resting heart rate- 102

[Alone]

I've never really paid much attention to my pulse, but I've been lying in bed for the past 30 minutes, checked my pulse, and found it to be 102. 10 minutes later I checked again and it was exactly the same.

I'll be monitoring it over the next week or more to find the average, but assuming this is consistent, how serious is this?

I'm 5'10, 175lbs. I don't eat too terribly but I do indulge. I'm also a smoker.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I've never really paid much attention to my pulse, but I've been lying in bed for the past 30 minutes, checked my pulse, and found it to be 102. 10 minutes later I checked again and it was exactly the same.

I'll be monitoring it over the next week or more to find the average, but assuming this is consistent, how serious is this?

I'm 5'10, 175lbs. I don't eat too terribly but I do indulge. I'm also a smoker.

Unless you've received a heart transplant, that is something to worry about. Healthier hearts beat more slowly since they have a larger stroke volume. Your heart seems to have a terribly low stroke volume - significantly lower than normal sedentary people. Being a smoker, I imagine, has a huge effect on it. I would probably go to the doctor to get it checked out. Anything over 80bpm is unusually high for rest.

 

[Alone]

96 today. Going to check it periodically before I go see a doc.

If this gets sorted out and I'm back to a normal rate, would that means I'd be more capable in regards to physical training? Because I hit 198 to 200 during easy pt, and that's not very good in the military.

 

[fleshconsumed]

I believe average ranges from 60 to 80. 96/102 is high. Quit smoking, start exercising.

 

[Alone]

I'm in the military so I get a lot of exercise. And quitting smoking, unfortunately, is not an option.

 

[fleshconsumed]

Not to nitpick, but not an option? It is always an option. Just say it like it is: you don't want to give it up. But of course, those are all personal choices.

 

[Alone]

Its not an option because I don't want to give it up.

Now if a doc told me that was the major factor, I'd do it in a heart beat. No pun intended.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Its not an option because I don't want to give it up.

Now if a doc told me that was the major factor, I'd do it in a heart beat. No pun intended.

Let's put it this way. The higher your resting heart rate is, the less healthy the individual is. Even if you exercise a lot, the effects aren't overcoming either genetic pathology or smoking-induced heart problems. A heart rate ~100 signifies that your heart is either very small or very rigid. It's not putting out enough volume per beat, therefore it increases beats per minute to maintain proper flow. Smoking effects this no matter how you look at it - whether you were genetically predispositioned for this or not. At least go talk to the doctor about it. I definitely wouldn't wait around with a heart like that. I would venture to say that your heart's being overworked and you're at an increased risk of a heart attack.

 

[darkxshade]

I'm in the military so I get a lot of exercise. And quitting smoking, unfortunately, is not an option.

Bad habits aside, if you're already exercising a lot and your RHR is still around 100, you should definitely have that checked out. My RHR when I was 200 lbs 5'8 was ~75 with little to no exercise. I'm 175lbs now and my RHR is ~50 and I'm doing 45 mins cardio 5x/week excluding lifting.

 

[crt1530]

Smoking has no impact on your cardiorespiratory system. Don't let the haters tell you otherwise.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

My resting HR is high as well. I'm not sure how long it's been like this but it has been years. I've had it checked out by a cardiologist and he said there's nothing wrong and I'm perfectly healthy.

 

[Deeko]

When I was in high school and played multiple varsity sports, did lots of distance running, had about 5% bodyfat, and was in the best cardio shape of my life, my resting pulse was about 95.

Now, the only sport I do is weightlifting, I run every 3 or 4 months, and I'm bigger/heavier...and my resting heart rate is about 65.

Weird how these things work sometimes. Nothing was really wrong with me before, not that I've found out about, and my doctor was never concerned about it.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

When I was in high school and played multiple varsity sports, did lots of distance running, had about 5% bodyfat, and was in the best cardio shape of my life, my resting pulse was about 95.

Now, the only sport I do is weightlifting, I run every 3 or 4 months, and I'm bigger/heavier...and my resting heart rate is about 65.

Weird how these things work sometimes. Nothing was really wrong with me before, not that I've found out about, and my doctor was never concerned about it.

Hm, I don't understand that though. Why would you heart pump more if your heart got more efficient? That's the opposite of what typically happens.

 

[Deeko]

I know, it didn't make sense. That's the way it was though.

 

[InflatableBuddha]

I know, it didn't make sense. That's the way it was though.

Your RHR can be significantly higher than normal if you've been overtraining and you're really fatigued.

I can recall a few times when I was really overtraining and my RHR spiked to 80, up from it's usual 50. Still, 95 is unusually high for an athlete.

At least you have a better rate nowadays.

 

[kalrith]

Hm, I don't understand that though. Why would you heart pump more if your heart got more efficient? That's the opposite of what typically happens.

He could've been overtraining. That would result in a higher RHR.

 

[brandonb]

There is something wrong. I mildly exercise (like once or twice a week for 30 minutes), and I chew tobacco (ok Snus), and when I went to the grocery store blood pressure machine 2 days ago, my pulse was 58.

I'm sure smoking is not very healthy for you, and I hear Snus is better for your body (if you buy a brand like Skoal Bandits which have a lot less toxins), is that an alternative you can try?