Heart rate too high???

jcummings69
jcummings69 Posts: 183
edited September 19 in Fitness and Exercise
I have the Polar F4 heart rate monitor and I have it set to show me my % of max heart rate while working out. I have noticed that when I get above 80% max, I feel like I'm going to pass out. It's hard to explain exactly how I feel, but it's not good. Where should my heart rate be when working out??
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Replies

  • jcummings69
    jcummings69 Posts: 183
    I have the Polar F4 heart rate monitor and I have it set to show me my % of max heart rate while working out. I have noticed that when I get above 80% max, I feel like I'm going to pass out. It's hard to explain exactly how I feel, but it's not good. Where should my heart rate be when working out??
  • GearJammer
    GearJammer Posts: 47 Member
    Try this link for some helpful info..

    http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4736

    You can do a Google search for " Heart Rate Chart".
  • jcummings69
    jcummings69 Posts: 183
    I have read that light intensity is 60-70% max hr, moderate intensity is 70-80% max, and hard intensity is 80-90% max, but I guess I don't know how long I should be in each level. Is is normal to feel light headed and weak when over 80%?
  • helkat922
    helkat922 Posts: 150 Member
    I would say that feeling light headed is not good. I also wonder the same thing as I have a HR monitor and run.. my heart beat gets up to about 170bmp and I feel ok at this point, but I set my HR monitor to tell me when it gets too high. i want to make sure I am working out to full capacity, so I am not sure where to keep my heart rate to make sure that happens? Anyone know?
  • GearJammer
    GearJammer Posts: 47 Member
    The table below shows estimated target heart rates for different ages. Look for the age category closest to yours, then read across to find your target heart rate.

    Age Target HR Zone
    50–85 % Average Maximum
    Heart Rate
    100 %
    20 years 100–170 beats per minute 200 beats per minute
    25 years 98–166 beats per minute 195 beats per minute
    30 years 95–162 beats per minute 190 beats per minute
    35 years 93–157 beats per minute 185 beats per minute
    40 years 90–153 beats per minute 180 beats per minute
    45 years 88–149 beats per minute 175 beats per minute
    50 years 85–145 beats per minute 170 beats per minute
    55 years 83–140 beats per minute 165 beats per minute
    60 years 80–136 beats per minute 160 beats per minute
    65 years 78–132 beats per minute 155 beats per minute
    70 years 75–128 beats per minute 150 beats per minute

    Your maximum heart rate is about 220 minus your age. The figures above are averages, so use them as general guidelines.

    Note: A few high blood pressure medications lower the maximum heart rate and thus the target zone rate. If you're taking such medicine, call your physician to find out if you need to use a lower target heart rate.

    How should I pace myself?

    When starting an exercise program, aim at the lowest part of your target zone (50 percent) during the first few weeks. Gradually build up to the higher part of your target zone (75 percent). After six months or more of regular exercise, you may be able to exercise comfortably at up to 85 percent of your maximum heart rate. However, you don't have to exercise that hard to stay in shape.
  • jcummings69
    jcummings69 Posts: 183
    I guess I'm not really making sense; sorry! I know what my target heart rate range is (118 at 60% and 176 at 90%), and I understand that when working out my heart rate should be somewhere between those numbers, but I don't know what percentage of my max heart rate I should stay in for maximum results. Like should I stay from 70-80% for a majority of my workout, and do some at 80-90%? Or should I do intervals of 60% and 80%? Should I only do above 80% for brief amounts of time?
  • firewalking
    firewalking Posts: 335 Member
    I had a metabolic rate test (both exercise and resting) and my max was 155 for training to be effective. I was told to remain between 144 and 155. At 173 I was only burning sugar vs. fat so going over on your heart rate serves no useful purpose. I'm surprised by that chart displayed earlier. At 180 I would be doing nothing beneficial...:noway:
  • bonniejo
    bonniejo Posts: 787 Member
    I seem to have the opposite problem. I just got my Polar f6, and yesterday while working out it said my high heart rate was 198! I wasn't really all that tired (I always step it down or get a drink when I need to) but I don't think it should have been that high. I have a cold though... Would that affect my heart rate?
  • firewalking
    firewalking Posts: 335 Member
    I was just told that this is an oversimplification of an explanation (mine from above) - so please, research this before relying on what I just wrote...I don't want to be responsible for derailing anybody because my nutritionist and trainer were wrong....:ohwell:
  • songbyrdsweet
    songbyrdsweet Posts: 5,691 Member
    I was just told that this is an oversimplification of an explanation (mine from above) - so please, research this before relying on what I just wrote...I don't want to be responsible for derailing anybody because my nutritionist and trainer were wrong....:ohwell:

