dangerous heart rate?

vintagecrimes
vintagecrimes Posts: 24 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I was trying to do my own research online about it but wanted some opinions from others personal experience. Normally when I work out my heart rate is anywhere between 140-180. Yesterday I was on the cross fit trainer about 20 minutes into to my workout when I started to feel really weird, can't really even describe it, just that something wasn't right. When I checked the heart monitor it had jumped from a steady 168 all the way to 208! Because I thought I read something somewhere about 220 being like death or something I slowed down drastically and almost got off the machine. Am I being paranoid? Was this just an endorphin rush? I am also on ADD medication but that should have been mostly out of my system by the time I worked out (approved for 10-12 hours, took it at 6:30am, worked out at 6pm) so I don't know if that is a contributing factor (speeds up your resting heart rate for anyone who isn't familiar) Thoughts anyone? Perhaps a machine glitch that caused my anxiety to soar upon seeing it, causing me to panic? Just find it odd it jumped up so quickly when I was going the same pace the whole time, which isn't that fast because I set the resistance on it to strengthen my legs (so about 4,000 strides over a 35 minute period)

Replies

  • BalletAndBarbells
    BalletAndBarbells Posts: 334 Member
    HRM on machines are not very accurate so I tend not to look at what the machine tells you your HR is.
    It is not dangerous to have a HR up near 200 - I regularly get up to that sort of level.
    However, if you felt unwell you did the right thing to pull back a little.
    Listen to your body and don't obsess about numbers.
  • zerojunk
    zerojunk Posts: 70 Member
    edited March 2016
    Sounds like you had a plainclothes police officer staring at you. That always gives me a nice anxiety shot. Might be time to change up your go to spots. Maybe we're just paranoid though right?
  • kcdambuster
    kcdambuster Posts: 217 Member
    If you felt weird before checking your HRM there must be something going on. Especially if medication affects heart rate and "should" have been out of your system.
    Must be worth running it past your doctor or other medical professional for a qualified opinion.
  • RoseTheWarrior
    RoseTheWarrior Posts: 2,035 Member
    Personally, I would take that info to your doctor. I would imagine he would want to run some tests. As another poster mentioned, since you "felt weird" before you checked your heart rate, I would think it wasn't just something you "created". If you're taking medication that might affect your heart rate, you should definitely talk to your doctor. It's also possible you had an anxiety attack, and then you'd want to know why that happened, especially if it's not normal for you. And 208 is way too high. Although, I agree that sometimes the number on the machine is flat out wrong - sometimes it'll tell me my HR is 98 when my HR monitor tells me it's 160. But, talk to your doctor.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    vintagecrimes wrote: »
    I was trying to do my own research online about it but wanted some opinions from others personal experience. Normally when I work out my heart rate is anywhere between 140-180. Yesterday I was on the cross fit trainer about 20 minutes into to my workout when I started to feel really weird, can't really even describe it, just that something wasn't right. When I checked the heart monitor it had jumped from a steady 168 all the way to 208! Because I thought I read something somewhere about 220 being like death or something I slowed down drastically and almost got off the machine. Am I being paranoid? Was this just an endorphin rush? I am also on ADD medication but that should have been mostly out of my system by the time I worked out (approved for 10-12 hours, took it at 6:30am, worked out at 6pm) so I don't know if that is a contributing factor (speeds up your resting heart rate for anyone who isn't familiar) Thoughts anyone? Perhaps a machine glitch that caused my anxiety to soar upon seeing it, causing me to panic? Just find it odd it jumped up so quickly when I was going the same pace the whole time, which isn't that fast because I set the resistance on it to strengthen my legs (so about 4,000 strides over a 35 minute period)

    Something not feeling right is more likely to have been arrhythmia than your heart rate being too high. If you have never been to a cardiologist to get checked, it might be a good opportunity to do so. It was probably nothing, but it does not hurt to check it out, especially since you are also on medication
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    I agree with those who say call your doctor. 200--if the reading was accurate--CAN be dangerous for all except the extremely fit. Depends on age, fitness level, medical conditions, etc. The key flag for me was that you were feeling weird before you checked. You did the right thing to slow down.
  • CodyQuinlan
    CodyQuinlan Posts: 38 Member
    220-age is about around your maximal heart rate but this can also vary per individual as well as you level of cardio conditions ect. It's not crazy high tho if you're doing high intensity interval training mine usually reaches 196
  • jmgj27
    jmgj27 Posts: 531 Member
    It's more about how you felt than the number. I know that if my heart rate goes over about 180 then I genuinely start to feel like I have to stop- I couldn't do more than 45-60 seconds in that range. 160-180 is fine though, just means I'm working hard and I can sustain that. If you started to feel weird prior to noticing your heart rate going up then I'm with the pps in saying ask your doctor for an ECG. Ectopic beats are quite common in young women and can make you feel a bit odd (it's where your heart skips a beat) but they shouldn't be exercise-related. Just get it checked for your peace of mind.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    aggelikik wrote: »
    vintagecrimes wrote: »
    I was trying to do my own research online about it but wanted some opinions from others personal experience. Normally when I work out my heart rate is anywhere between 140-180. Yesterday I was on the cross fit trainer about 20 minutes into to my workout when I started to feel really weird, can't really even describe it, just that something wasn't right. When I checked the heart monitor it had jumped from a steady 168 all the way to 208! Because I thought I read something somewhere about 220 being like death or something I slowed down drastically and almost got off the machine. Am I being paranoid? Was this just an endorphin rush? I am also on ADD medication but that should have been mostly out of my system by the time I worked out (approved for 10-12 hours, took it at 6:30am, worked out at 6pm) so I don't know if that is a contributing factor (speeds up your resting heart rate for anyone who isn't familiar) Thoughts anyone? Perhaps a machine glitch that caused my anxiety to soar upon seeing it, causing me to panic? Just find it odd it jumped up so quickly when I was going the same pace the whole time, which isn't that fast because I set the resistance on it to strengthen my legs (so about 4,000 strides over a 35 minute period)

    Something not feeling right is more likely to have been arrhythmia than your heart rate being too high. If you have never been to a cardiologist to get checked, it might be a good opportunity to do so. It was probably nothing, but it does not hurt to check it out, especially since you are also on medication

    This^^ be safe

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