Resting heart rate and stress

[Anonymous]

I noticed from my FitBit that my resting heart rate goes up 5 points (approximately) from 55/56-60/61 when I’ve had more stress during the workweek. Happened last month and also this past week. I exercise 6 days a week, running 3 days and full body weights 3 days. Heart rate will go back down but this can’t be good for me. Im 54 and this was probably happening entire life. Only noticed this year as I’ve been using FitBit 2 years. I do not wear overnight to sleep. Similar experiences or learnings appreciated.

[Anonymous]

A 5 beat difference like this means absolutely nothing. The fact that you posted about this means you need to find a way to manage your stress and anxiety.

[Anonymous]

For women the HR variates during your cycle, higher mid month before ovulation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A 5 beat difference like this means absolutely nothing. The fact that you posted about this means you need to find a way to manage your stress and anxiety.

Well thank you very much

[Anonymous]

This is nothing to worry about as others have posted. It is curious and does reflect how stress affects the body. The same thing can happen when overtraining. Consider that your cardiac health is very good for your age compared to the rest of the worlds population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is nothing to worry about as others have posted. It is curious and does reflect how stress affects the body. The same thing can happen when overtraining. Consider that your cardiac health is very good for your age compared to the rest of the worlds population.

OP here…thanks for this input. It is definitely stress related and agree my cardiac health is very good so not worried. I do want to find ways to prevent this even though it’s not a huge risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is nothing to worry about as others have posted. It is curious and does reflect how stress affects the body. The same thing can happen when overtraining. Consider that your cardiac health is very good for your age compared to the rest of the worlds population.

OP here…thanks for this input. It is definitely stress related and agree my cardiac health is very good so not worried. I do want to find ways to prevent this even though it’s not a huge risk.

It’s a zero risk. You are living the life of a human who doesn’t have zero stress. You can ask your pcp if you want by paying your co-pay and doing a video visit.

If you were in the armed forces you’d be medically tagged for Bradycardia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is nothing to worry about as others have posted. It is curious and does reflect how stress affects the body. The same thing can happen when overtraining. Consider that your cardiac health is very good for your age compared to the rest of the worlds population.

OP here…thanks for this input. It is definitely stress related and agree my cardiac health is very good so not worried. I do want to find ways to prevent this even though it’s not a huge risk.

It’s a zero risk. You are living the life of a human who doesn’t have zero stress. You can ask your pcp if you want by paying your co-pay and doing a video visit.

If you were in the armed forces you’d be medically tagged for Bradycardia.

Seriously? Zero risk…can you explain a little more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is nothing to worry about as others have posted. It is curious and does reflect how stress affects the body. The same thing can happen when overtraining. Consider that your cardiac health is very good for your age compared to the rest of the worlds population.

OP here…thanks for this input. It is definitely stress related and agree my cardiac health is very good so not worried. I do want to find ways to prevent this even though it’s not a huge risk.

It’s a zero risk. You are living the life of a human who doesn’t have zero stress. You can ask your pcp if you want by paying your co-pay and doing a video visit.

If you were in the armed forces you’d be medically tagged for Bradycardia.

Seriously? Zero risk…can you explain a little more?

I mean this as nicely as possible, but where on earth would you have developed any thinking that a 5bpm shift from a very cheap optical HR monitor measuring on its low end would ever present a risk? Assuming it is even accurate or precise, it just isn't a risk. Here is a short list of things why that number is variable, and instances where someone's numbers might actually change. None of these represent any sort of risk of any kind.

1) the time of day the watch is attached to the wrist and the activities of that day. I sometimes put my high end Garmin watch on right before I go ride a bike for like 2-3 hours, and have a very active day after that, taking it off while showering, and never once relax. Crazy the thought that my resting heart rate that day might be significantly higher than if lounged around. My actual resting cardiac profile did not change that day.

2) you have a common head cold

3) you fell asleep that day on the couch

4) you spent the day sitting around on the couch

5) you had a very low stress day

6) you are an athlete, coming off a season and are detraining

7) many other reasons

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A 5 beat difference like this means absolutely nothing. The fact that you posted about this means you need to find a way to manage your stress and anxiety.

Agree with all said by PP. Technology sometimes does more harm than good. I think in your case, a Fitbit monitoring tour heart rate at all times is not helpful in any way and gives you anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is nothing to worry about as others have posted. It is curious and does reflect how stress affects the body. The same thing can happen when overtraining. Consider that your cardiac health is very good for your age compared to the rest of the worlds population.

OP here…thanks for this input. It is definitely stress related and agree my cardiac health is very good so not worried. I do want to find ways to prevent this even though it’s not a huge risk.

Find ways to prevent what? Your stress?

[Anonymous]

Of course. My resting heart rate goes up when I am stressed at work and goes down when I am more relaxed. When I have long periods of it being higher it is usually during times when I am not handling work stress well. And it is almost always at its lowest when I am on vacation.

I see the same patterns for my heart rate variability on my fitbit. It tends to go up when I am more relaxed and my resting heart rate is lower, and down when I am not handling stress well. The only things that I have observed have a stronger influence on my RHR is when I drink alcohol or when I am sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course. My resting heart rate goes up when I am stressed at work and goes down when I am more relaxed. When I have long periods of it being higher it is usually during times when I am not handling work stress well. And it is almost always at its lowest when I am on vacation.

I see the same patterns for my heart rate variability on my fitbit. It tends to go up when I am more relaxed and my resting heart rate is lower, and down when I am not handling stress well. The only things that I have observed have a stronger influence on my RHR is when I drink alcohol or when I am sick.

Thank you, this is very helpful. The effect of stress on heart rate is very interesting. Although the 5-6 point increase I’m identifying associated with a stressful work week is low risk, there have been previous times in past 5 years where my fitness was lower and stress was higher. Love that I can monitor this and take action to lower stress. I think I mostly thought of the FitBit to track exercise/miles/target heart rate while working out, this ability to identify some impact of stress is very valuable. I am a person in a high stress high reward job so I always “push through” and really didn’t connect the work related stress to my fitness. Bit of an epiphany for me and reminder to consider stress levels.