    I don't want to say they were wrong, just that they were oversimplifying it. Then they....sort of made it so simple it was wrong. :smile:

    There are benefits to working out at higher heart rates. More cardiovascular conditioning, utilizing different muscle fibers, a larger and more extended increase in the metabolic rate following exercise, more calories burned per minute.

    That said, you can't sustain extremely high heart rates for extended periods of time. This is where intervals come in. Or just slowing down enough to work at about 75%-80% of your MHR. Those levels are sustainable in trained persons. Also, keep in mind that your actual max HR is not necessarily what you find with equations. Those are just generalizations. Yours could be higher or lower.
  • 3babybeans
    3babybeans Posts: 8,268 Member
    Thanks for this topic! I was just wondering the same thing about my HR b/c I've had my Polar F4 for just about a week & am still learning the ropes.

    SBS - that explains it for my simple little mind. Thank you once again, girl! Now I won't panic when my HRM starts beeping its fool head off at me every once in awhile during my cardio. YAY!
  • songbyrdsweet
    songbyrdsweet Posts: 5,691 Member
    Thanks for this topic! I was just wondering the same thing about my HR b/c I've had my Polar F4 for just about a week & am still learning the ropes.

    SBS - that explains it for my simple little mind. Thank you once again, girl! Now I won't panic when my HRM starts beeping its fool head off at me every once in awhile during my cardio. YAY!

    Yea, mine used to do that all time time. It did the 'zone' thing too, but darnit, I do my own workouts, I don't need its help! :laugh: I turned the beepy thing off. I can maintain 85% of my theoretical MHR for a looooong time, so my actual max is higher.
  • 3babybeans
    3babybeans Posts: 8,268 Member
    When the beepy beepy thing would go off, I'd start backing off...then before I know it, I'm down 10 bpm from where I WANT to be, work my way up again, then the damn beeping starts again! I think I'm just going to try to shut it off this next week & see what happens. *shrug*

    Good for you, SBS! I'm hoping to be able to maintain it for a good chunk of time myself. Without beep-induced stress. :laugh:
  • mrsyac2
    mrsyac2 Posts: 2,784 Member
    I have the Polar F4 heart rate monitor and I have it set to show me my % of max heart rate while working out. I have noticed that when I get above 80% max, I feel like I'm going to pass out. It's hard to explain exactly how I feel, but it's not good. Where should my heart rate be when working out??

    So when your heart rate gets to 80% you don't feel right- it could be that your not used to it-

    I always go over my max heart rate per my HRM and I have a polar f4 as well it beeps all the time that I just turned the sound off but I feel fine-

    Do you have any health problems? Maybe you should talk to your doctor?
  • mrsyac2
    mrsyac2 Posts: 2,784 Member
    When the beepy beepy thing would go off, I'd start backing off...then before I know it, I'm down 10 bpm from where I WANT to be, work my way up again, then the damn beeping starts again! I think I'm just going to try to shut it off this next week & see what happens. *shrug*

    Good for you, SBS! I'm hoping to be able to maintain it for a good chunk of time myself. Without beep-induced stress. :laugh:


    I turned my sound off and I go past what it says my max is and I feel fine and you would be suprised how quick you burn calories during that time lol
  • jcummings69
    jcummings69 Posts: 183
    I have the Polar F4 heart rate monitor and I have it set to show me my % of max heart rate while working out. I have noticed that when I get above 80% max, I feel like I'm going to pass out. It's hard to explain exactly how I feel, but it's not good. Where should my heart rate be when working out??

    So when your heart rate gets to 80% you don't feel right- it could be that your not used to it-

    I always go over my max heart rate per my HRM and I have a polar f4 as well it beeps all the time that I just turned the sound off but I feel fine-

    Do you have any health problems? Maybe you should talk to your doctor?

