Low heart rate question

HealthyBride5_3_13
HealthyBride5_3_13 Posts: 52
edited November 10 in Fitness and Exercise
My fiance was curious how much he burns during a Leslie Sansone workout video that we do. I let him borrow my heart rate monitor for today's workout to see what the results were. Turns out, his heart rate wasn't even going above 150 most of the time (even after we decided to have him run for most of the video instead of walking) and he burned the same amount of calories as me (I weigh 32 pounds less). He said physically he felt like he could do it but that he had some trouble breathing. I was thinking maybe it's sports asthma (which I have).

I realize that because he's a guy and I'm a girl, doing the same workout will probably show different results but this workout usually has me at the top of my target heart rate zone when I'm doing the video normally. I also usually workout more often than he does so I think I'm a little more fit as well.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what's going on with him?

Replies

  • rochey1098
    rochey1098 Posts: 285
    I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong here but asking for a diagnosis where the only symptom is a low heart rate isn't a good idea. Have him go to the doctor if you're really worried because they can do the blood work needed or at the very least take his blood pressure.
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    I don't think his heart rate is unusually low. When I do one of Leslie's videos, my heart rate stays in the upper 120s for most of the workout. Also, I think men generally have lower heart rates than women. I've see the max formula expressed 226 minus age for women and 220 minus age for men.

    I wouldn't worry about the difference between your heart rate and his. :-)
  • HealthyBride5_3_13
    HealthyBride5_3_13 Posts: 52
    I just wanted to see if anyone had had a similar situation or anything, not looking for a diagnosis :) thank you for your input!
  • parksam6
    parksam6 Posts: 16
    i would be more worried about the Asthma. but he might also be different physically from you. Is he very athletic and physically fit? I have a friend who regularly runs a few miles a day. We climbed stairs together, her heart rate was almost normal compaired to mine, which was really high. (i'm still working up my fitness level). If he is not, he may need to check with his md, us his in haler and slow it down a pace if the breathing does not improve. Aerobic activity means you should still be able to talk and breath easy.

    Hope this helps.
  • Nurse_krissy
    Nurse_krissy Posts: 102 Member
    I am a cardiac nurse and what you have described does not seem concerning, in my opinion. But like others have said, have him seek medical care if you are concerned. I do not hold the licensure to diagnose.

    Although you may do the workout more than he does, he may possibly still be more fit than you are. The more fit you are, the harder it is to get your heartrate up because it's pumping more efficiently with each beat.

    I find that when I'm in the 150's, it feels like a moderately easy workout. If he's having trouble breathing, it may be more of a lung issue rather than a cardiac (heart rate related) issue.
  • parksam6
    parksam6 Posts: 16
    Well as long as it does go up with exercise, that is good. It doesnt sound like it is low low like in the 40s. I would not want him working tht hard if it is that low. His peak aerobic heart rate might just be in the 130s to 140s. I have some asthma, which makes execise hard sometimes. I keep an inhaler with me if i start acting up. If he does not have one, he should talk to the md to see if that is asthma or if he is actually working too hard and needs to be checked out.
  • daryls
    daryls Posts: 260
    Silly question - because I don't really know. But, don't you have to put information into the heart rate monitor - ie, age, weight, etc. to have it be accurate? If so, then did you change the information to his stats?

    I guess the heart rate would still be accurate, but maybe not the calories burned?

    I have a low heart rate - when we tested it last I was lower than my husbands'. However, when my heart rate is tested at the doctors office it is often high!! So, my anxiety makes it jump up :)
  • HealthyBride5_3_13
    HealthyBride5_3_13 Posts: 52
    daryls- Not a silly question! Yes you do need to put that information in and we changed all of it for him to use it.

    Thank you for your input everyone! I'll let him know!
  • tataliciousd89
    tataliciousd89 Posts: 465
    Is he taking any medications by chance?
    I don't think that is a concerning heart rate, but some medications do affect heart rate so thats why I ask. Honestly, that's just the way it goes sometimes. I walk every day and eat healthy, but my ex has a lower heart rate than me. He is a smoker who drinks a pot of coffee a day and was a meth addict for 7 years. Oh yeah and he smokes like a half ounce of pot a day, but his heart rate is still lower than mine.
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