Is it normal for my heart rate to reach 200bpm while working out?

WHAT IF I COULD NOT GET UP TO 160 ON THE ECHO STRESS TEST I HAD
THIS AM AND HAD TO STOP WITH ONLY 85% OF THE 160

I, too, have these exact symptoms. I'm 23 years old, 5'9 and 120 lbs. I've always considered myself very fit; naturally muscular. About 6 years ago, I began passing out every time I attempted cardio exercises. My heart rate is somewhat high at rest- 78-90 bpm - and it quickly shoots up to 220 after 3-4 minutes of jogging. It's a pain. I feel faint at about 210 bpm, and always have to stop and put my heat between my knees to keep conscious. I have visited the best cardiologist around this region I the country; all tests came back normal. I've had numerous blood tests, again, all normal. If you find a solution, I'd love to know it. Best of luck.

I have the exact same problem, I had cardiopulmonary stress test thats showed basically I go to anerobic mode within 4 minutes starting excercise, also had stress echo ,it was completely normal, I have to basically slow my pace and very gradually increase , my HR goes to 180 with 3-4 minutes of run and I have stop to rest

My guess would be anemia and she should have blood determinations and if correct start eating steak reggularly and taking iron, folate and B12 supplements

Anonymous (w/ mitral valve issues),

Thanks for sharing about your mitral valve issue. It's not easy to accept that you could have a heart issue at a young age, but as you wisely pointed out, it's so much better to know than to not know.

Anonymous (w/ high heartbeat),

I hope you'll take your doctor up on the Holter monitor. It will be very easy to let it capture any abnormalities by simply working out and running to replicate what normally happens. For many people, it takes a year or two (and sometimes a stroke or two) before their doctors finally diagnose them with atrial fibrillation. Sometimes it is because the doctor really doesn't take their symptoms seriously, and other times it's because they don't have an afib episode during the EKG or Holter monitoring. But you know exactly what brings it on and can easily replicate the conditions.

I don't want to scare you, but if it is afib, or even atrial flutter, that is something to take very seriously. Next week, in celebration of National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month (September), we at StopAfib.org are launching a video to raise awareness. A few significant facts from it include:

1) About 35% of those with atrial fibrillation will have a stroke
2) Atrial fibrillation strokes are fatal 3 times as often as other strokes
3) Risk of death is double for those with atrial fibrillation than for those without it

Younger folks without heart disease have lower risk than older folks with it, but even so, you can always be the exception. Having almost died twice in 2003, at the age of 51, I know that I was an exception as well, so it can happen to anyone. Please at least find out.

Good luck.

Mellanie

While not being a medical expert, I can share some of my thoughts regarding the natural urge to avoid finding out that you have a serious health problem. Although I wasn't as active as you have described, I was usually short of breath while exercising and I was feeling tired most of the time. I always thought that I wasn't exercising enough or at times that I needed to loose weight. I went to see a cardiologist after serious preassure from my wife (thanks to her). Luckily my doctor didn't send me after listening to the heart beat and the EKG. He also performed an echo (the ultrasound like machine). He found out that I had severe mitral valve prolapse which is a serious heart condition. Finding out that you have a heart condition at the age of 31 was initially devastating but in a couple of days I got used to the idea and accepted fact that I needed to go through heart surgery to get it fixed. I got the surgery in a month and now it's almost been six months and I am back at the gym feeling better than ever. I am verry happy that I saw the doctor and didn't just waive the symptoms off. I suggest that you also see your doctor one more time and get a holter or stress test as the experts have already suggested. So pls don't just believe that you are ok and cut back on running unless the doctors check every possibility. Otherwise you may regret it someday.

What did your doctor say about this high heart rate and the nausea and wanting to vomit? That sounds a bit extreme, and pushing through it doesn't sound healthy. Atrial fibrillation is very common in competitive athletes, both young and older, because of the stress placed on the heart. In fact, most young people with afib got it from running and other high-intensity sports such as rowing and basketball. I'm surprised the doctor hasn't suggested having you wear a Holter monitor for 24-48 hours to record the heart, especially during exercise.