the machine for my age. I'm not sure if this is a problem

    Only if your doctor advised you not to go above a certain heart rate. For other people, it's nothing to worry about, unless you have other symptoms with it, like light-headedness, etc. Then see a doctor.

    By the way, your resting heart rate probably has dropped. Have you been checking it?
  • rhtexasgal
    rhtexasgal Posts: 572 Member
    I have discovered that the fitter I am, the higher my max heart rate is while working out. At one time, my target was about 150 but now, I find that I am not really breathing hard and don't feel the intensity at that range. Now, my typical target is 155-165 ... the doctor says that as long as I listen to my body, I am good. Once, my heart rate during cardio got to 170 and I was feeling nauseous and my chest hurt. I discovered quickly that I pushed it too far. Of course, sometimes a previous workout has me sore and 150 seems like I am pushing it. I try to take my cues from my body and how it reacts with exercise.
  • mikeyrs
    mikeyrs Posts: 176 Member
    Leanne, the cardio machines at the gym are typically designed to receive an external signal of a given frequency used for certain heart rate transmitters. This signal overrides the heart rate measurement registered by the machine through the pulse in your hands/fingers because that measurement is considered supplementary.

    Is there anyone using the machine(s) next to you? If so, there is a very good possibility that a person near you is wearing an HRM of their own and that person's heart rate is being transmitted to the cardio machine you're using. I've seen that on numerous occasions with Polar HRMs worn by the frequent cardio rats on the treadmill and elliptical machines. Naturally, I went out and bought my own Polar H7 bluetooth smart HRM for $70 and joined the rest of the cardio rats.... lol

    If you decide to purchase your own HRM, verify the transmitter is compatible with the machines you're using at your gym. Otherwise, your purchase could be somewhat pointless.
  • mikeyrs
    mikeyrs Posts: 176 Member
    By the way, using the generic formula 220 - age, and being 27 years old, your maximum heart rate should be about 193 bpm. (There is a slightly different calculation expressly for women but the result is pretty close within a few heartbeats). So it's unlikely you need to worry about your maximum heart rate at all given your age. Relatively few people can maintain a heart rate above 170 for an extended length of time, and the more fit one becomes with continued exercise, the less likely one is to reach a heart rate at or above 170 bpm. If you want to know and / or maximize how many calories you're burning per hour given your current weight, you can purchase a compatible HRM strap. Otherwise, don't worry about it.
  • LeanneC_09
    LeanneC_09 Posts: 4 Member
    Oo ok thanks guys, that's helpful! I thought I should find out as it was on my mind.

    In response to Cherimoose, I have noticed my resting heart rate has decreased slightly, it's now around 60 beats per minute.

    Thanks Mikeyrs, I'll bare the HRM's in mind. I was thinking of looking into one of those.
  • hermann341
    hermann341 Posts: 443 Member
    I concur on mikeyrs HRM assessment. Another option on HRM's is to get one with a watch that is NOT compatible with gym equipment and only use that to assess your heartrate. I have a Timex Global Trainer GPS watch with HRM (not compatible with Polar or gym equipment) and I use it indoors and out.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    edited May 2015
    mikeyrs wrote: »
    If you want to know and / or maximize how many calories you're burning per hour given your current weight, you can purchase a compatible HRM strap. Otherwise, don't worry about it.

    I have to agree with this. My polar connects automatically with most machines which is great because i can look down and it has my current heart rate without me having to hold on to the metal on the machine. It also really opens my eyes on how much a steady state cardio session burns vs. how much i thought i was burning with the machine's default settings.

    Also, how high are we speaking? I know when i'm REALLY sprinting my HR is roughly 180bpm.

    ETA: In regards to herman above, I have a polar and it works both in and out of a gym setting as well. ;)
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    One question of curiosity:

    Why is your heart rate important to you?
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    mikeyrs wrote: »
    By the way, using the generic formula 220 - age, and being 27 years old, your maximum heart rate should be about 193 bpm. (There is a slightly different calculation expressly for women but the result is pretty close within a few heartbeats). So it's unlikely you need to worry about your maximum heart rate at all given your age. Relatively few people can maintain a heart rate above 170 for an extended length of time, and the more fit one becomes with continued exercise, the less likely one is to reach a heart rate at or above 170 bpm. If you want to know and / or maximize how many calories you're burning per hour given your current weight, you can purchase a compatible HRM strap. Otherwise, don't worry about it.

    I would just like to note: This calculation can be off by 20 bpm high or low.

