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Completed Insanity Program, Heart Rate Was Normal. Suddenly Lightheaded, Varying Heart Rate. Should I Worry ?
I m a 41 yr old female, I exercise 6 days a week and just recently completed the INSANITY program. My resting heart rate is ~62 bpm with a normal max exertion heart rate of 176 - 180. I was running on the treadmill today at a normal 6.5 pace and my heart rate had been functioning at it s expected rate. Then I just instantly felt strange.. not light headed or faint, but I felt that my heart was working harder so I took my rate again with my wrist timer and it registered 214 bpm. I have never registered my heart at that rate before so I slowed the treadmill to 3.0 and walked. My heart rate came down at a steady pace 204 ... 184 ... 174 at which point I felt normal again and kept walking ... down to 134. I then turned the treadmill back up to 7.0 and ran for 3 minutes then turned it down to 5.5 for another 10 minutes. My heart felt fine the remaining period and hit a max of 175. I am curious to know if I should be worried about the heart rate jump or should I let it go unless it happens again.
Thu, 4 Apr 2013
Hello.
Accelerated heart rates can be a serious issue. Your maximal heart rate can be approximated by this formula: 220- age. In your case your maximal heart rate would be around 180, with a targeted max exercise rate 60-80% of that.
If you note heart rates accelerating beyond these parameters, or feel dizzy/light-headed, it is important you get evaluated by a medical professional, and obtain an EKG and allow for a period of heart monitoring (even Holter monitoring, at home) to determine if you would benefit from rate-control medications or further intervention.
Be well,
Dr Rao
Accelerated heart rates can be a serious issue. Your maximal heart rate can be approximated by this formula: 220- age. In your case your maximal heart rate would be around 180, with a targeted max exercise rate 60-80% of that.
If you note heart rates accelerating beyond these parameters, or feel dizzy/light-headed, it is important you get evaluated by a medical professional, and obtain an EKG and allow for a period of heart monitoring (even Holter monitoring, at home) to determine if you would benefit from rate-control medications or further intervention.
Be well,
Dr Rao
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