limits on heart rate?

[danielgilboa]

I am 5 months post (today!) and have been running, cycling and swimming. My aerobics are already better than pre surgery.

My question - is there any limit on heart rate for valvers? or post OHS'ers? I don't wear a heart rate meter I just push as far as it goes but was wondering if I might be causing any damage or going into any risk?

Thanks!

 

[tobagotwo]

You're young and otherwise healthy, so unless your cardio has specifically restricted you, I'm not aware of any restrictions. Your chest is long healed by now, so you should go with your instincts for exercise.

There are folks out there like Mark Wagner who have performed great feats of physical endurance - on a regular basis, no less.

A lot of those who are greatly into heavy exercise do use heart monitors to know when they've gotten to a peak exercising plateau. I suspect Mark, Hosacktom, Raverlaw, Runner, or one of many others may weigh in with great info on this, and whether (and how) that might be beneficial for you.

Also consider using the search function in active lifesyles, with criteria like "heart rate."

Best wishes,

 

[M&M]

Hi Daniel, Congratulations on your 5 mos post surgery.. It sounds like your having alot of FUN with all your cross training.

As for your question regarding OHS and heart rates for valve patients. I'm 4 mos post surgery and I was never told about keeping my heart rate in a certain range since my OHS and my surgeon knows I run lots of road races. I've run 5 road races since my surgery in May. I've given two medals to my surgeon since May. He said after I gave him my first medal - Congratulations and to keep it up !! But my race 'time' wasn't that fast. It was more of a 'no' competition that day. Although I'm not sure I went outside my heart range. I would think if I was doing any damage to my heart by racing he would tell me and since he was a runner - he would surely know that sometimes when you run up those hills - I'm sure some runners go outside their range...

I do have a polar heart monitor but I don't wear it - I really don't want to know if I get to close to my 'shocking' heart rate on my ICD !!! I'm set to get shocked at 185 bpm. Since I haven't gotten shocked in the last 5 races - I can assume I haven't gotten my heart rate up that high.

I have heard that if your in a gym and running on a treadmill along another person with a heart monitor that sometimes you can pick up each others 'rate' on their monitors. So, if I was to have a monitor and I had a 'tachy' and my heart rate went up 'high' the guy beside me might flip out.. and visa versa.. My 'spinning' instructor had her heart monitor go really low in class one day and after class I told her I had an ICD - she wondered if I could have set her heart monitor to show that her heart rate was so low.. I said I don't think so - but she wasn't convinced..

Anyways, I know they recommend 'everyone' stay within their target heart range. My range is kind of low - so I know I've gone outside the range from time to time.. I can't see that its damaged my heart. Of course the more 'fit' you become the less likely you would exceed your range.

Each person is different so you might want to check with your doctors.

Best Wishes and remember to have FUN..
Marilyn (runner)

 

[Harpoon]

In cardiac rehab, they always said that they didn't want me anywhere over 40 bpm above my resting heart rate. At the time that translated to no faster than 150bpm.


I think a lot of it depends on your comfort level and how fast your heart recovers from the intense workout that got your HR elevated. if it's taking a LONG time after you stop moving for your heart rate to come back down, say 20 minutes or more, then there's a problem and you shouldn't be going that hard.

However, if your rate returns (close) to normal within 5 to 10 minutes after exercise, you should be OK.

Most people seem to be Ok with just listening to what their heart and body is saying. If you feel like you're pushing yourself too hard, you are and you need to slow down.


Granted, there are some masochistic idiots out there (marathon runners???) but that's another issue....

 

[Gemma]

Hi Daniel, and congratulations on your 5-month anniversary .
Jim asked the physiotherapist at rehab for some guidelines on target HR (mainly so he had some numbers to tell the idiot gym instructor, but that's a different story...) and she she said he should aim not to go over 130 bpm (that's on beta-blockers -without she said the max should be 160 bpm). He's 27. 160bpm would put his HR at about 80-85% of his maximum heart rate (220-age), which is supposed to be most beneficial for cardiac training.
Having said all that, my personal trainer (who I hired for 6 months last year when I decided losing some weight might be sensible ) wasn't overly concerned at my heart rate being in the low 170s, which was a little high using the above maths. He was more bothered that it took a while to come down at the end of a session. That sorted itself out as I got fitter.
Sounds like you're doing pretty well - I'm sure as others have already said, you'd know about it if you were pushing too hard.
Gemma.

 

[MarkU]

I use Dr. Maffetone's 180 method to manage my heart rate during my triathlon training (180 - age = Maximum Aerobic Heart Rate). I find that this works well for me and helps me to keep from going anaerobic (not a good thing early in a triathlon...).
I don't have a heat rate monitor, but will just take my pulse for six seconds and multiply by 10 to get a pretty good idea of my heart rate. As long as I'm around 130 BPM, then I know I'm okay.

Mark

 

[tommy]

Happy to hear that you are progressing well.

I subscribe to 80% of 220-age calculation. It is very close to the same result as MarkU's method. I use this as a prefered maximum. If I go over a tad now and then, I'm okay. The absolute maximum is 220-age (in otherwise very healthy individual), but should be avoided.

Check your heart rate 3 minutes after exertion (recovery time). If it does not get into the 100-110 range in 3 minutes, you may be pushing too hard too soon.

Check your heart rate at rest. Just before you get out of bed is fine. If your resting rate creeps down, you are doing great. If it creeps up, you may be overdoing it.

The best cardio exercise is when you can hold a conversation at the same time.

Hope this helps.

 

[Raverlaw]

Daniel,

I don't use any 'special' guidelines. My maximum heart rate is calculated at (220-age): in my case that's 170. For best cardiac benefit and weight loss, most guidelines say to exercise between 55% and 85% of your maximum. I try to keep my heart over 111, and at 150 or less, but I occasionally go over when pushing hard.

You don't want to go from your resting heart rate to 150 quickly. You should warm up for at least ten minutes to get your heart rate up that high, preferably longer. Then try to get between 45-60 minutes of continuous exercise in the 'zone,' followed by a 5-10 minute cool down. If you're exercising at 150 bpm, and stop, your rate should get down below 100 within 3-5 minutes.


If your heart rate doesn't go down quickly upon cessation of exercise; if exercise gives you arrythmia, if you have an ICD; if you have Marfans Syndrome, or have been diagnosed as being pre-aneurysmal; or if you are on beta blockers or other medication for blood pressure, you should discuss exercise parameters with your doctor. I strongly suggest investing in an inexpensive heart rate monitor (my Polar cost around $50.00 US) so that you can monitor not only your maximum heart rate, but how long it takes you to get it up there and how quickly it comes down.

Glad to hear you're feeling well and getting some exercise.

 

[Shine_on_Syd]

I work out aerobically on an almost daily basis. My cardio had to fill out a release for my health club. One question was maximum heart rate. He did the 220-age times 85% = BPM.
For me at age 55 that is 140. I always wear a pulse monitor when I work out
When the conditioning effect kicked in I started to exceed 150 and push 160.
I am on 160 mg of Inderal LA (beta blocker) daily so that supresses my heart rate. I got medical approval to go to the 150 - 160 limits. I have done several 10Ks and two sprint triathlons since my surgery.
Good luck Daniel!

 

[danielgilboa]

Thank you all for the comforting information. Hearing my st. Jude click away just made me wonder if it had any speed limits