    When I was 25, the calculation would mean my max HR would be 195 bpm. However, on a group run, I sprinted up a hill and hit 206 bpm. I didn't get light headed and I didn't see stars, so I know I probably could have hit 210 if the hill were longer.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    chivalryder wrote: »
    mikeyrs wrote: »
    By the way, using the generic formula 220 - age, and being 27 years old, your maximum heart rate should be about 193 bpm. (There is a slightly different calculation expressly for women but the result is pretty close within a few heartbeats). So it's unlikely you need to worry about your maximum heart rate at all given your age. Relatively few people can maintain a heart rate above 170 for an extended length of time, and the more fit one becomes with continued exercise, the less likely one is to reach a heart rate at or above 170 bpm. If you want to know and / or maximize how many calories you're burning per hour given your current weight, you can purchase a compatible HRM strap. Otherwise, don't worry about it.

    I would just like to note: This calculation can be off by 20 bpm high or low.

    When I was 25, the calculation would mean my max HR would be 195 bpm. However, on a group run, I sprinted up a hill and hit 206 bpm. I didn't get light headed and I didn't see stars, so I know I probably could have hit 210 if the hill were longer.

    why was your heart rate important? HUH?!?! HUH?!?!
  • LeanneC_09
    LeanneC_09 Posts: 4 Member
    rainbowbow wrote: »

    Also, how high are we speaking? I know when i'm REALLY sprinting my HR is roughly 180bpm.

    ETA: In regards to herman above, I have a polar and it works both in and out of a gym setting as well. ;)

    Well I've noticed that the machine I use, my heart rate goes up to 170, but never beyond that (so I'm not sure if that's the max the machine will read) as sometimes when I'm doing a more intense workout it still only reads 170.
  • LeanneC_09
    LeanneC_09 Posts: 4 Member
    chivalryder wrote: »
    One question of curiosity:

    Why is your heart rate important to you?

    The reasons I'm curious to know about the heart rate is because I'm not very knowledgable about sport and nutrition and so I just want to try and figure out if my body is 'normal' or if having a higher heart rate is something I should be aware of. I'm trying to learn.
    I go extremely red when I exercise even if I'm not pushing myself to my extreme. I always have done since school, I just wasn't sure if this was something to be cautious of or not, I think I'm now starting to realise that it's just the way my body copes with exercise. (So I just get on with it)
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    LeanneC_09 wrote: »
    rainbowbow wrote: »

    Also, how high are we speaking? I know when i'm REALLY sprinting my HR is roughly 180bpm.

    ETA: In regards to herman above, I have a polar and it works both in and out of a gym setting as well. ;)

    Well I've noticed that the machine I use, my heart rate goes up to 170, but never beyond that (so I'm not sure if that's the max the machine will read) as sometimes when I'm doing a more intense workout it still only reads 170.

    You could do a max heart rate test to see if 170 really is your max (bet it's not!). There's a few different protocols using different cardio equipment (get Googling) - best to choose the one you are most used to.

    I did one on the Concept2 rower and got 172 but hit 176 in a properly supervised test in a sports science lab. Incredibly hard though - I felt it for a few days afterwards so beware.

    There's a huge variation between people though - my older brother has always had a max HR much higher than mine, hitting 200+ into his late 50's.
  • mikeyrs
    mikeyrs Posts: 176 Member
    If your heart rate never goes beyond 170 bpm regardless of your level of effort, you're just fine and you shouldn't have any health-related concern about your heart rate at your age and level of fitness. For your reference, I'm 54 and I have seen my heart rate reach 185 bpm more than once during a Fitness Assessment using Digifit's iCardio App and a Polar H7 HRM in the past year with no ill effects other than being out of breath for a few minutes and sweating a bit. I don't routinely take my heart rate up that high except during my quarterly fitness assessment or during a check-up to assess my heart health. Just keep doing what you're doing and listen to your body. Your body knows best.
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    chivalryder wrote: »
    mikeyrs wrote: »
    By the way, using the generic formula 220 - age, and being 27 years old, your maximum heart rate should be about 193 bpm. (There is a slightly different calculation expressly for women but the result is pretty close within a few heartbeats). So it's unlikely you need to worry about your maximum heart rate at all given your age. Relatively few people can maintain a heart rate above 170 for an extended length of time, and the more fit one becomes with continued exercise, the less likely one is to reach a heart rate at or above 170 bpm. If you want to know and / or maximize how many calories you're burning per hour given your current weight, you can purchase a compatible HRM strap. Otherwise, don't worry about it.

    I would just like to note: This calculation can be off by 20 bpm high or low.

    When I was 25, the calculation would mean my max HR would be 195 bpm. However, on a group run, I sprinted up a hill and hit 206 bpm. I didn't get light headed and I didn't see stars, so I know I probably could have hit 210 if the hill were longer.

    why was your heart rate important? HUH?!?! HUH?!?!

    From habit from my cycling days where I used it for zone training. I hadn't exercised in a long time, so I was using it to figure out where I was at, cardiovascular-wise.
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