LQTS2 Long QT Type 2 (slow heartbeat)

[SunsetRunner]

Well looks like I'm going have to leave Fitbit after years of being happy. Im struggling with Zone minutes as they no longer apply to my slow heat rate, I was fine with Activity mins but now this is going to be a dangerous challenge for me to get into the Zones. Im really disappointed that Fitbit didn't take into account us with Heart issues trying to keep fit. At least give us an option to change back to activity minutes 😞 

[LZeeW]

@SunsetRunner   There is a workaround that doesn't override the system to get you back to "active minutes", but it does get your fat burn heart rate threshold back to something you need.  You do this by setting a custom maximum heart rate.

If you are an iPhone user, you must do this on your web dashboard at fitbit.com.  There is a current bug in the iOS app.

• Log in to your account at fitbit.com on a web browser
• Tap/click on the gear in the upper right, then tap/click on Settings in the dropdown
• Scroll to near the bottom and select heart rate zones
• Set max heart rate to Custom
• There is trial and error in choosing a number.  The methodology for calculating zones is a two step calculation that uses your RHR in addition to your MPHR
• I would start with 15-20 bpm less than your calculated 220 - age = MPHR number.  See what you get
• Tap/click on Submit

If you are an Android user

• Tap on your profile picture then scroll down to Heart Health and choose that
• There is a Custom Max Heart Rate option
• Toggle it to on, then try some max heart rates and see what you get
• Sync your Versa 2 and see what you get

I recommend starting with 15-20 bpm less based on my own experience playing around with the setting to help others.  I lowered my max heart rate by 10 bpm.  My fat burn threshold went down by 4.

I'm confident that you will be able to make an adjustment that works for you.

[MrMarv]

@SunsetRunner -

@LZeeW has given you excellent directions on how to customized your Max HR on your app.

I would further suggest you continue on to read what my cardiologist and I discussed on September 3rd and talk to your doctor. 

I am not a doctor or fitness professional. I am a retired Enterprise Computing professional with a viral damaged heart that takes a Beta Blocker.

My limited research has shown that Beta Blockers are commonly prescribed for LQTS2 - I was researching how Carvedilol, a Beta Blocker prescribed by my cardiologist, was affecting my heart rate during exercise, and LQTS2 was mentioned in one of the articles.

My cardiologist agreed with the finding in the Harvard Medical School's Harvard Heart Letter of November of last year that reducing my Max HR by 20%, because "BETA Blockers act like a regulator to keep the heart rate down" even during exercise.

He was happy to see me hitting high 90s and low 100s in my treadmill sessions, saying that was the best range for me and to not go above 110 for any length of time.

Reducing my Max HT from the traditional (220 - age) to (220 - (age * .8)), coupled with the new Heart Rate Reserve put me exactly where my cardiologist said was where he wanted to see me. 

In the spreadsheet below are the three different heart rate zone definitions, based on Traditional (the old FitBit way), Heart Rate Reserve (the new FitBit way) and Heart Rate Reserve with a Beta Blocker revised Max HR. It is the last row that pretty much matches what my cardiologist told me on September 3rd. You will notice that the re-defined peak zone matches the "not go above 110 for any length of time" statement by my cardiologist.

If you would like a description of how the HRR calculations work, let me know. I can copy/paste from another post or refer you to it, though I <<edit>> would wouldn't <</edit>> be surprised it @LZeeW has a FitBit article link at her fingertips. 😉

The best of luck to you.