High HR Zones? Or am I Dying of a Cardiac Condition?
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Anonymous
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I am probably overthinking this but I had preeclampsia three times which is an unmasker for heart conditions. IE it does not cause the heart condition but if you had pre-e it is an early warning sign that something might happen later on. As a result of my dangerous pregnancies I went on a major fitness kick and spent the last four years losing like 50-60 pounds and getting in what I would consider pretty good shape. I'm not some professional athlete or anything but I exercise a lot. I have in the past six months started down the 'wearable tracker' road a bit and I feel like my exercising HR is concerning to me.
My resting HR per my Oura ring is 56 so my resting HR is fine. But my exercise HR seems crazy. Yesterday, for example, I ran for 90 minutes (I'm getting ready for a 10k) and the entire time was able to maintain a conversation. Not an EASY conversation but also not like, gasping for words. Able to speak in clear sentences between breaths type thing. From the LOE calculations I would assume this is zone 3 but my watch is telling me I was in zone 5 the whole time because my HR was like, 165-170 most of that time (I am 39 so my max HR calculator is max HR 181). In a speed run workout last week my HR peaked at 206. That was a VERY difficult workout where I got to a LOE I would be unable to sustain for more than a couple of minutes. Again, my wearables thought I might be dying, and it was like, a max effort workout but I was not like, having a heart attack. The internet has told me that maybe my max HR is just higher than normal. Or that my base fitness might be low and I need to force myself to do a bunch of zone 2 workouts but I will say that my zone 2 by the calculations feels like I'm doing almost nothing. Is anyone else in a similar situation? Mostly I'm worried that this is more evidence of my ticking time bomb of a heart and that its a signal something is wrong with me (while pregnant I got a full cardiac workup and they told me I was fine, but still). |
Anonymous
| Do you drink coffee before your workouts or workout after fasting? I would also make sure you're getting your electrolytes. I've also noticed my heart rate varies a lot throughout my cycle. Also make sure you're getting enough iron. |
Anonymous
Yesterday I had had coffee and had fasted but was done with coffee by ~10, ate at 11, didn't run until 1:30. I am kind of low iron. |
Anonymous
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You are fine. Your run heart rate will come down as your run fitness improves but it may always be on the higher end. If you are going to use heart rate as a proxy for anything get a chest strap. Wrist optical monitors aren’t perfect. Also be aware that heart rate can be a poor proxy for a bunch of different reasons.
Fatigue can manifest as a low rate, for example. The polarization is there mostly to prevent you from injuring yourself. You probably aren’t doing 5+ hours a week of running anyways, so I’m sure you’ll be fine. |
Anonymous
The low iron might be doing it. |
Anonymous
| If you're running outside, it may also be the heat/humidity that is making your heart rate higher at your normal pace. |
Anonymous
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I guess to be clear I am not like, getting in shape. I ran a 10k last august in 1:04 which sure is not like FAST but its also pretty respectable for 38 yo mom of three. I have been doing sustained cardio for 4 years. This is why I'm confused about how low my fitness could be. I jogged for 90 minutes without stopping yesterday. And I am sometimes approaching 5 hours of running. But it doesn't feel like I'm killing myself.
The high HR doesn't FEEL like a high HR. That's what I'm confused about, again I can maintain a full conversation. This also isn't unique or a one off I've been getting readings like this for months. |
Anonymous
| Is this chest strap or apple watch. Once I get sweaty apple watch is all over the place and bouncing from running also does not help. Get polar H10, basically an industry standard. |
Anonymous
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I wouldn't worry about it. People vary. If you are feeling comfortable during the run and you are not knocked out, then keep on doing what you are doing. The numbers are helpful, but the most important thing is to listen to your body. If you have to take a nap later in the day or are too tired to exercise for several days, then you're overdoing it. If you feel fine during the run and can keep up the routine regularly, you're good.
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Anonymous
You are way way over thinking this. If you are running below 9 minute miles for 5 hours and feeling fine, stop worrying about it. The physics of running faster than that for 40-70 miles a week does add up. That’s why people are running with power now as a proxy. You’ll know if you are overtraining. Just keep running. And get a heart rate strap. You are fine. |
Anonymous
| If you are worried because you calculated your zones from an online calculator based on age I would not worry. Recalculate your zones based on what you know about yourself. And yes lower zones often feel like not much effort. |
Anonymous
| Are you sure it's accurate? |
Anonymous
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My heart rate runs really, really high. I recently had a stress test and told the woman doing it -- don't go by my heart rate because it'll get to 160 in a minute and I'll still be able to talk to you. She was surprised when I was right. Most of my bike workouts are in high zone 3/zone 4-- and my running workouts in zone 4/zone 5. I'm in zone two after about 15 seconds. I think what's more important is how fast your heart recovers.
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Anonymous
| What time of day did you run? Was it hot and humid? Has your body adapted to the heat/humidity yet? Are you dehydrated? Sleep deprived? There can be many reasons for a high HR - I would back down on my training, try shorter runs and see what you get for recordings. If you have access to a treadmill - inside - it might be a good time to see how that impacts your numbers. |
Anonymous
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people definitely vary a lot.
a friend I used to run with always had a high HR even when at an easy pace and not huffing and puffing. She had it tested at one point and they confirmed that for her she just has a higher max HR. |