So I have a high pulse. 100+ BPM resting.

[manlymatt83]

My doc wants to put me on some medicine to lower it. I used to have high blood pressure out of no where but started taking meds for that. I work out every day, I eat right, but my pulse always seems to be high.

Is a pulse this high normal? Sometimes I can get my pulse in the 80's, but most of the time its over 100.

Should I take the medicine? He says its up to me since I work out all the time. I've been working out daily for a few months. I heard that after you work out for a while, your pulse naturally drops. Should I just kick it into gear?

Also, my target weight is about ~190-200. I WAS 250 pounds. Now I'm down to 220. Estimated to be at ~200 within a few months..... maybe once I'm down to target weight my pulse will drop too?


I know this is a doc question and not something on the forums.... but what do others think? Too high of pulse?

 

[Lonyo]

When resting, the adult human heart beats at about 70 bpm (males) and 75 bpm (females), but this rate varies between people. However, the reference range is nominally between 60 bpm (if less termed bradycardia) and 100 bpm (if greater, termed tachycardia).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_rate

 

[J0hnny]

Don't take the medicine yet!!!

It's pretty easy what you have to do. Because the doctor can't take your pulse at a time when you really are resting and relaxed, your results at the office are skewed.

What you need to do is get a heart blood pressure monitor. Record the blood pressure and the BPM every day right before you sleep. After at least 2 weeks of data, go back to the doctor and have him look at it. Shouldn't the doctor also conduct and EKG and other tests before he jumps in to give you medicine?

 

[marvdmartian]

Not sure if you should take the medicine or not (hey, a second opinion never hurts, right?), but you should DEFINITELY take care of the problem!

And it is a problem!! :shocked:

I'm 43 years old (44 in July), been on blood pressure meds for ~4 years now, and I'm weighing in @ ~280LBS, @6' tall (yes, I know I'm overweight, even obese, but I'm working on it as well). My resting heart rate is ~70bpm, which is "normal" for me. 100bpm is what your heart rate should be doing mild exercise, with 125-150 the rate for moderately heavy (i.e.-cardio) exercise.

Have you looked at your diet, to see if there's something there that's doing it to you? Personal habits? Are you a smoker? Not to harp, but my bp and pulse both dropped dramatically when I quit, ~16 months ago. Are you consuming a 6-pack of Bawls before you go see your doctor? Yeah, those are extremes, but look into that as well.

For sure, that pulse is too high, and is likely putting an extra strain on your heart. If you're not sure, seek a second, and even a third opinion, if necessary. Remember, you only have one heart, and it's going to last you your lifetime......but it's better if that lifetime is a good long one!

 

[manlymatt83]

OK so explain this to me then......

In the morning at 8:30 am when I walk from my car to my class, which involves about a quarter mile walk, then up two flights of stairs (and I'm usually in a bit of a hurry), my heart beat is around 120 when I sit down in class finally.

After about five minutes, my heart beat slows down to about ~100

After about half hour, I should be between 80-100

Is this normal?

 

[phantom309]

Originally posted by: mjuszczak
OK so explain this to me then......

In the morning at 8:30 am when I walk from my car to my class, which involves about a quarter mile walk, then up two flights of stairs (and I'm usually in a bit of a hurry), my heart beat is around 120 when I sit down in class finally.

After about five minutes, my heart beat slows down to about ~100

After about half hour, I should be between 80-100

Is this normal?

Yeah, that'd be normal - if you were 55. But you're not. You're seriously out of shape and you need to get more exercise.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Are you still massaging that chick's pulled groin? That'll tend to do it.

 

[imported_Condor]

Originally posted by: phantom309

Originally posted by: mjuszczak
OK so explain this to me then......

In the morning at 8:30 am when I walk from my car to my class, which involves about a quarter mile walk, then up two flights of stairs (and I'm usually in a bit of a hurry), my heart beat is around 120 when I sit down in class finally.

After about five minutes, my heart beat slows down to about ~100

After about half hour, I should be between 80-100

Is this normal?

Yeah, that'd be normal - if you were 55. But you're not. You're seriously out of shape and you need to get more exercise.

