Heart rate over 200 bpm during exercise

[llynnnn]

Hi
I've recently started using an Active watch which records exercise/heart rate/movement etc, and have noticed that when I do an exercise class, something aerobic like Body Combat or Clubbercise, it records my heart rate at reaching over 200bpm at some points through the class.

Is this safe or too much? I do give each class my all and at the end of each song/track I feel a little breathless, but I can carry on comfortably (no chest pain etc) with the entire hour long class, and my watch shows my heart rate returning to a slower speed fairly quickly, i.e by the end of the cool down track

I'm late 30's and a little over weight, my resting heart beat seems to average at about 70bpm... My dh worries that I'm going to have a heart attack... after reading that your active rate should be 220 minus your age...

Thanks

[devildeepbluesea]

According to my Fitbit I regularly go over 200bpm during exercise and I'm 47, also carrying a little too much timber.

I am fit though, and those watches aren't the most accurate.

[bigbluebus]

When i first started running I wore a heart rate monitor and the level it reached scared me so much I took it off and never wore it again! I'm still here fit and well 15 years later!

[fellrunner85]

Would bet any money your watch is wrong. Wrist-based fitness trackers are notoriously unreliable.

For comparison (just as a vague benchmark as I know everyone is different), I'm the same age as you and my max heart rate is around 190. I only reach that in the final all-out stages of a very hard race, though; say the sprint finish of a 5k. Something like a Les Mills fitness class would be 140-150 bpm.

[llynnnn]

Thank you for your replies, I also doubt the accuracy of the watch! I think I'll go back to not wearing it....surely my body would tell me if it was under too much strain?

[emmathedilemma]

I would also question the accuracy of the wrist based heart rate monitoring, particularly when you're sweaty! I'm sure you'd be more than a little breathless if it was really that high!