    I don't have any health problems that I know of. Lately though I have been thinking that I may have diabetes, so I have a doctors appointment this Thursday to see what they think. I'm probably just being paranoid, but I have many of the symptoms (excessive thirst and hunger, frequent urination, increased fatigue, blurry vision).
  • bonniejo
    bonniejo Posts: 787 Member
    So I just came back from workout class, and I think my heart rate problem might be my breathing... I'm concentrating so hard on what I'm doing that I don't breath as much as I should. My heart rate kept going up above 190, so I reluctantly took it down a notch. My average was 185 for the 45 minute workout. I don't think that's good. Is breathing the answer?
  • oregonlady
    oregonlady Posts: 2,743 Member
    my new f4 is telling me weird stuff.
    i am very healthy. 44yrs.
    150 is supposed to be my max, but my hrm said i was often reaching 180+ while exercising ~and i was able to talk etc... while it said that!
    so i kept my hrm reading while i was not exercising. i was schocked to see the max it recorded was often ABOVE 220!
    i am having the doctor check it out.
  • alf1163
    alf1163 Posts: 3,143 Member
    OMG, me too!!!!! I'm 45 and pretty healthy as well. The other day my F4 said my avg was 138 and my highest was 214!!!!! I was in shock!!! :laugh: And I did not know the F4 beeped!!!!! I usually go higher than 80% when I workout, intervals...or if I am running. I feel fine. Good question and I hope you are ok and don't have diabetes. So young...:flowerforyou:
  • oregonlady
    oregonlady Posts: 2,743 Member

    I don't have any health problems that I know of. Lately though I have been thinking that I may have diabetes, so I have a doctors appointment this Thursday to see what they think. I'm probably just being paranoid, but I have many of the symptoms (excessive thirst and hunger, frequent urination, increased fatigue, blurry vision).

    i read that our hr ca flux cause of thyriod probs too.
    please, let us know about u doc appt.

    :heart:
  • sassyredgirl
    sassyredgirl Posts: 162 Member
    When the beepy beepy thing would go off, I'd start backing off...then before I know it, I'm down 10 bpm from where I WANT to be, work my way up again, then the damn beeping starts again! I think I'm just going to try to shut it off this next week & see what happens. *shrug*

    Good for you, SBS! I'm hoping to be able to maintain it for a good chunk of time myself. Without beep-induced stress. :laugh:


    I turned my sound off and I go past what it says my max is and I feel fine and you would be suprised how quick you burn calories during that time lol
    I did the exact same thing i turned off the sound and actually try to keep mine higher. Its great.
  • jcummings69
    jcummings69 Posts: 183

    I don't have any health problems that I know of. Lately though I have been thinking that I may have diabetes, so I have a doctors appointment this Thursday to see what they think. I'm probably just being paranoid, but I have many of the symptoms (excessive thirst and hunger, frequent urination, increased fatigue, blurry vision).

    i read that our hr ca flux cause of thyriod probs too.
    please, let us know about u doc appt.

    :heart:

    My mom has a thyroid problem, and for years I have had most of the symptoms of a thyroid problem. In fact, I just took a test the other day online in which I had 23 out of 30 thyroid symptoms. However, I just had a TSH test a few months ago and it came back normal. I know something is not right though, and that's why I want to get tested for diabetes.
  • osmium
    osmium Posts: 107 Member
    OMG, me too!!!!! I'm 45 and pretty healthy as well. The other day my F4 said my avg was 138 and my highest was 214!!!!! I was in shock!!! :laugh: And I did not know the F4 beeped!!!!! I usually go higher than 80% when I workout, intervals...or if I am running. I feel fine. Good question and I hope you are ok and don't have diabetes. So young...:flowerforyou:

    I think sometimes when you first start your workout and the sensors aren't moist enough, the Polars can give occasional bad readings. So I wouldn't panic that your heart was actually getting that high a heart rate.

    This week when I just started my workout I had my HRM on %HR and I was running on the Treadmill so it was reading my bpm. My HRM said I was 110% HR, so this would be close to 200bpm, however the Treadmill was reading the bpm as 130. So it was just an issue with the wrist unit getting the wrong numbers. I have a Polar F6 and the majority of the time there are no issues.
  • singfree
    singfree Posts: 1,591 Member
    I totally agree with songbyrdsweet. I can feel when my body is working out at or near max. It is a matter of personal fitness levels. I like to do intervals on the treadmill. 15 % incline and 4.6 mph for 45 sec, followed by 45 sec at 9.2 mph. I do this until I reach 300 cals burned. I do 2 workouts per day, 600 cals per day cardio and 45 mins total strength training per day. I think that as your level of fitness improves, you can more readily handle a higher sustained HR.

