ask: Does high heart rate during exercise require a stress test?
I am 43, in fairly good shape, exercise regularly (3-4 times a week) and have noticed for many years that my heart rate gets to 160's-170's during moderate exercise on cardio machines. I don't have any symptoms other than some shortness of breath but it feels normal. I am wondering if I should have a stress test to make sure there is nothing unusual about my heart rate when it gets this high. I have spoken to a doctor about this and he didn't think it was necessary if I am not symptomatic.
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment1 Comments
Anon,
At 43 if you are averaging a maximum heart rate between 160-170 your're still within a normal range. Feeling a little out of breathe when performing moderate cardio is normal. What you need to look out for is if you start to feel out breathe too quickly-- then you may have to slow it down a bit. If you want to maintain a target heart rate of 90-153 beats per minute, then try taking the exercise a little slower with a decrease in resistance or pace-- depending on what you're doing.
Good Luck!
March 1, 2011 - 6:37amThis Comment