Fitness and Pounding Heart
@Masihi (4413)
Canada
August 18, 2011 3:12pm CST
I have a general question to those of you who work out regularly. First off, it's just a general question and secondly, I'm quite healthy and naturally strong. Just a curious question.
I do biking, and just new at it, and oftentimes I have to stop especially when going uphill to calm down my heart. There's no pain or anything, but I"m out of breath and my heart is thumping. On the other hand, I hear that professional athletes push themselves to the limit, trying to stretch themselves further than they did earlier.
I know this sounds stupid, but I'm new to fitness (even though I can probably walk for a half a day non-stop) but biking or climbing steep hills or trying to master those 13 flights of stairs, well, those are the ones that get my heart pumping harder. Is there a risk of heart attack or something? Just wondering....I'm also researching on this to make sure I do stuff properly, though.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
18 Aug 11
Being new at the biking, with uphill and steep hills I would say not to risk over doing the strenuous cycling. If your heart is thumping way too fast then the norm, I would perhaps consult a physician first before you take a chance on getting a heart attack of some sort. Maybe you will not but always best to consult a physician before starting something new.
@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
19 Aug 11
I think I'll do that, yes, I'll be in contact with my doctor in the next few months regarding other health issues, but in the meantime I know if my heart starts to pound, I'll stop, that's what I been doing all along, anyway. I know there's nothing wrong with my heart and bloodwork, as I'm checked for general health all the time.
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
18 Aug 11
I will see if I can find a chart on this for you. There is a formula that involves taking your heart rate and your age and working at a certain goal range. If your doctor says your heart is fine, staying within that range should be perfectly safe. If you are doing these activities to lose weight you want to stay at the lower end of the range and do the activity longer. Doing occasional intervals of heart pounding work, spaced by less rigorous activity should eventually build the strength of your heart muscle and you will be able to work harder and go further without it pounding. Remember, if you cannot breathe, you are not getting enough oxygen, and if you are not getting enough oxygen, you can pass out, or become nauseous. You also will actually not be burning calories as efficiently.
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@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
19 Aug 11
Ya, there were times when I was out of breath plus my heart was pounding and I had to stop, and I told Hubby to wait, and I didn't get back on my bike until I was good and ready. I did, however, got off my bike, walked until my heart calmed down and I could breathe again, then I got back onto my bike, and was pretty good after that, I did that just this past weekend, actually. Other times I just stopped where I was at and didn't move :-p
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@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Aug 11
The healthier choice is to keep walking, slowly, so that your blood does not pool in the veins. You are less likely to get muscle cramps as well. If I could only apply what I know to get skinny myself. I am healthy, just not skinny.
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@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
19 Aug 11
Ah okay, that makes sense, well, it sounds like I just learned to do the right thing by natural instinct, I suppose, hehe. Thanks for confirming.
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
18 Aug 11
http://www.heart.com/heart-rate-chart.html This looks like it can give you expert advice on the topic. I have in fact bookmarked it so I can read some more. I have been taking aerobics classes off and on for over thirty years and have learned things all the time. From what I read, you should try to maintain your heart rate at 60% of your maximum Heart Rate. Find your max Heart Rate by subtracting your age from 226. Where they get that 226, I will never know, but it is the same as I was taught over thirty years ago.
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@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
19 Aug 11
LOL hi again, GG, thanks for the website, I'm going to keep it by my side as well, it looks very easy to understand :-)
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
24 Aug 11
I don't think that you are at risk of a heart attack from getting the pounding heart. I know the feeling well from pushing myself to the limit peddling uphill through fire trails on my mountain bike. It is just a good indicator that we are working ourselves hard and the more we do this, the easier it will become and the less the heart will pump. Just take a break and walk the bike for a bit until the heart rate calms down a bit and then continue. That is what I do. 
@chuckzster (109)
• Philippines
19 Aug 11
You can still push yourself to your limit. But you have to identify your MHR or maximum heart rate per minute. You have to monitor your heart manually through your pulse. You can also identify you MHR by subtracting your age from 220. SO if you are 20 years old then you have 180 maximum heart beat per minute. You should only exercise at a pace that is under your maximal heart rate.
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@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
19 Aug 11
Hi, that's what GG's post said as well, so I"m learning, but for women it's 226 subtract 34 (my age) so for me it would be 192 max. beats per minute. But 180 probably is best anyway, since my normal heart rate is 71 beats per minute.
Yeap, lots I'm learning since I started this discussion
