High heart rate and working out?

Question

This is not a medical question but my heart rate at rest can be 124-160 beats per minute. When I start working work it gets much higher (180-190) and I start having chest pains so I relax. I'm trying to lose weight so I need to know what are some good work outs that cause fat/weight loss, toning that I can do so my heart rate won't go up so high

JohnnyTheBoy · Accepted Answer

a few things here ...

do you know how to take your resting heart rate?

-i would use your radial pulse (the pulse on your wrist below your thumb) and count the number of beats in an entire minute

do you take your resting heart rate right when you wake up?

-if not, things like caffeine, anxiety, smoking, even walking can pick up your heart rate

after you've done these things AND you still have a high heart rate at rest, I would say that this is might be a normal variant called sinus tachycardia (which means normal rhythm with a high resting heart rate). still, since you have have chest pain, I would see a doctor so that they can check you out. you would probably need to see a cardiologist if your heart beat was irregular (beats at weird intervals).

if you have a family history of early heart attacks or heart disease, anyone born with a birth defect in the family...especially siblings.. ,if you ever pass out during exercise or if you have a medical condition (like a heart condition, diabetes, or thyroid issue) ... see a doctor about this!

that being said, chest pain after exercise is most likely due to inflammation of the ribs, especially seen in people who just start an exercise program. you are forcefully expanding and contracting your rib cage to fill your lungs with oxygen during intense exercise, and this may irritate the joints between the ribs and the bony chest plate (sternum). try some ibuprofen, that should help it

your really high heart rates are most likely due to exercise intolerance. if you are overweight, this will further tax the heart... so take it easy at first. as you condition the heart to exercise, you will adjust within a matter of weeks.

i would say the best place to start is the ellipitical for fat loss, at least to get yourself a little more conditioned, then you could try interval training with the treadmill or with a jumprope (look up "high intensity interval training")

be sure to do resistance training (weight-lifting) and modify your diet by eating the right foods, eating smaller meals more often, and decreasing your overall caloric intake

(bodybuilding.com is good for this kind of info).

Blobb · Accepted Answer

That's pretty high, you might wanna cut back on high intensity exercise. Chest pain is not good.

Maybe do it in smaller spurts; try interval training, it's quite effective and might be less strenuous on your heart.

But for now I'd recommend you cut it down a bit, then progress back up, whenever you feel chest pains coming on, stop; cut the workout, get back to it the next day.

Always tiptoe to the limit but when you reach it, don't go on, it could cause damage.

Also try some kind of relaxing exercises, deep breathing etc... your heart rate shouldn't be that high at rest. I'm not a doctor, so I don't know what health risks a high heart rate might have (except heart attack), but I know it's not normal to have it that high. Could be bad, could be inconsequential. I wouldn't play around with it though, heart problems can be serious.

Try things that will relax you, yoga is a great idea. Do deep breathing throughout the day. Maybe even meditation, not like "ooooohm" fingers-pinched-trying-to-reach-nirvana stuff but just normal closing your eyes, emptying your head, relaxing and breathing deep. 10 minutes a day is awesome. Those things might help to slow your heartbeat quite a bit.

If your uni has a general practitionner, consider asking him, because they're generally cheaper if you have no insurance. If you still can't afford it without insurance, that sucks. Maybe ask on medical forums, I know there's websites where you can ask doctors for advice for free (just google it, it's easy enough to find).

Other than that, make sure you're eating healthy.

AnnieVincereVelMori · Accepted Answer

I have the same issue. My resting rate is anywhere between 90 and 120, the norm being 110. When I exercise, within minute my heart rate is scary fast. I ask my doctor and she suggested more aerobic exercise versus cardio, still doing some cardio throughout the week but just not as much.

CrystalHarley · Accepted Answer

I have a fast heartbeat at rest too,along with my dad so its not something that's likely gonna kill you that may just be a part of you but the chest pains I would get checked out by a doctor just to be sure :)

animalwithin · Answer

Allow me to shed some light on how drastic and horrible your situation is. The common average human has a RESTING heart rare of anywhere between 70-80 bpm. If you have a resting heart rate of above 120 (which is what many people have when they workout), in all seriousness don't expect to live a long life. Sorry for putting it so bluntly but you MUST seek medical attention asap. You have extreme hypertension and for someone your age, that's very bad. Your heart and blood vessels can't take blood pressure that high for such sustained periods, go see a doctor please!

aMuse · Answer

If you heart rate is that high at rest, and you are having chest pains, you're going to want to go see your doctor... He'll likely order a stress test to be conducted to check your heart and for blockages in your arteries. You resting heart rate should be bellow 100 bpm. Are you drinking lots of coffee, under a lot of stress, or anything like that?

soled23 · Answer

ya I just went to the hospital for heart problems. average at rest is 70-100 beats per minute. yours is really high hopefully you are just doing it wrong. but my heart only beats 50 times a minute and is irregular :( but so far I'm healthy. I had a heart murmur when I was a child that was the result of this. but I suggest you check again and it you still have pains or concerned go to the doctors. a regular doctors office can hook you up to an EKG machine to accurately check your heartbeat

abzence · Answer

If you have that high heart rate I don't think you should do more than walking.

When you can walk for an hour with a normal heart rate you could perhaps try to increase to "power walking" and finally jogging.

martyfellow · Answer

Those are really high rates.  I'd cut back on the intensity of exercise until yu've lost more weight and the strain on your heart is less.  I'd go to the MD for some guidance at this point.

mattiee · Answer

you don't need a high heart rate  to burn fat, when you get your heart  rate at high as you are getting it, that's just for cardio, its best to walk or to  lightly jog to burn fat and tone

shalehandro · Answer

Is your pic fake or is that how you actually look? LOL!

Yeahhbro · Answer

do the samr thing but not as hard this time though, maybe spend less doing that, or put a lower level.

Anonymous · Answer

Your'e wrong. Your heart rate at rest is lower than what you think it is.

ben890 · Answer

Do you know what your blood pressure is?

Anonymous · Answer

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High heart rate and working out?

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