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Question:
My heart rate is very volatile when I run. Should I be concerned?
I'm 52 and I like jogging. I wear a sport heart rate monitor and I've observed that when I start running and during the first 5 -10 minutes my heart rate spikes up to 150 - 160 bpm and is very "volatile" (a lot of changes in the range of 120 - 155). After about 10 min the heart rate stabilizes at about 125 bpm and raises gradually. Is that normal? Shall I be concerned? Thank you for your attention. Best regards.
submitted by Esteban from Houston, Texas on 2/24/10
Answer:
by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Christopher Frank, MD
In the absence of symptoms, it's very hard to interpret abnormalities reported by patients using their consumer-grade heart rate monitors that are worn or are part of exercise equipment, since the devices are fairly inaccurate. In many cases, "abnormalities" of heart rate turn out to simply be changes in the ability of the monitor to measure the heart rate accurately, and the situation described may reflect the fact that most heart rate monitors work better after the patient has begun to sweat, which improves the electrical conductivity of the sensor. If there's reason for concern, and especially if there are symptoms, it's reasonable to have a formal exercise stress test in which the ECG is monitored continuously.
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Updated February 2010