Not normal for 55 either. I'm 60 and my at rest is 62 bpm. Exercise - 120 or more and tapers to 70 within a few minutes.

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: phantom309

Originally posted by: mjuszczak
OK so explain this to me then......

In the morning at 8:30 am when I walk from my car to my class, which involves about a quarter mile walk, then up two flights of stairs (and I'm usually in a bit of a hurry), my heart beat is around 120 when I sit down in class finally.

After about five minutes, my heart beat slows down to about ~100

After about half hour, I should be between 80-100

Is this normal?

Yeah, that'd be normal - if you were 5. But you're not. You're seriously out of shape and you need to get more exercise.

 

[Kelemvor]

Definitely take up Cario Exercises if you don't do them already. And I agree with whoever said to monitor your own blood pressure/heart rate and see what you get You can buy a little monitor thing at Walgreens. They always have them on sale with coupons or rebates and stuff for under $50.

Track it for a while when you are truely relaxed. The isntructions even say to sit down somewhere and clam down for 15 minutes before taking a reading.

 

[UTmtnbiker]

My resting is in the high 70's to low 80's generally and am 33 years old. I run somewhere between 3 to 10 miles a week, depending on schedule. When running at a pretty clip or on an incline at about 5.5 mph on a 1 to 2% incline, I'm around 155 bpm. I can hit 180 pretty easily when I really start to crank it up.

My heart beat rate has always been on the high side. When I was younger, I could easiliy hit over 200bpm when doing really strenuous exercise.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: J0hnny
Don't take the medicine yet!!!

It's pretty easy what you have to do. Because the doctor can't take your pulse at a time when you really are resting and relaxed, your results at the office are skewed.

What you need to do is get a heart blood pressure monitor. Record the blood pressure and the BPM every day right before you sleep. After at least 2 weeks of data, go back to the doctor and have him look at it. Shouldn't the doctor also conduct and EKG and other tests before he jumps in to give you medicine?

Yes, because once you do, it will be for the rest of your life.

And QFT.

Keep working out. Do you do any cardiovascular work when you work out. Try aerobics or spinning. I know it seems a bit feminine, but on the plus side you get to work out with a whole bunch of pretty girls.

 

[gigapet]

what is your workout routine

 

[alien42]

thats what happens when you shower with female friends.

 

[imported_electron]

How about stationary bicycle? Is that good cardio if it's done for 30mins at a time? (I hear that's the target time to get your heartrate up) My resting pulse is 90-100. I've seen it as high as 130 though (yes resting) When I told my doc that (last week) he refered me to a cardiologist but I haven't made the appt. yet. He said it was likely because I was dehydrated that my pulse was up, and to rehydrate myself, bu tthat if it was still high after being properly hydrated they might put me on a beta blocker (whatever that is).

 

[oboeguy]

"Resting" heart rate should be taken when you wake-up. So, wake-up, stay in bed a minute or two, then check. IANAD; this is what I've learned from cycling, a sport which is obsessed with heart rate.

 

[JulesMaximus]

How tall are you? 190-200 is pretty heavy IMO unless you are 6'4" or taller.

Do you do much cardio when you work out? I would talk to your doctor about your workout routine and see if he has any suggestions to improve your circulation.

I bike thousands of miles a year, my resting heart rate is around 60 bpm and after an hour of riding with my HR in the 140-150 bpm range it will drop down to around 100-110 within 30 or so seconds after I stop.

BTW-I'm almost 40.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Definitely take up Cario Exercises if you don't do them already. And I agree with whoever said to monitor your own blood pressure/heart rate and see what you get You can buy a little monitor thing at Walgreens. They always have them on sale with coupons or rebates and stuff for under $50.

Track it for a while when you are truely relaxed. The isntructions even say to sit down somewhere and clam down for 15 minutes before taking a reading.

I work out every day for 60 minutes. I've lost 30 pounds doing it. Been doing it for about 5 months now.

I do have a heart rate monitor. My heart rate gets up to anywhere between 120-145 for cardio/fast walking. When I run, it goes anywhere from 155 to 185.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: J0hnny
Don't take the medicine yet!!!

It's pretty easy what you have to do. Because the doctor can't take your pulse at a time when you really are resting and relaxed, your results at the office are skewed.

