TMBRA - Rider Board

 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Heart Rate Maxed Out

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    TMBRA - Rider Board Forum Index -> Ask the Bike Doc
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Anonymous
Guest





PostPosted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 2:33 pm GMT +0000    Post subject: Heart Rate Maxed Out Reply with quote

I started riding as an adult last August. I quit cigarette smoking on November 16, 2006. I have continued to use smokeless tobacco, dipping. My endurance still suffers. I don't know if it's because of smoking for years (I'm 40, started recreationally at age 15), continuing to use tobacco or both. What do you think? I use a Polar HR monitor. My average heart rate at the first TMBRA race in Tapatio Springs was 197. Is this dangerous? I "blew up" before the first turn, but finished the race. Any suggestions? Will my endurance increase as I ride? Thanks.
Back to top
The Bike Doc
250+


Joined: 08 May 2003
Posts: 1398
Location: Corpus Christi and Warda, Texas

PostPosted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:57 pm GMT +0000    Post subject: Reply with quote

zoey7115:

Nicotine is a stimulant that constricts blood vessel impeding the delivery of oxygen to the muscles (including the legs and the heart). It can cause persisting muscle spasms by excess stimulation of the muscle fibers. Smokeless (better refferred to as spit tobacco for what it is) signifcantly raises blood pressure. For someone who has normal blood pressure, the increase in blood pressure by smokeless tobacco is enough to push them into the hypertensive range (increases of 19mm in systolic and a 14 mm increase in diastolic pressure has been observed) and for someone with hypertension, make the blood pressure control more difficult. Heart rate can be increased by 19 beats per minute. Smokeless tobacco has been shown to increase total colesterol to greater than 240. There is a three fold increase risk for diabetes in smokeless tobacco users and a 1.4 times increase risk for death from heart disease. Risk for oral cancer is also substantially increases by 50-fold. So in short the answer to your first question is a resounding YES!.

Sugggestions: quit all forms of tobacco. If you need help talk with your doctor. You may benefit from nicotine substitute therapy that is gradually weaned off over several weeks. Or quit cold turkey. It can be done. You will feel irritable, have tobacco cravings but it will not kill you. (It might kill someone else if they cross you at the wrong time when you are having a nicotine fit though!) Wink Some interesting studies have show patients have reported they would quit tobacco if their doctor told them to quit, and many patients have done just that. So the Bike Doc is telling you now, quit!

Your stamina will improve. Your heart rate will come down for a similar level of exersion and your resting heart rate will come down. You will substantially decrease your risks for all those undesirable consequences by quitting all forms of tobacco.

Thanks for asking. Someone else may benefit from this information shared.
_________________
Paul K. Nolan, MD
AKA: The Bike Doc
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
JustinLee
New


Joined: 18 Oct 2003
Posts: 95
Location: Downtown Houston

PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 1:08 pm GMT +0000    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't want to appear to disagree with Dr Nolan on any of his points! I applaud your effort to quit smoking and become healthier! It's courageous and difficult. I hope you can go all the way!

If you question was simply, "is a heart rate of 197 dangerous?" it is not. I have a friend who did his master's thesis on heart rate training (this was before it had become general knowledge). His test group was the University of Arkansas track team (NCAA champions like 17 times in a row or something silly like that). He found that the lactic threshold of these national-class athelete tended to be extreme: either their heart never went over 100 BPM or it was 190-200. He said only few had MAX heart rates that fit the 220-age bit.

I asked him the same question you did, because, like you, I freaked out when I saw my HR go above 190 for extended periods. Turns out I'm just freaky - I've seen HR's above 210 (and up to 220!!). Seems one's heart most efficient heart rate is as individual as his shoe size.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
The Bike Doc
250+


Joined: 08 May 2003
Posts: 1398
Location: Corpus Christi and Warda, Texas

PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 1:15 pm GMT +0000    Post subject: Reply with quote

Justin Lee:

Look at the big picture not just the number. The heart rate number and blowing up are both issues that Zoey raised. The response I provided was targeted to both issues. Do not discount the nicotine affect on the heart rate and limiting of blood flow to the muscles which, in turn could percipitate the "blowing up".

Thanks,
_________________
Paul K. Nolan, MD
AKA: The Bike Doc
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    TMBRA - Rider Board Forum Index -> Ask the Bike Doc All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group