Resting Heart Rate.

[bikeman66]

Hi all,

Just inputting my heart rate data in to my Garmin. The device sets a theoretical maximum from the personal data entered, which is within a whisker of the rule of thumb 220 minus your age, so that's all good (I'll probably do a stress test at some point to confirm max HR I guess).

Talking to cycling mates, they have set their resting heart rate based on a reading on an HRM first thing when they wake up in the morning. Is this the correct way of obtaining this information? I would have considered resting rate to be something like a reading taken after sitting calmly for 20-30 minutes, rather than what would seem like artificially low first thing in the morning data. But I suppose it depends on what the actual definition of "resting" is? As low as it can possibly be, or as low as it gets in an everyday, living situation.

Any advice gratefully received.

 

[Andrew_P]

Garmin does nothing with that data, but yes most accurate is supposed to be when you first wake.

 

[screenman]

First thing in morning is when mine is at it's lowest, and was always told to use that. I do also use other personal reference points.

As for the 220 minus age, well that is 19 beats out for me.

 

[Tin Pot]

Hi all,

Just inputting my heart rate data in to my Garmin. The device sets a theoretical maximum from the personal data entered, which is within a whisker of the rule of thumb 220 minus your age, so that's all good (I'll probably do a stress test at some point to confirm max HR I guess).

Talking to cycling mates, they have set their resting heart rate based on a reading on an HRM first thing when they wake up in the morning. Is this the correct way of obtaining this information? I would have considered resting rate to be something like a reading taken after sitting calmly for 20-30 minutes, rather than what would seem like artificially low first thing in the morning data. But I suppose it depends on what the actual definition of "resting" is? As low as it can possibly be, or as low as it gets in an everyday, living situation.

Any advice gratefully received.

Your mates are right. The only way to minimise extraneous factors is as soon as you wake up.

Whilst still in bed, dozing (not stressing about work) for a few minutes. Note it down over three mornings and take an average.

 

[moo]

You'll need a good 5 minutes of rest after waking before measuring. The heart naturally beats faster when waking and depending on health it could take a while to drop to its resting rate.

 

[ColinJ]

I used to be able to lower my RHR by about 10 bpm by watching the reading and concentrating on relaxing.

I found the difference between sitting up in bed and lying down was about 5 bpm.

I could increase my heart rate by over 100 bpm by thinking about stressful situations at work.

So, my RHR could be 49 bpm sitting up in bed, 44 bpm lying down in bed, 34 bpm lying in bed and getting deeply relaxed, or about 150 bpm sitting bolt upright in bed and worrying about the next project meeting!

 

[Citius]

The device sets a theoretical maximum from the personal data entered, which is within a whisker of the rule of thumb 220 minus your age, so that's all good

It's not all good. You have no idea if that 'theoretical max' is even remotely similar to your actual max. And if it isn't, then any levels you set against it will be meaningless.

The other thing to say is that RHR is, to all intents and purposes, a meaningless metric when it comes to setting upper levels. It's interesting to take it, then compare it with your mates in the pub, but that's about all it is useful for.

 

[campagman]

I used to see my lowest HR when sitting on the bog at work. I also found that as my condition improved the resting HR would drop.

 

[Citius]

I used to see my lowest HR when sitting on the bog at work

You obviously weren't pushing hard enough...

 

[PK99]

Garmin does nothing with that data, but yes most accurate is supposed to be when you first wake.

I think it does if you set HR zones by %Heart Rate Reserve (%HRR) rather than %max

 

[ColinJ]

RHR (or more specifically, changes in RHR) can be useful if you are doing a lot of training.
Take it first thing in the morning after just waking whilst still lying in bed.
Do this a few times a week at first, to get a feel for your "norm", e.g. 45-50bpm.
If you are feeling particularly tired / run down / ill one morning, take your RHR and if it is elevated say 10+ bpm more than usual, then this may indicate you are in fact tired / run down / ill (and not just feeling lazy), and should therefore probably have an easy day or a rest day to let the body recover.

I used to be able to spot minor illnesses such as colds 24 hours before other symptoms appeared by such increases in my RHR.

In summer 2012, my RHR suddenly went up by over 100 bpm and stayed like that for 3 days. I probably should have taken the hint that something serious was wrong!

 

[Sea of vapours]

... my RHR suddenly went up by over 100 bpm...

Ummmm....... I presume that should be 'to', not 'by'?

 

[slowmotion]

I've been on a skipful of pills for high blood pressure for the last three years. I bought a BP monitor, just out of curiosity, which also gives HR data. I have become quite good at willing the BP readings to get lower at five minute intervals. Last week, I went for a routine annual check-up with the bossy GP practice nurse, clutching my readings. " Those are all a bit low " she said. Sometimes, you just can't win!
My resting HR readings have never been less than 59 and usually float around the high sixties. Should I consider taking out a funeral plan?

 

[ColinJ]

I just LOL'd at that...and then thought I shouldn't be laughing if you were so ill

Hope you at ok now Colin

I'm feeling much better now, ta! (I have to avoid pushing myself too hard to stop it happening again, but I am ok with (say) 90% efforts on my bike.)

Ummmm....... I presume that should be 'to', not 'by'?

Er, it was 'by' ... Even when I was l lying flat on my back and doing nothing, my heart was doing 150 bpm! (Actually, at the time I wasn't capable of doing much more than lying down and doing nothing ...)

Mind you. it was less alarming than when my pulse started randomly jumping about between about 60 bpm and 160 bpm. That was very anxiety-inducing and anxiety can make the heart beat faster ...

 

[TheJDog]

I'm currently around 50. I think it's a rough guide to (my) fitness. In my twenties it was in the forties when I was at my fittest, and in my thirties when I was the least fit I've been it was mid sixties.