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Original poster

My hear rate went to 178 when running, now having panic attack that I will die, please help

61 replies

Whattthefuck · 30/05/2017 20:03

I have been trying to combat my anxiety (mainly heath related) with exercise.

Today I ran for 12 mins and 5 mins out of a 45 min walk. A message flashed up on the treadmill screen saying my heart rate was 178. I felt a bit puffed but nothing special, I'm not very fit so this was me running at my max but didn't feel sick or anything.

I've now googled max heart rate for my age and really scared I have damaged my heart and will have a heart attack Sad

I don't have palpitations now, but sometimes do get them with an anxiety attack, if I start to get them how will I know if that is a heart attack brought on by exercising or just my anxiety?

OP posts:
RunRabbitRunRabbit · 30/05/2017 20:26

Calculating max heart rate based in your age has been long discredited.

Read this for 21st century info: www.runnersworld.com/ask-the-sports-doc/what-is-my-maximum-heart-rate

RunRabbitRunRabbit · 30/05/2017 20:27

Btw, my max heart rate happens to be 178 and has been for a good thirty years.

MargotLovedTom1 · 30/05/2017 20:28

How does a treadmill accurately measure heart rate? As in, how are you connected up to it?

Bunbunbunny · 30/05/2017 20:29

Don't use the heart rate monitor, they're not reliable and no good if it causes you to worry. Listen to your body

Gabilan · 30/05/2017 20:32

I do use a heart rate monitor and find it really good for increasing my fitness. No, it's not 100% accurate but it does the job it's intended to do. 178 is not high when you're exercising. It's fine, honest Smile

WhereYouLeftIt · 30/05/2017 20:35

OP, I managed to hit 210 on a cross-trainer 20 years ago (so about your age). 210! Still here to tell the tale, heart undamaged. Everybody is different, anything you read, be it google or a textbook, is an average of everyone. Within that average there is a range of normal.

TheSockGoblin · 30/05/2017 20:39

Do you think your anxiety is being a bit wily, and ensuring it gets a look in in a place in your life where you might actually have some success tackling it?

How much therapy etc have you had about where your anxiety comes from and how it manifests?

Because it's weird how much our ingrained stuff resists positive change sometimes. You've made a positive step to tackling your anxiety by starting to exercise and then BANG there it is - 'oh but exercise could kill you!!'

So one of the things which could help you is now being turned into another reason to strengthen your anxiety! Not your fault of course, these things can be tricksy. But rather the focusing on something bad which can come from exercising, do you think it might be worth trying to figure out why the anxiety is happening?

thenightsky · 30/05/2017 20:41

many people don't realise that NOT achieving a faster heart rate when exercising can also be a warning sign

^ this ^

NinonDeLenclos · 30/05/2017 20:42

do see a doctor about my anxiety, who thinks exercise can only help

What doctor is this? Is this a GP? Have you been referred for CBT?

mrsmildred · 30/05/2017 20:45

Just re-read my post; exercise is good for anxiety, duh.

I've received counselling for health anxiety, I'd really recommend talking to your Dr about it. One of the main triggers for me was Dr Google. Practically every benign symptom can be part of a serious health diagnosis, when combined with other symptoms you don't have. On their own they are absolutely fine, but of course we trawl google search results linking them to as many catastrophic problems as we can. Now I don't consult Dr Google at all, sounds blindingly obvious but it has made a massive difference to my perspective.

shinynewusername · 30/05/2017 20:51

What doctor is this? Is this a GP?

Oh good, time to second-guess the GP and undermine the OP's faith in him/her. That will definitely help the OP's health anxiety Hmm

There is a ton of evidence that exercise is helpful for anxiety and depression.

MakingMerry · 30/05/2017 20:54

I would't worry about it, I regularly hit 206 when running in my twenties (allowing for cardio monitors on treadmills being a bit crap.) I'm now forty, still alive and hit about 185 when going flat out. It's very much person dependent.

Almostfifty · 30/05/2017 21:03

I still hit about 180 when I'm at spin class, and I'm in my fifties. So long as it goes back down quickly, you're doing fine.

Usernamegone · 30/05/2017 21:11

I'm 37 and wouldn't bat an eyelid if my heart rate got to 178 during a run.

I would advise that you ignore the heart rate of the treadmill as it is likely to be wildly inaccurate. If you are that concerned about your heart rate you can buy a heart rate monitor with a chest strap as this will be much more accurate.

The heart is a wonderful muscle and will get stronger the more you exercise and put it under 'strain'.

Could you afford any personal training sessions? Do you think working out supervised with a qualified PT may make you less anxious and help you build confidence in the gym?

ShastaBeast · 30/05/2017 21:12

I get to 190 max in the gym. I know the monitor isn't accurate but I used to go to the same gym a couple of years earlier and 120 was my max then. My BP is also high. Luckily our hearts can take a lot before coming to any harm. Keep going as it will help your health and mental wellbeing alongside other support.

OurMiracle1106 · 30/05/2017 21:21

I'm 28 and When exercising I can push my heart rate at times to just over 200 bpm on the treadmill machine however I'm unsure how reliable these are as my Epson PULSENSE (similar to a Fitbit with heart rate monitor) measures it at around 185

I honestly wouldn't worry. So long as you aren't going light headed or feeling unwell in to which case you should stop regardless to your heart rate.

mortificado · 30/05/2017 21:24

That was my resting heart rate when pregnant! 😂 (had tachycardia though)
Stay off google! And make sure you drink plenty. Mine goes past that now when working out fairly hard

Crumbs1 · 30/05/2017 22:05

You're unfit so,heart rate increases with exercise. Keep going and extend time you are running and over time it will reduce.

museumum · 30/05/2017 22:09

Mine goes into the 190s and I'm 40!
(It recovers fast though and is only in the 50s resting). I'm fitter than average but not super fit.

SoMuchWaiting · 30/05/2017 22:09

Heart rates are funny things.

I'm early 30's and had issues with my heart so the cardiologist put me on a treadmill all wired up and told me he would push me further than I'd be comfortable with but it was necessary to see how my heart responded. I didn't get past a fast walk and they stopped me as my heart rate went over 200 and it was dangerous to continue. The very next appointment they discharged me as because my heart rate went back to normal in an acceptable time it was ok. Apparently I just get up to a high heart rate quicker than others.

I have been worried to exercise since as before the test my favourite part of going for a run was pushing myself and sprinting at the end. Goodness knows what my heart rate went to when I did that. I didn't even get to a jog on the treadmill with the dr there.

OP, as others have said, seriously don't worry about damaging your heart with what you did at the gym.

NinonDeLenclos · 30/05/2017 22:21

There is a ton of evidence that exercise is helpful for anxiety and depression

Not disputing exercise helps anxiety, but I'm asking what mental health treatment the OP is receiving. GP's have very little mental health training, and should be referring on for counselling.

GissASquizz · 30/05/2017 22:26

My ds reaches 250 during a SVT episode. His cardiologist said it would have to run at that rate for hours to start damaging the heart. He's 16. Knackering but not dangerous.

Ameliablue · 30/05/2017 22:28

The machines are not always that accurate. Wee recently got new machines at our gym and they occasionally flash up really high but I don't think it is accurate and it is also important to consider how quickly it did as well. Ie if it stays high when you stop exercising

PossomInAPearTree · 30/05/2017 22:28

Fat burning zone is at 220 minus your age according to my PT. so I have to be around 180 to burn fat and in a running class I can pretty much be at that mark most of the time.

BumWad · 30/05/2017 22:29

Mine hits 180s when running on treadmill too I am 34 with average fitness