What you need to do is get a heart blood pressure monitor. Record the blood pressure and the BPM every day right before you sleep. After at least 2 weeks of data, go back to the doctor and have him look at it. Shouldn't the doctor also conduct and EKG and other tests before he jumps in to give you medicine?

Yes, because once you do, it will be for the rest of your life.

And QFT.

Keep working out. Do you do any cardiovascular work when you work out. Try aerobics or spinning. I know it seems a bit feminine, but on the plus side you get to work out with a whole bunch of pretty girls.

Rest of my life? Why? My doctor put me on medicine for high blood pressure and it inspired me to QUIT my foolish choices and lose weight. He's assured me that if I drop 50 pounds total (250 --> 200, I'm at 220 now) I shouldn't need the meds much anymore.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: electron
How about stationary bicycle? Is that good cardio if it's done for 30mins at a time? (I hear that's the target time to get your heartrate up) My resting pulse is 90-100. I've seen it as high as 130 though (yes resting) When I told my doc that (last week) he refered me to a cardiologist but I haven't made the appt. yet. He said it was likely because I was dehydrated that my pulse was up, and to rehydrate myself, bu tthat if it was still high after being properly hydrated they might put me on a beta blocker (whatever that is).

Yeah thats what he wants to put me on too... beta blockers suck :-( How old are you?

 

[DAWeinG]

Do you drink any caffeine within a couple hours of taking your pulse?

 

[Vich]

Beta blockers when started usually are for a very very long time ( i.e for life) but hey its not that big of a deal.

You rather have your heart work over time and last less, or take osme pill and live longer?

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: J0hnny
Don't take the medicine yet!!!

It's pretty easy what you have to do. Because the doctor can't take your pulse at a time when you really are resting and relaxed, your results at the office are skewed.

What you need to do is get a heart blood pressure monitor. Record the blood pressure and the BPM every day right before you sleep. After at least 2 weeks of data, go back to the doctor and have him look at it. Shouldn't the doctor also conduct and EKG and other tests before he jumps in to give you medicine?

Yes, because once you do, it will be for the rest of your life.

And QFT.

Keep working out. Do you do any cardiovascular work when you work out. Try aerobics or spinning. I know it seems a bit feminine, but on the plus side you get to work out with a whole bunch of pretty girls.

Rest of my life? Why? My doctor put me on medicine for high blood pressure and it inspired me to QUIT my foolish choices and lose weight. He's assured me that if I drop 50 pounds total (250 --> 200, I'm at 220 now) I shouldn't need the meds much anymore.

With a lot of those medicines, your body becomes dependant on it.

**EDIT**
That is how drug companies stay in business. A lot of there product research goes into finding out if they will make money off the "solution", meaning recurring customers. Not habit forming, but body dependant.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: J0hnny
Don't take the medicine yet!!!

It's pretty easy what you have to do. Because the doctor can't take your pulse at a time when you really are resting and relaxed, your results at the office are skewed.

What you need to do is get a heart blood pressure monitor. Record the blood pressure and the BPM every day right before you sleep. After at least 2 weeks of data, go back to the doctor and have him look at it. Shouldn't the doctor also conduct and EKG and other tests before he jumps in to give you medicine?

Yes, because once you do, it will be for the rest of your life.

And QFT.

Keep working out. Do you do any cardiovascular work when you work out. Try aerobics or spinning. I know it seems a bit feminine, but on the plus side you get to work out with a whole bunch of pretty girls.

Rest of my life? Why? My doctor put me on medicine for high blood pressure and it inspired me to QUIT my foolish choices and lose weight. He's assured me that if I drop 50 pounds total (250 --> 200, I'm at 220 now) I shouldn't need the meds much anymore.

With a lot of those medicines, your body becomes dependant on it.

**EDIT**
That is how drug companies stay in business. A lot of there product research goes into finding out if they will make money off the "solution", meaning recurring customers. Not habit forming, but body dependant.

Great. So I'm no longer the survival of the fittest because I need medicine to survive? So even if I get in tip top athletic shape with 10% body fat and 100% in shape, I will still need this medicine?

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: DAWeinG
Do you drink any caffeine within a couple hours of taking your pulse?

no