High Resting Heart Rate?
Discussion
I went for a medical at work recently and part of it is jumping on a bike while being hooked up to a heart rate monitor. According to the nurse I was borderline for having a high resting heart rate and will go back in a couple of weeks although I passed.
My first thought was do I have a dodgy heart? Then after a Google it would appear my resting rate recorded as 75 bpm at the time is within the normal range? I bought myself a heart rate monitor to use when I’m out running and before I start off it’s anywhere between 75-90 while my OH who is 5’1” and 7 stone wet through has a resting rate of 55 bpm. I’m 6’4” and although I realise I carry a bit of weight over the ideal (I’m 17st currently but normally hover around16.5) I class myself as being reasonably fit. I run allot, minimum of 20 miles per week and train to around 10k and take part in events, also training for a half marathon in October. I had taken off around 5 weeks due to injury but now I’m 4 weeks back into the training it hasn’t made any difference to my resting heart rate. Over 6 miles I can average about 8 min miles when at my peak but at around 9 min miles at the moment as I’m rebuilding fitness.
So is this one of these tests that doesn’t really take account of other factors or am I just fat and unfit? If you’re on the larger side I expect you need more oxygen so heart has to work harder, but is heart size relative to the size of the rest of you?
My first thought was do I have a dodgy heart? Then after a Google it would appear my resting rate recorded as 75 bpm at the time is within the normal range? I bought myself a heart rate monitor to use when I’m out running and before I start off it’s anywhere between 75-90 while my OH who is 5’1” and 7 stone wet through has a resting rate of 55 bpm. I’m 6’4” and although I realise I carry a bit of weight over the ideal (I’m 17st currently but normally hover around16.5) I class myself as being reasonably fit. I run allot, minimum of 20 miles per week and train to around 10k and take part in events, also training for a half marathon in October. I had taken off around 5 weeks due to injury but now I’m 4 weeks back into the training it hasn’t made any difference to my resting heart rate. Over 6 miles I can average about 8 min miles when at my peak but at around 9 min miles at the moment as I’m rebuilding fitness.
So is this one of these tests that doesn’t really take account of other factors or am I just fat and unfit? If you’re on the larger side I expect you need more oxygen so heart has to work harder, but is heart size relative to the size of the rest of you?
944fan said:
Resting heart rate should be taken first thing in the morning after waking up. It is bound to be higher during the day when you are moving around.
Try testing it in the morning before you get out of bed.
Thanks for the reply, and this was part of my argument with the nurse and doesn’t seem to be factored in having the medical in the latter part of the working day, having a couple of coffees before hand won’t help much either I suspect.Try testing it in the morning before you get out of bed.
a311 said:
Thanks for the reply, and this was part of my argument with the nurse and doesn’t seem to be factored in having the medical in the latter part of the working day, having a couple of coffees before hand won’t help much either I suspect.
Coffee will raise it, as could white-coat-reaction (I get this ) where your HR and BP are elevated due to nervousness around docs etc.ewenm said:
a311 said:
Thanks for the reply, and this was part of my argument with the nurse and doesn’t seem to be factored in having the medical in the latter part of the working day, having a couple of coffees before hand won’t help much either I suspect.
Coffee will raise it, as could white-coat-reaction (I get this ) where your HR and BP are elevated due to nervousness around docs etc.Anyone else know there's so I can compare?
There's an 'anticipatory' rise in hr that is caused by the release of adrenaline.Happens about 5 mins before you start to exercise,and it happens to everyone.
It's a similar thing with 'white coat syndrome'.As others have said,take your rhr upon waking.
Out of interest what did they measure whilst you were on the stationary bike?
It's a similar thing with 'white coat syndrome'.As others have said,take your rhr upon waking.
Out of interest what did they measure whilst you were on the stationary bike?
MocMocaMoc said:
Ha, 5'11 - 170lbs and just under 50bpm.
See you on the race track, lad ; )
Do you race? Excellent! Come and join us on The Running Thread if you haven't already. See you on the race track, lad ; )
a311 said:
When I go back this is what I'm worried about as I expect it will be elevated due to very reason.
Anyone else know there's so I can compare?
I'm 6'5'', 17st13, 32 years, running 15K per week plus 2 x weight lifting sessions. RHR is about 58.Anyone else know there's so I can compare?
This is PH so it is an obvious question, but was the nurse doing the assessment tasty? That will get the old ticker going (among other things).
Edited by 944fan on Friday 24th August 13:39
a311 said:
When I go back this is what I'm worried about as I expect it will be elevated due to very reason.
Anyone else know there's so I can compare?
72bpm at the moment but that's quite low for me, it'll be around 80-90 if I start moving around. 55 years old, 89kg, 5foot 10in.Anyone else know there's so I can compare?
What significance is the medical to your job?
Edited by jagracer on Saturday 25th August 15:44
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