Info on "Unfit" resting heart rates? Charge HR

[mamiejay]

I just got a charge HR and I'm using it to try to get in shape. I'm "middle aged" and reasonably healthy. My BMI is 24-25 so on the high end of normal.  I don't get enough exercise hence the fitbit.   Have been using it almost two weeks and my FB "resting" Heart Rate is around 90 or in the low 90s.  When I sleep it's in the high seventies to mid eighties, and when I am doing regular daily activities (not exercise) it varies between low eighties (right now at my desk it is 83) and up to around 100 or so. 

Can any other "out of shape" - (but not extremely) people share their numbers?  I'm just trying to get an idea whether I need to see a doctor or something immediately based on these high numbers, or whether I fall within a spectrum that is somewhat normal and I should just try diet and exercise to bring it down for a couple months.  I don't huff and puff when I exercise etc so I don't think I'm all that out of shape that I should read this high.  My blood pressure is normal.

[mamiejay]

Thanks - yes I aim to improve it and hope this will work.  Have been using Fitbit to get my 10000 steps at least 4-5 days a week, and doing 3-4 miles of brisk walking.  Sometimes it tells me I am in my "peak" part of that time but I have yet to be winded or anything.  I'm just under 50.  I feel pretty good about this but I don't see anyone else with a resting HR of 90, so I think I'm still going to get checked out just to make sure all is cool.  I appreciate the input and suggestions from you all!

[Corney]

I agree, remember, never train through pain.  If you run and the plantar fasciitis is bothering you, you will prolong the overuse injury caused by a bio-mechanical fault during stance phase.  Plantar fasciitis is usually caused by over pronation during stance, which causes the tibia to exernally rotate which could lead to the patella moving laterally out of it's normal groove between the femoral condyles leading to degenerative changes in both the under surface of the patella and the femoral condyles surfaces.  This occurs more readily in women who have a wider pelvis, thus a greater Q angle.

[Taliluna]

My RHR was (still is) very high. A week and a half ago was averaging 98. When just sitting around it would be 85 to 88. The reason... I found out I have hyperthyroidism.  My FitBit actually helped me figure this out and bring the information to my doctor's.  It also increased my blood pressure.  My doctor put me on Atenolol (20mgs/day).  After a week on this medication my heart rate is averaging 83. Blood pressure is almost back to normal. I should be (have been in the past) at 65 or 70 when sitting around so I know that 75 to 80 is still high for me. A few details:

Age 50 female

20 pounds overweight and light activity

No consumption of caffine ( which DOES jack up my heart rate)

Minimal use of alcohol, but when do consumer does impact heart rate

Heart rate is lower during the weekend when not presented with job stress

Best of luck on your search.

[mamiejay]

Thanks for this response - sorry that I just saw it now!  I also saw my dr because of the high RHR, averaging in the low nineties, and my GP tested my thyroid etc and found it all normal.  Nonetheless she was concerned enough by what I saw her that she made me give up caffeine and has referred me to a cardiologist - I'm going to get a stress test and etc. and I'll weigh in here and say whehter they find anything.  So far he was not alarmed by my heart rate which he considered high normal but I do have some skips so he was wondering if the fitbit is reading those as double or something.  Anyway I'm glad you got some results that helped so far, hope I will find out that it's normal-ish.  Since giving up the caffeine my heart rate has gone down some.  I miss it!

[SunsetRunner]

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@mamiejay wrote:

Thanks for this response - sorry that I just saw it now!  I also saw my dr because of the high RHR, averaging in the low nineties, and my GP tested my thyroid etc and found it all normal.  Nonetheless she was concerned enough by what I saw her that she made me give up caffeine and has referred me to a cardiologist - I'm going to get a stress test and etc. and I'll weigh in here and say whehter they find anything.  So far he was not alarmed by my heart rate which he considered high normal but I do have some skips so he was wondering if the fitbit is reading those as double or something.  Anyway I'm glad you got some results that helped so far, hope I will find out that it's normal-ish.  Since giving up the caffeine my heart rate has gone down some.  I miss it!

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Once you become more active your resting heart rate should decrease over time. Start off with daily walks.  I went from an average  resting heart rate of 65 to now 54 in just over a month .  My goal is to get it in the 40's and be dubbed an athlete.    

[USAF-Larry]

@SpartyKirt that just means that you are fit enough that your heart doesn't have to work as hard as you exercise.  My resting heart rate is always in the mid-60's, and I have a very difficult time getting heart rate above the low 120's when I am maxing out exercising.

That came in handy recently, though, when I was in the hospital for back surgery. The doctors and nurses were constantly amazed when they took my vitals (which they did every time I fell asleep!), because my heart rate was always 62 - 65, and my BP was always in the range of 120/60. They expected much higher readings for my age and the stress I was undergoing from pain.

But, of course, if you are concerned about your heart rates, you should check it out with your doctor on the next visit.

[mamiejay]

So, saw the cardiologist and got a full work up.  They seem to think that my heart rate is simply on the high end of normal.  I am walking several times a week now, and my resting heart rate is down to around 80 which is great, but it seems that it's not due to the exercise but to my GP telling me to get off caffeine.  I was not a huge coffee drinker, drinking one "small" 7-11 cup on weekdays and none on weekends, but I REALLY enjoy that one cup a day - nevertheless - I stopped and it looks like I am just particularly sensitive to it.  Perhaps with more walking I can get it down more, because I realize around 80 is still pretty high, but the sonogram, stress test, and holter monitor for 48 hours all checked out OK that I don't have any major problems going on with my heart. Also, each time the doctors tested my pulse rate I checked against the fitbit HR and it's pretty accurate! 

[mamiejay]

I have actually noticed some correllation with how much I sleep.  I have had a pattern of keeping myself somewhat sleep deprived during the week and then trying to make it up on the weekend.  Last night I fell asleep early by accident and slept over 8 hrs and  today is the first day my RHR registered under 80, has been at about 78 today.  Will try to see if I can do that more regularly and maybe drop it some more, good point.

[Heybales]

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@mamiejay wrote:

I have actually noticed some correllation with how much I sleep.  I have had a pattern of keeping myself somewhat sleep deprived during the week and then trying to make it up on the weekend.  Last night I fell asleep early by accident and slept over 8 hrs and  today is the first day my RHR registered under 80, has been at about 78 today.  Will try to see if I can do that more regularly and maybe drop it some more, good point.

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Not sure if you are using Fitbit's definition of resting HR - because they don't use the traditional meaning.

Which is first thing in morning before moving around, hopefully not getting freaked out by alarm.

Fitbit uses some all day value that includes other lows. It's like a low average - and probably a useful view too - like are you indeed stressed out during times your HR should be lower.

But you get a morning measurement, especially after good nights sleep - that may be more meaningful.

That's the one to watch to make sure it doesn't start going the wrong direction - up.

[Nevercanstayput]

My resting HR is between 53-58. I've been very nervous about that. During exercise, it'll reach 125 but quickly goes back down to the lower HR. Im 5'9 198 lbs and have lived a sedentary lifestyle until a week ago so it's not because I'm physically fit 

[Heybales]

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@Nevercanstayput wrote:

My resting HR is between 53-58. I've been very nervous about that. During exercise, it'll reach 125 but quickly goes back down to the lower HR. Im 5'9 198 lbs and have lived a sedentary lifestyle until a week ago so it's not because I'm physically fit 

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Probably more active than you think, combined with great genetic potential along the aerobic direction.

Probably got a diesel heart too, pumps a lot each beat.

Likely will mean the HR zones as given will be higher than are actual for you once you do get more fit.