Extreme spike in HR immediately AFTER exercise.

[SunsetRunner]

I've been gradually improving my fitness over the past 18 months or so.

At 64, I'm now in the best shape I've been in 20 years.

Reently, I've started a slightly more ambitious walk/run regime.

I'm taking it steadily, repeating steps in the course rather than pushing through to the next level.

In short, it's challenging but doesn't feel excessive and my HR is comfortably in Cardio.

But lately, when checking my HR chart, I've noticed an extreme spike IMMEDIATELY AFTER I begin to taper off and start my cool down.  I'm talking almost 200 bpm. (My MAXIMUM HR is theoretically 156 bpm.).

My HR falls rapidly and consistently, I never feel any untoward symptoms, but the high HR is worrying.

Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone have any advice?

[FerdinandFitbit]

Hey there @SunsetRunner. Good to see you around! 🙂

The heart rate you mention sounds to be definitely too high... not sure if someone can actually reach 200 bpm but what I would recommend would be to restart your tracker by pressing and holding the left and lower right  buttons for 10-12 seconds. After that, see how it works.

Let me know if you need more help with this!

[SunsetRunner]

I have done as you suggested. Thank you.

It's night here right now - I'm in Australia - but as soon as possible I'll test the HR under stress conditions again and let you know.

Thanks again.

[FerdinandFitbit]

Sounds like a plan @SunsetRunner! Thanks for getting back and have a great night! 🙂 

[pierrotsc]

Well, i am 52 and i did reach 200 this morning on the elliptical. That what was the elliptical recording.

Maybe i need to be checked out 🙂

[bbarrera]

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

Reently, I've started a slightly more ambitious walk/run regime.

I'm taking it steadily, repeating steps in the course rather than pushing through to the next level.

In short, it's challenging but doesn't feel excessive and my HR is comfortably in Cardio.

...

Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone have any advice?

---

@SunsetRunner Yes, I've seen HR accuracy issues with Fitbit PurePulse and Apple Watch (AW a little better, but it also has 'moments' where it loses track). First thing to try is tightening one notch before walking. I'm ten years younger and last year got more ambitous on cycling. From my perspective, Fitbit was optimized for battery life and 24x7 operation, which is fine for looking at your HR when not doing anything but thats not very interesting. I'm interested in accurate heart rate during intense exercise and have found there is no substitute for the accuracy of a chest strap (there is an optical HRM worn above/below elbow and that is quite good). There are a bunch technical reviews that talk about accuracy issues with Fitbit's PurePulse during intense exercise, the easiest one to read is Wareable Blaze review and another on the latest Charge 2 which also points out that they found Blaze often estimated RHR too high and Fitbit changed RHR calculation on Charge 2 - something more technical users have been saying on these forums, and accurate RHR is important for estimating VO2max (Charge 2 feature, and one reason Fitbit is saying to wear Charge 2 at night so it correctly calculates RHR).

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks so much, bbarrera.

This was really valuable info (not to mention a little reassuring.)

Much appreciated.

[SunsetRunner]

I haven't been able to replicate the (apparent) false reading.

Soooo....

1. Perhaps re-starting the Blaze as you suggested has done the trick
2. Perhaps re-positioning the Blaze further from my wrist bone/tighter has done the trick
3. Perhaps it's a combo of 1/ & 2/

I'll be back to full on training over the weekend - Aussie time. If I have another false reading, I'll let you know FerdinandFitbit. Many thanks 🙂

[FerdinandFitbit]

That sounds great @SunsetRunner! I'm happy it's all working as it should again! 🙂

Keep an eye on your tracker and let us know how it goes. Happy stepping! 😄

[Wilko403]

I've had several Fitbit devices over the past few years starting with the Fitbit One, then a Charge HR and now the Blaze. I'm pleased the app has continued to improve although each of my previous Fitbit devices the One and Charge HR had failed. I returned the Charge HR last year and the retailer offered me a change over to the then new model Blaze at minimal cost, so I took the offer. 

I'm in my early fifties and have seen much improvement in my fitness over the past and the Charge HR and Blaze heart rate monitor feature has proven to be very beneficial in doing so. Although I have noticed as mentioned in this post that my Blaze does show a spike Heart Rate reading in every fitness session I undertake whether it's in run, walk or workout mode. After each exercise session I note my Blaze and app HR graph shows a single spike peak reading upwards of 180 to 200bpm within a minute or so of starting exercise. Unusual I think, as I've only just begun a workout. I have screen shots. Has anyone else noticed this single spike reading.

I have tried adjusting the band in several places on my wrist  but this has made no change to the spike reading. At a routine physical I showed my doctor the various Fitbit app exercise graphs and he just said no way you could physically peak 180bpm within a minute as you would certainly physically feel and notice the increased HR. I do like the Blaze watch but it's frustrating the peak reading causes the overall average HR reading to be slightly incorrect. Either way the fact that I'm exercising is the real bonus for me to see and feel the results of my efforts. Just wondering if there is fix for the consistent spike heart rate wrist reading. 

[Stevobangkok]

I have also experienced heartbeat spikes at 174 (which is my maximum) but they seem to occur when i take my Fitbit Blaze off to take a shower. I don't know if it is detecting something else or whether it is just confused when i take it off. Perhaps it is better to switch it off before I take it off. Does anyone else get this