I am a new user of a chest-strap-on heart rate monitor (the Cardiosport
HeartSafe-T), and I have been trying to determine my resting heart rate
for the purpose of calculating my target zone for aerobic exercise. I
am having difficulty figuring out what this resting heart rate is. I
initially tried palpating my pulse at the wrist as soon as I woke up,
since I was afraid that the act of reaching over for my heart rate
monitor and strapping it on would raise my heart rate. Using this
method, my resting heart rate was 64 (I am 29 years old, incidentally).
Then I started trying sleeping with my monitor strapped on and reading
it when I woke up. By the time I silenced my alarm clock and was awake
enough to remember to look at my monitor, it was also about 64, but I
could see that it was already on the rise. Next I tried setting my
monitor to sample my heart rate every 60 seconds while I lay still,
closed my eyes, and tried to fall asleep again. Out of 30 stored
samples, about 2 or 3 readings were as low as 53, while others were
closer to 64. Is resting heart rate the same as sleeping heart rate?
And is resting heart rate the lowest rate that your heart can reach,
even if it only stays there briefly, or is it the lowest sustained rate,
or the average, or something else? Finally, should resting heart rate
be taken while I am lying down horizontally?
Thanks!
Shawn Powell
spow…@forwild.umass.edu
On Wed, 14 Aug 1996 09:52:54 -0400, "Shawn M. Powell"
<spow…@forwild.umass.edu> wrote:
>I am a new user of a chest-strap-on heart rate monitor (the Cardiosport
>HeartSafe-T), and I have been trying to determine my resting heart rate
>for the purpose of calculating my target zone for aerobic exercise. I
>am having difficulty figuring out what this resting heart rate is. I
The resting heart rate is your heart rate when you are not exercising.
Generally, it is measured after a person has been at rest (sitting or
lying down) for five minutes.
____________________________________________________________
Chris Klugewicz
Fellow, Div. of Cardiology
University of Maryland email: c…@chesbay.com
____________________________________________________________
Chris Klugewicz wrote:
> On Wed, 14 Aug 1996 09:52:54 -0400, "Shawn M. Powell"
> <spow…@forwild.umass.edu> wrote:
> >I am a new user of a chest-strap-on heart rate monitor (the Cardiosport
> >HeartSafe-T), and I have been trying to determine my resting heart rate
> >for the purpose of calculating my target zone for aerobic exercise. I
> >am having difficulty figuring out what this resting heart rate is. I
> The resting heart rate is your heart rate when you are not exercising.
> Generally, it is measured after a person has been at rest (sitting or
> lying down) for five minutes.
Most of the fitness books that I have read suggest checking your resting
pulse on waking on the several times a week. Some people wear the monitor
to bed. Many athletes swear by this and they find they can predict when
something is wrong i.e. viral infection etc. when their resting heart
rate increases.
If you are at the start of an aerobic exercise program then a resting
rate of 64 bpm for a 29 year old is quite reasonable.
As for your target zone … well it gets a little more complex but most
athletes I know calculate it using a heart rate reserve. That is your
the difference between your maximum heart rate, determined by running up
a long gradual hill getting faster and faster until you burn out (not
recommended for those at the start of their training – use the time
honoured 220bpm minus your age in years), and your resting heart rate.
Hope that helps.
Dean Jenkins at work.
djenk…@enterprise.net
http://homepages.enterprise.net/djenkins/ecghome.html
Chris Klugewicz wrote:
> On Wed, 14 Aug 1996 09:52:54 -0400, "Shawn M. Powell"
> <spow…@forwild.umass.edu> wrote:
> >I am a new user of a chest-strap-on heart rate monitor (the Cardiosport
> >HeartSafe-T), and I have been trying to determine my resting heart rate
> >for the purpose of calculating my target zone for aerobic exercise. I
> >am having difficulty figuring out what this resting heart rate is. I
> The resting heart rate is your heart rate when you are not exercising.
> Generally, it is measured after a person has been at rest (sitting or
> lying down) for five minutes.
> In cardiac testng the normal values used are 220 – age = maxium safe
heart rate. A good training range to start is 60% of max and then work up
to 85% of max.
Hope this Helps
Ted , Registered Cardio Vascular Technologist