My heart rate

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DarleneMarie203
DarleneMarie203 Posts: 56 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi all! I have a question about my heart rate, while exercising. I am 47 years old, very out of shape, just getting back to the gym after 2 year's, I'm 5'6" & I weigh 220 pounds. I need to know how high my heart rate can be until it becomes dangerously high? Right now while I'm on the treadmill, when it starts to go over 100, I start getting scared. :( I just need how high it can go safely. Thanks in advance! I never really understood the whole heart rate thing! Lol!
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  • EddieP50
    EddieP50 Posts: 192 Member
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    The max heart rate calculation used for exercise is usually 220- your age. So 220-47=173 for max. The target zone would be between 50 to 85% of that number or 86 to 147.

    http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/PhysicalActivity/FitnessBasics/Target-Heart-Rates_UCM_434341_Article.jsp#.Vx1vOUfLosJ

  • DarleneMarie203
    DarleneMarie203 Posts: 56 Member
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    Thank you so much! So, I could go up to 147 and be okay?
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
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    My heart rate will get pretty close to max several times during a more strenuous workout. I wouldn't try to keep it there for any length of time, but for short periods, it's fine. The important factor is that it comes back down when you slow down. This is assuming you have no underlying medical conditions where pushing it up would cause problems.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
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    My hr at 38 has hit 199 and I lived ;) those numbers are arbitrary
  • dewd2
    dewd2 Posts: 2,449 Member
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    The calculations are just estimate. Your max may vary +/- 20 or more beats per minute. But I'm am positive it is way more than 100.

    There is no danger in pushing your heart if it is healthy. Only your doctor can tell you if that is okay. Please consult the doc first.

    FWIW, when I race my heart rate goes way past 170 for 30-90 minutes at a time and I am 47. YMMV. :wink:
  • anglyn1
    anglyn1 Posts: 1,803 Member
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    I have tachycardia so my heart rate is nearly always over 100 and has exceeded 200!!! I'd say as long as you don't have a heart condition the formula mentioned above should be safe for you.
  • awinner_au
    awinner_au Posts: 249 Member
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    dewd2 wrote: »
    The calculations are just estimate. Your max may vary +/- 20 or more beats per minute. But I'm am positive it is way more than 100.

    There is no danger in pushing your heart if it is healthy. Only your doctor can tell you if that is okay. Please consult the doc first.

    You could get a stress test done, if you push yourself and anything seems out of the ordinary stop and get a test done. Otherwise just keep calm and carry on ;)

    My max is ~187 i hit that regularly during HIIT, i can cruise along >165 for long periods, Im 56.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
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    Slightly better estimate.
    www.calculatenow.biz/sport/heart.php?

    Stay in the Fat-burning zone for couple weeks (better and previously called Active Recovery HR zone) so your muscles, tendons, and ligaments get used to this new movement at higher intensity.
    But this is not the zone to stay in.

    Then ramp on up to Aerobic level if you notice no problems at the lower level, if your Dr approves and you have no heart issue history.

    Keep going back to calculation - as your resting HR improves - the zones will change to keep your heart challenged as you become more fit.
    Sadly your muscles may not even improve as fast as your heart does.

    And considering the start of exercise range is usually about 90 bpm - reaching 100 isn't nearly enough. Ya, you'll be going higher, much higher eventually.
  • 6pkdreamer
    6pkdreamer Posts: 180 Member
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    From what I understand-
    One of the best guides to the condition of your cardio vascular system is how quickly your heart recovers.
    As a guide next time your at the gym-
    Exercise and note your final heart rate when you stop exercising.
    One minute later take a second measurement.
    Take the second measurement away from the first measurement.
    If the difference is less than 10 BPM see your doctor.

    http://www.cyclemoles.com/2013/05/1-minute-heart-rate-recovery/

    Maximum heart is as said previously only an estimate of what you heart maximum could be. Everyone is different. The only way to find out is by actually doing a physical test and measure the maximum. Knowing this is useful for establishing target zones for exercising. If your healthy one doesn't just blowup when the maximum reached.

    Prolonged elevated heart rate in endurance events is more harmful than short bursts at a high level.

  • chrisfwood
    chrisfwood Posts: 37 Member
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    I have push my heart to 90-100% of the estimated max i.e. 180 for over 4 minutes and I am not super fix, as with all things if you are struggling to cope with the workout then slow down or stop i.e. listen to your body.
  • floridagirl7264
    floridagirl7264 Posts: 318 Member
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    Listen to your body. It will tell you how much is too much. I'm 51 and 212. I stay steady at about 125, which is my fat burning rate, but will spike it up to 150 to work towards getting fitter.
  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
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    dmarie203 wrote: »
    Thank you so much! So, I could go up to 147 and be okay?

