Heart Rate - Should I be worried?

JeremyBehler

Background - about 2 months ago my heart rate would spike mid-workout on long runs.  I'd be around 160 for an hour or so then it would spike (Per Garmin) to 220+ for the balance of the run.  No change in RPE and I don't tyipally look at HR until after the workout.

After trouble shooting I swapped out the battery and began using electrode gel to ensure a good connection but hasn't seemed to make a difference.  What is strange is that the HR seems to be fine when I wear it before and after a run.

My dilemma...I am running Boston a week from tomorrow.  I did a 10k today and my HR was reading consistently above 200.  While I never stopped to check during the race, I did a manual check about a minute afterward when the HR was reading 140ish and it validated the Garmin.

So, my question : Should I be worried about this or should I chalk it up to an anomoly in the HR monitor?  

 

Lap 1:

Duration:   40:49

rTSS:       77.6 (1.02)

NGP: 6:32 (246.1 m/min)

Pa:HR:       14.65%

Distance:   6.2 mi

Elevation Gain:     103 ft

Elevation Loss:   79 ft

Grade:     0.1 %  (26 ft)

Min Max Avg

Heart Rate:   118 248 222 bpm

Speed:       3.7 11.2 9.1 mph

Pace         5:20 16:06 6:36 min/mi

Altitude:     688 747 723 ft

 

chris malone

My experience with the Garmin hr monitors is that they may throw out a crazy high reading now and again, but not for an extended period of time. Just a blip. Yours isn't a blip though, and you've confirmed it manually. I'd say get the ticker checked.
Good luck.

rtagher

Do what you need to do for peace of mind, but I think this is the monitor. I don't think you can be in the 240's without feeling a major change in RPE. I would think you'd be ready to collapse at that rate. Is this a "blip," or is it saying the rate is up that high for awhile?

Bwalker

Might want to get it checked but from what I understand is heart rates that high, you start getting so little actual blood moving that you start feeling short of breath. It has been awhile since my PT instructor school took place but that kind of stood out (ended up being a test question). I don't think you are ever wrong to get tested though and see what the MDs actually say. Best of luck with your race.

JeremyBehler

@Rob - It's reading pretty consistent, not just blips. I'm copying a picture below...I'm basically above 200 from minute 2 through the end of the race. I averaged 222 with a peak of 248 for 5s based on the data.



I may try to get in this week, just to be safe. Could a GP help with this or should I go directly to a cardiologist?

From Endurance Nation

 

TerryO

Jeremy,

While not a heart rhythm expert, I don't believe it is possible to have and/or sustain a heart rate that high and maintain what we call a "sinus rhythm" which is the normal rhythm of the heart.  Even with rhythm abnormalities like atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter, I've never seen a sustained heart rate that high.  Even ventricular tachycardia, the worst rhythm that can be present but survivable, can't sustain that long without profound symptoms IMHO.

If you're poppin along at a sub-6:30 and feeling good for 10K, my first thought would be that it's a heart rate monitor problem.  If you were in sinus at 220+, then stopped and checked it one minute later, I doubt that it would be 80 points less already.  My suggestion would be to try and induce it while watching your heart rate reading then a couple of minutes after it hits that high then I would stop and check it manually. 

If it is real, or if you just want to go, do it through a cardiologist.  A GP won't have the equipment so it's wasting a step.  I suspect they would either give you a Holter monitor or put you on the treadmill (best choice I would think).  They could do that same day so skip the middle man.

mgraffeo

Next time you see the high number, check it manually immediately. I've found there are times when hard running will cause an interference, I think due to moving up and down on skin. Tightening it down can help. Sustained 220+ seems pretty unlikely.

JeremyBehler

Thanks guys...that's kind of what I suspected but the sustained readings gave me pause. I'll try to replicate and see if I can figure out the cause.

Joe Matchette

Jeremy -- two things: Was it a cool day? and Do you use electrode gel? I ask b/c there are known problems with HRMs and tech shirts *especially* when they are dry. I experienced this during my first IM when I put on a dry jersey in T1 and had a reading over 200 for the first hour. Once I got sweaty, the problem went away.

DC Rainmaker has a couple of great articles about these problems.

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/11/how-to-fix-colddry-weather-erratic.html
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/04/troubleshooting-your-heart-rate.html

I ordered the following gel and have used it this OS for the days when I knew I would not be working up a sweat and had almost zero problems with a false High HR.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002CA8RQ?ie=UTF8&tag=dcr07-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0002CA8RQ

Hope this helps.

jhbinsc

I also get interference or get erroneous readings from technical shirt rubbing on HRM strap. I also ordered the gel and noticed it is much less likely to get the high HR readings now. WHen it is warm and humid, I never get those problems now. Strongly suspect bad readings as >220 bpm would be pretty unusual.

Cary Blanco

You can also try changing the batteries.

Scott Alexander

My Garmin 305 has introduced long blips when I am in a group, or even running under power lines for a long time...lots of interference. I'd follow all the docs orders and check manually when it shows that high to make sure that it's actually YOUR heart creating all those BPMs.