Question about my heart rate

[Alyusha]

So I am a 29, 5 foot 9 male weighing roughly 270. I smoked for about 14 years, but quit 2 weeks ago on Saturday. So, I am sure the smoking deal is still affecting my heart and lungs and all that good stuff, but I am still a little alarmed by my heart rate, and I just wonder if it is due to my weight, smoking or if this could mean something else. Please also note that I just started my current exercise program about 5 days ago. I am also recovering from recent ankle surgery, so I have been unable to walk, let alone exercise for about the last 6 months. This is a big reason for my weight gain, although I am sure I could have eaten much better.

I understand that I should see a doctor if anything serious is going on, but this has not caused any issues.

My resting heart rate is about 68 right now, and my max about 192. This morning, while on an elliptical about 1.4 miles in, at about a 5.5-6 mph pace, I hit 192. I checked this with my watch, with my phones sensor and the machines also, all were pretty close, so I do believe that I was right around 192 give or take. 

My question is, at 192 BPM, I was sweating, it was hard, I wanted to stop... Yes. But the only reason I wanted to slow down was because i knew my heart rate was close to max or at max. It is also very easy for me to get above my target of about 160, I try to stay under, but I am enjoying my increasing lung function, but now I feel limited by my heart. I do not feel like I am about to pass out or anything.

Is this normal given all the circumstances? 

[JohnRi · Accepted solution]

Last year I was 281.  I'm 3 inches taller than you, and 20 years older.  My max heart rate was 160.  However during exercise I did, and still do hit 180.  So it is ok to exceed your max heart rate.  The catch is it's not wise to exceed for long sustain periods of time.  But occasional peaks are ok.

As for just hitting your max and staying there, I would say you are ok, as long you don't do it for a couple of hours straight.  You certainly aren't going to keel over and die if keep your heart at max for 30, 40 minutes...  As you exercise more, you will find out it will get harder and harder to get your heart rate up there.  As you heart gets in better shape, it doesn't have to pump as much to get blood to your body. 

So I would think you will find as time goes on, you won't be able to get to 192, unless you REALLY work hard to do it. 

So you should be fine.

[josephz2va]

Know Your Numbers

Age Target HR Zone 50-85% Average Maximum Heart Rate, 100%

20 years	100-170 beats per minute	200 beats per minute
30 years	95-162 beats per minute	190 beats per minute
35 years	93-157 beats per minute	185 beats per minute
40 years	90-153 beats per minute	180 beats per minute

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/PhysicalActivity/FitnessBasics/Target-Heart-Rates_UCM_43...

Max heart rate for you would be 190 then. But from several site articles, you shouldn't push your heart super duper long no matter your current condition. I had a friend who did that in a forest, not knowing what environmental conditions there were, and he passed away. I mostly exercise in the gym with dozens of visitors these days and push it on the elliptical machine up to no more than 85% heart rate as long as I can survive. When I'm unable to keep going, I stop. Usually around 30 minutes to 45 minutes is my current energy level with my legs and body fat percentage.

[Dominique · Accepted solution]

If you are heavy, a former smoker and have been mostly sedentary for several years, it is not surprising intense (or even milder) effort sends your pulse to its maximum level: that’s what typically happens when you’re out of shape and (re)start to exercise.

As to whether you should be worried about it, you shouldn’t really trust a heart rate monitor or our opinions in this community. If you want to know whether it is safe for you to exercise at max. HR, you should consult with a cardiologist and perform an cardiac stress test. This might not be a bad idea, given that several factors put you in a risk group (for heart problems).