High Resting Heart Rate?

[a311]

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?

[a311]

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.

[a311]

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.

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?

[a311]

ewenm said:

Mine's not much use to you - 6ft, 11stone, competitive runner - RHR of just under 50 at the moment, but I've seen 38bpm when properly race fit.

Def not! It's not something I've ever paid attention to, more concerned with blood pressure which is is fine.

[a311]

jagracer said:

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.
What significance is the medical to your job?

Edited by jagracer on Saturday 25th August 15:44

Thanks for all the replies and sorry for the delayed response, been away all weekend. Some interesting replies I think while mine resting rate is within an acceptable range I could be lighter and fitter so will continue to monitor.

The medical is nothing new but instead of being every 5 years they're now every year. I can see allot of people failing if I was border line. The medical is to allow you to work in environments where you need to wear protective suits and breathing apparatus etc. In reality other than sweating buckets it's not overly strenuous and it's not that often I do that kind of work anymore but useful to keep certified.