    Yes.

    Here's my down and dirty heart zone perceived effort table...

    1. Old lady pace
    2. Chatty pace
    3. Feel good hard
    4. Feel bad hard
    5. I am going to die
    6. Flat out

    Heart rate zones explained:

    http://www.active.com/triathlon/articles/training-zones-explained

    When you mentioned you were on the treadmill with your heart rate starting to go over 100, you were more or less still in the old lady pace zone.

    Here are my own personal - at age 54 - zones which I use all the time (and are set automatically with the apps and equipment I use for cardio exercise)...

    Heart Rate

    Threshold: 165 bpm

    Zone 5C: Anaerobic Capacity 174-179 (Flat out)
    Zone 5B: Aerobic Capacity 168-173 (I am going to die)
    Zone 5A: SuperThreshold 164-167 (Feel Bad Hard to edge of I am going to die)
    Zone 4: SubThreshold 154-163 (Feel bad hard)
    Zone 3: Tempo 147-153 (Feel good hard)
    Zone 2: Aerobic 133-146 (Chatty pace)
    Zone 1: Recovery 107-132 (Old lady pace)

    Your numbers will be different, and as you lose weight and become more aerobically fit will improve. Build a good base with Zone 1 and Zone 2 (Old Lady Pace and Chatty Pace).
  • Clarewho
    Clarewho Posts: 494 Member
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    Some good info here but your doctor is the best person to ask. Mine will typically max about 150 during very hard cardio but more typically a bit lower. (I'm 45). But if you're just starting with exercise I'd ask a professional.
  • DarleneMarie203
    DarleneMarie203 Posts: 56 Member
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    Thanks everyone!
  • DrifterBear
    DrifterBear Posts: 265 Member
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    If you haven't exercised for awhile and have a few additional potential risk factors, it would be a good idea to see your doctor. Don't look at a chart and decide you should safely be able to hit an HR. Your doctor can do an EKG during a physical to decide how much stress your body can handle. Regardless, you should increase intensity and duration of exercise slowly. IF you're cleared for exercise and have been doing (as an example) 20 minute walks achieving 100 BPM, you should start off increasing to 25 min and try increasing intensity so that you achieve 105 or 110 BPM. Again, only examples, talk to your doctor.
  • DarleneMarie203
    DarleneMarie203 Posts: 56 Member
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    DrifterBear wrote: »
    If you haven't exercised for awhile and have a few additional potential risk factors, it would be a good idea to see your doctor. Don't look at a chart and decide you should safely be able to hit an HR. Your doctor can do an EKG during a physical to decide how much stress your body can handle. Regardless, you should increase intensity and duration of exercise slowly. IF you're cleared for exercise and have been doing (as an example) 20 minute walks achieving 100 BPM, you should start off increasing to 25 min and try increasing intensity so that you achieve 105 or 110 BPM. Again, only examples, talk to your doctor.

  • DarleneMarie203
    DarleneMarie203 Posts: 56 Member
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    Thanks! I do have a Cardiologist that I see, who said I should be fine to excercise. I was hospitalized in November, had an EKG, stress test etc. .. and the Doctor said that everything looks good. The last time I saw him, he gave me the okay for exercise, I just forgot to ask about the whole heart rate thing. I'll call his office tomorrow to find out what a safe rate for me is while exercising.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
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    You might also ask how high the HR got during the stress test - for comparison sake.

    Sometimes they use 80% of estimated HRmax to take you up too - so not a true max test - but still - if you found out they saw no issues doing 150 say - then you know you have a good range to go before needing to even think about worrying.

    They may even have estimated a better HRmax based on what they saw. That's mighty useful.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,182 Member
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    As you exercise at a consistent pace for a number of days, you'll notice that your heart rate, and I assume you are using an accurate heart rate monitor, decreases slightly. This is the sign you want to see of cardiovascular improvement. It's a pleasant thing to see and you'll want more.
  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
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    SingingSingleTracker wrote: »
    Here's my down and dirty heart zone perceived effort table...

    Zone 5. I am going to die

    Heart Rate

    Zone 5B: Aerobic Capacity 168-173 (I am going to die)

    I did 15 minutes in the "I'm going to die" effort today. 3 x 5 minute intervals with 5 minute recoveries between.

    OP - jack your HR up over 100 since your Doc gave you the green light.

    Get back to us how you feel during and after the workout(s).

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