Hi, Im 21 yrs old. In decent physical shape, have anxiety, have been physically active until last november when I had a massive panic attack at the gym. Played hockey for 15 yrs so always been physically active, barely drink, dont smoke, and no supplements minus multi vitamin.

Ok, thats enough about me. Now my heartrate jumps up really fast and sits between 150-160 when I am lifting weights, and when I am attempting to walk/jog it hits 150-170 really fast. Is this normal, doctors have said I have a elevated heartrate but is this safe? After jogging or walking for a while, I feel like I am about to have a panic attack and I get headaches.

I'm no expert, but I say why do you keep trying to do it? It sounds like you have a heart condition or perhaps high blood pressure. You might want to ask a doctor if you can jog or whatever with such a condition.

well the thing is my blood pressure avgs 125-135/75-85 depending on when I take it... I have had a bunch of heart tests becuase of my Anxiety ... Had echocardiograms, stress test, halter moniter, 30day recorder, and countless EKGs and they show nothing wrong with my heart ... thats what I dont understand and I didnt think my heartrate being like that is normal

can anyone tell me their heartrate while they are working out?

Heartrate depends on two major factors; physical condition and genetics. Persons in poor health and persons in exceptional health will hit a fast heartrate with little effort. And, genetics play a major factor as well.

My resting heart rate is 55 and when working out will hit 130 - 140 during a very strenous exercise. My running heart rate at 9.5 minute miles is 125 - 129. My heart rate can reach 150 - 160 for a few seconds during an extremely hard effort.

I would ask your doctor (hopefully you have a cardiologist) point blank if you are cleared to exercise.

Well my heart rate while running is around 150 ~ 170, depending on the day.

Perhaps you are over working yourself or thinking too much while you are weight training or running. Try a relaxed approach and perhaps bring a friend along or some music to help you relax or instead of running at the gym, run at home in a place you are familiar with and try to go with a friend, family member, or pet. Remember, exercise doesn't require you to be in a constant state of anxiety in order to be of benefit. You just have to do "enough" (which you define and know) until you get the benefits of it.

Also, if you can't run at home, try this approach: for about a week, just hang out at the gym. Talk with people, don't do any exercise, maybe just look around, talk with some members, and just sort of be in a laid back state. This way, you get used to the environment you are in. Afterwards, try simple exercises. Maybe lift light weights, while still talking with other members, or perhaps you can walk at a very slow speed on the treadmill while talking with someone or listening to music. After a while, you'll stop thinking about the environment you're in, and think more on your exercise. Then you will feel better.

To be honest, when I'm running in a unknown place, I get a panic attack too. I tried one day at the beach, and I didn't run in the area before. I could barely reach a mile before I had to stop. However, at home, where I am familiar, I can run up to 3-6 miles nonstop without even thinking about it. Now I never say to myself that I'm going to run anywhere I don't know. I just run at home, or at my gym, and I can focus on it instead of worrying about the environment I'm in.

I think in your case, given what you said, it sounds like you are in an unknown place or perhaps you never really exercised before, and you just had a panic attack. Constantly checking your heartrate, and such, can further this panic because here's what is happening: you believe you are having a panic attack, you check yourself for the conditions you believe bring forth a panic attack, and when those conditions exist (whether real or not) you get into a panic state because your "conditions" are met. Therefore, you must remove the conditions that causes you to think this way. So, throw out your heart monitors, and just focus on being you at the gym.

Cruising up a hill on my bike....between 140-160, Swimming is about 125-140 and resting is about 75-80


You are in very good shape and/or have excellent genetics...that's uncommonly low. You will live to a ripe old age unless your shot by a jealous husband or chased by Lance Armstrong.

Thanks BSL, I do consider myself to be in very good shape, especially for a 48yo. My "excellent genetics" also gave me a prematurely clogged coronary artery (necessitating an angioplasty and stent at age 47), prematurely grey hair and small hands, if you know what I mean...

Although a RHR of 55 (actually mine is 52, I just measured it again the other morning) is very low and indicative of excellent cardiovascular fitness, there are always others with better ones (isn't that the truth?). My bike mechanic who is a Cat 1 racer has a resting heart rate of 44. I'll bet Sparrow and FF have RHRs in the low 50s or 40s as well. Miguel Indurain, a 5-time Tour De France winner had the lowest RHR ever recorded of a healthy person: 28. I take no performance-enhancing blood pressure or heart rate meds.

My RHR was 72 less than two years ago..

As for Lance Armstrong, I could deadlift twice his scrawny 155# @ss!!!

My resting heart rate is between 65 and 70 and it gets up to 135 when I run or lift weights. I think the key is how quickly it returns to normal when you are done with your work out. I'm no doc but my doc has told me that if it stays elevated for too long after a work out it is a sign of trouble.

about resting heartrate.. when do you guys measure it? If I measure it right after I wake up, while still in bed, it's like 50-55.. but once I get out of bed and have moved around a bit, it's more like 60-65 when I sit down again..

My resting heart rate is 58 (not in bed, just relaxed) and I get between 135-140 during cardio sessions or cycling, so my numbers are close to yours g8r80

I'd like to see the comparison between people who do conventional cardio type exercise and those who do HIIT. My hypothesis is that more long term cardio is more beneficial to the heart

That's the correct time to measure it - immediately upon waking up in a reclined position. Polar USA

50 - 55 is very good, regardless of age.

That would be interesting. Long-term (steady state) training certainly builds cardio strength but it also builds up endurance because it forces your body to replicate mitochondria and expand vascularization which are necessary for endurance events. But, I thought the main advantage of HIIT was to increase cardio strength. Most competitive cyclists and runners do both - long duration stuff and intervals.

If I had to choose only one for cardio, I would have gone with HIIT. Of course, you really can't do HIIT until you are physically fit enough which generally comes from some long durations workouts, so it's hard to separate the two.

And your 58 resting heart rate after you've gotten out of bed is very good also.

I don't know. I've never seen hard evidence to show which is better for the cardiovascular system specifically.

Maybe I'll try HIIT someday soon and see what the fuss is all about

I love browsing these forums and finding new things to learn and read about and I came across this one and I'm a bit worried now

I try and keep my heart rate in the 160 range when I'm running(well depending on speeds, but steady state) and I've have considered myself fit. 180's when doing HIIT, I am only 23 though but thats still quite high percentage wise

Max heart rate and working out heart rate are based on a number of factors; age, physical condition, gender, genetics. Theoretically, your max heart rate should be somewhere near 220 - 223 = 197, again, that is an approximation. So, a heart rate in the 180s, in and by itself, is nothing to be concerned about.