Heart problems?

[Bron]

One last thing re HRM's (and somebody correct me if I'm wrong) but I believe they don't register every beat. If my heart speeds up, it takes my HRM a bit to catch up to it, same goes for slowing. I've had cases where it'll go up to 174 and I KNOW it isn't still up there and it invariably goes back down. It could just be my make/model too.

I think it depends on the make. I have a Sigma, and I don't like it - heart rate seems to be all over the place and I don't like the watch. It was bought as a cheap stopgap while I saved up enough for the Polar or Suunto that I really want.

[teigyr]

I have a Polar that is a stopgap until I get that oh-so-lovely Garmin 405.

Jallora has a Sigma so maybe that's part of the problem? Did the 24 hour wearing of the doctor's HRM change things at all?

Jallora, how're things going. Do you have any updates?

[TahoeDirtGirl]

I have two different things in my heart that will give me a higher BPM when I a) don't hydrate correctly and b) have lower electrolytes.

One is mitral valve prolapse and the other is pvc (pre ventricular contractions or complexes depending on who you talk to). The pvcs are just irritating as they feel like there is a marble stuck in your heart. When I don't drink enough water or my electrolytes are off, it acts up and usually shows up as a higher HRM when I exercise.

Don't forget your HR is based on age too.

Hope it is something simple

[Jolt]

One is mitral valve prolapse and the other is pvc (pre ventricular contractions or complexes depending on who you talk to). The pvcs are just irritating as they feel like there is a marble stuck in your heart. When I don't drink enough water or my electrolytes are off, it acts up and usually shows up as a higher HRM when I exercise.

That's an interesting description--never heard that one before! I get them sometimes too and I'd describe them as feeling like my heart is doing flips!!

[TahoeDirtGirl]

That's an interesting description--never heard that one before! I get them sometimes too and I'd describe them as feeling like my heart is doing flips!!

Yeah that's what it feels like. It actually 'stops' and then does a bumpbumpbump like a marble got stuck and then busted loose. Very disturbing when they were first happening.

I went to a cardiologist who suggested beta blockers and I said no way. I did some research and went to an accupuncturist. They left in 2 wks. They come back now and then but not like before. When I did my follow up with him and told him what I did, he made an appointment (I got a thank you from the accupuncturist haha) and had it done to him because he has pvcs as well. Go figure...

[Jolt]

I went to a cardiologist who suggested beta blockers and I said no way. I did some research and went to an accupuncturist. They left in 2 wks. They come back now and then but not like before. When I did my follow up with him and told him what I did, he made an appointment (I got a thank you from the accupuncturist haha) and had it done to him because he has pvcs as well. Go figure...

Too funny! Did it work for him too?

[Bron]

I had my stress ECG yesterday - I was already producing 40% more power that they would expect for someone my size when they stopped me (I did tell her that I cycled). They had to get me off the bike with me protesting that I could still go a lot faster and wasn´t at all tired yet. Anyway, it was quite interesting to see what the heart does - in my case, an extra beat every so often.
I´m now hooked up to a 24hour ECG which is a PITA as I can´t take a shower with it on.

The doctor said it was fine to do a triathlon on Sunday, and wished me luck, so that´s put my mind at rest. For anyone else who has any of these problems, it´s worth being checked out, even if just to reassure you that you are fine.

[Eden]

Jallora has a Sigma so maybe that's part of the problem? Did the 24 hour wearing of the doctor's HRM change things at all?

I used to have a Sigma (it was one of the higher end ones) and I found it to be more accurate and have a faster reaction time (the one I have currently must not sample at as high a rate - I can tell that there is definitely a lag in the read out compared to my actual heart rate) than any of the others I've used. Maybe it was just the model Bron was using?