Greetings,
I do strength training 3 times a week with some GPP/cardio and my resting heart rate is usually above 80 bpm. However, I do not experience any symptoms. So my question is, is it generally true (or is it a myth) that higher-than-average resting heart rates increase chances of heart disease, even for those who are physically active? Please note I am not worrisome and freaking out, but simply curious for your expert opinion.
Thank you!
Jaydad,
To answer your question, yes- an elevated HR can be predictive of mortality, though maybe not cardiovascular mortality unless it’s > 90bpm.
That said, it needs to be measured correctly.as described below:
Target rate should be <60bpm in this situation with knowledge that HR declines with age and that women have a typically higher HR (3-7bpm)
Thank you Doc.
I met all the conditions and tested with results of 83 bpm (using Android ECG feature) and ~80 bpm manually. I am completely relaxed. Also, I am male, 27 years old. Without presence of any symptoms, I am not sure whether or not I should consider this an issue I should remedy, or if there is any connection with my training.
Thanks again for your response.
What? How do 60-89 bpm HR individuals die then and how is the HR a predictor if the supposed death is not caused by CVD? Car accidents?
How does someone lower his RHR, should I ask my doctor for a Ăź blocker?
I probably wouldn’t trust a smart phone app over an actual ECG (3 lead or better) for something like this and I it’s difficult to palpate one’s one resting HR as well. Still, I would agree > 80 bpm would probably cause me to address it with conditioning.
I’m not sure what you’re asking with “How do 60-80bpm resting HR individuals die?” They die from all sorts of things- cancer, infections, MVA’s, etc.
That said, the data on resting heart rate does not reliably predict death from CVD.
Weird, but data nonetheless.
How does someone lower his RHR, should I ask my doctor for a Ăź blocker?
More conditioning, weight loss if needed, etc.
Turns out, many people without a sufficient aerobic base will not develop said aerobic base by merely squatting.
I don’t think I understand, sorry for being dense, if I am gonna die from pancreatic cancer and I have higher than normal (what is normal? last time I checked everything under 100 was fine) RHR. What will using all means to lower my RHR gonna do for me? Will it prevent me from getting cancer?
It’s correlational data, Martin. So no, beta blocking your heart rate down will not prevent cancer.
But beta blockers might help you chill out about it.
howdy, I have asthma, I dont know if correlates but my rest rate generally is 55-60 BPM, its normal have a litlle bit more heart rate on people with asthma? I use LABA twice a day.
Yes, taking a LABA can increase heart rate.
I’ll consider that, as long as there’s correlational data that chilling out reduces all-cause mortality and that the mechanism is indipendent from the reduction in RHR.