    BTW, I am a male, nearly 55 years old. I've never felt more fit in my life!
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    I guess I'm not really making sense; sorry! I know what my target heart rate range is (118 at 60% and 176 at 90%), and I understand that when working out my heart rate should be somewhere between those numbers, but I don't know what percentage of my max heart rate I should stay in for maximum results. Like should I stay from 70-80% for a majority of my workout, and do some at 80-90%? Or should I do intervals of 60% and 80%? Should I only do above 80% for brief amounts of time?

    Do you have the Own Zone function on the F4?

    I was going strictly by my HRM and noticed my 100% was 173.......yet when I got to 170 I could still talk and breath and really should be lying on the ground at 100%. I dont remember who, but I think it was SBS said that everyones max HR is different, the guide is just that- a guide.

    Your max HR may be lower due to inactivity or genetics.

    (Ok, I now see SBS has chimed in already....see I do listen SBS!!!)
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    my new f4 is telling me weird stuff.
    i am very healthy. 44yrs.
    150 is supposed to be my max, but my hrm said i was often reaching 180+ while exercising ~and i was able to talk etc... while it said that!
    so i kept my hrm reading while i was not exercising. i was schocked to see the max it recorded was often ABOVE 220!
    i am having the doctor check it out.

    You might have it set wrong. I am 47 and my max is 173. 150 would be max for fat burning goals, but not cardio.
  • bonniejo
    bonniejo Posts: 787 Member
    OMG, me too!!!!! I'm 45 and pretty healthy as well. The other day my F4 said my avg was 138 and my highest was 214!!!!! I was in shock!!! :laugh: And I did not know the F4 beeped!!!!! I usually go higher than 80% when I workout, intervals...or if I am running. I feel fine. Good question and I hope you are ok and don't have diabetes. So young...:flowerforyou:

    I think sometimes when you first start your workout and the sensors aren't moist enough, the Polars can give occasional bad readings. So I wouldn't panic that your heart was actually getting that high a heart rate.

    This week when I just started my workout I had my HRM on %HR and I was running on the Treadmill so it was reading my bpm. My HRM said I was 110% HR, so this would be close to 200bpm, however the Treadmill was reading the bpm as 130. So it was just an issue with the wrist unit getting the wrong numbers. I have a Polar F6 and the majority of the time there are no issues.

    Problem is that my heart rate was recorded as that high throughout the workout, even after I was sweating bullets!
  • songbyrdsweet
    songbyrdsweet Posts: 5,691 Member
    I've had my F11 give bad readings for extended periods of time. Sometimes I'd move wrong and the sensors would lose contact, or I'd be wearing it too night/not tight enough, and then of course the batteries would run low at times and then it'd read poorly as well.
  • chrissyh
    chrissyh Posts: 8,235 Member
    When the beepy beepy thing would go off, I'd start backing off...then before I know it, I'm down 10 bpm from where I WANT to be, work my way up again, then the damn beeping starts again! I think I'm just going to try to shut it off this next week & see what happens. *shrug*

    Good for you, SBS! I'm hoping to be able to maintain it for a good chunk of time myself. Without beep-induced stress. :laugh:

    I turned the sound off on mine-I kept having people looking at me trying to figure out what it was beeping - I couldnt hear it anyway with my ipod blasting!
  • 3babybeans
    3babybeans Posts: 8,268 Member
    When the beepy beepy thing would go off, I'd start backing off...then before I know it, I'm down 10 bpm from where I WANT to be, work my way up again, then the damn beeping starts again! I think I'm just going to try to shut it off this next week & see what happens. *shrug*

    Good for you, SBS! I'm hoping to be able to maintain it for a good chunk of time myself. Without beep-induced stress. :laugh:

    I turned the sound off on mine-I kept having people looking at me trying to figure out what it was beeping - I couldnt hear it anyway with my ipod blasting!

    The first couple days, my husband kept saying, "you doin' okay? :huh:" Yes dear, I'm just having a small heart attack. No need for concern. :wink: :laugh:
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