Normal Blood Pressure

shaan

Cathlete
My resting heart rate is between 78 and 90. When I workout, my heart rate shoots up to 140 to 199. Is this good or bad? I do understand that 120/80 is good and normal, but when you are measuring heart rate – how does it equate to a normal blood pressure?

Thanks
 
There really isn't any correlation between heart rate and blood pressure - they are 2 completely different and unrelated things. Your heart rate sounds fine - your resting heart rate is probably lower than you think because a true RHR is taken while you are sleeping (the best way to get your RHR is to go to sleep wearing a HRM, then take your HR first thing in the morning before you move a muscle to get out of bed).

When you're working out, your HR should increase. How much it increases is a very individual thing. The old 220-age formula is pretty much worthless - the correlation with age is not linear, as the formula suggests. And maximum HR can vary widely due to genetics - there are people with max HRs far above 220. As long as you're not feeling faint or dizzy while working out, you're probably working within your own zones, and that's all that really matters.

It sounds like you may be getting blood pressure confused with heart rate (I could have misinterpreted your question though). Just remember you can't measure blood pressure with a heart rate monitor. It's a completely different measurement. And it's really only important to know your blood pressure when you're at rest (sitting comfortably). It will change while you're exercising (for some people it goes up, for others it goes down), but either way, it's a temporary change that won't affect your long-term health.
 
Thank you Emily!

Nope, you are not confused. I am so 'green' and really thought my blood pressure does have everything to do with my heart rate. Obviously not.

Thanks for putting my mind at rest because I was thinking why does it sky rocket when it should be lower. LOL!!

K - will go to my local wal mart and measure my blood pressure.

Thanks again.
 

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