Hi! I started walking on our treadmill about 4 days a week. Now, I admit I'm not in the best of shape, but this whole pulse thing freaks me out. I know your pulse is supposed to go up while you're working out, but when I go up to 2.5 mph and 3 mph, my pulse jumps from the normal 120-150s to 200+!!! That just doesn't seem right to me. Now, this is an older treadmill from my in-laws, so I don't know if it's just broken or if my pulse is really doing that, or what.

Do any of you have any input or advice?

Thanks in advance!
Lisa

Hello
Most likly it is wrong you should check it yourself and then check what the treadmill says before you start to see. But with time you will see a better pulse as you get stonger.
Happy Walking.

Hi Lisa,
First of all... Congratulations on getting into your execise routine!
Most of the time the pulse reading is not accurate on the treadmill. Take your own pulse for a true count.
Also, if you are anxious about your pulse reading this too can make it higher. SO if you know that you are healthy and then you can chalk another one up for anxiety and then let it go.
Keep up the good work!
Stacy D

Hi Lisa.
On the user instructions on exercize machines they tell you that those monitors are not exact. I use to have a fear of exercizing, thinking that I was going to have a heart attack because years ago I heard of a man that had a heart attack on a treadmill. Every time I got on a exercize machine I had to tell myself that this is good for me. I had to tell myself that that man must have had other issues that caused his heart attack. Eventually the fear went away.

Go to the doctor and get a good checkup to make sure your heart is strong, which it probably is, then exercize and get rid of that stress.

Take care lisa.
DeeDee.

Thanks everyone!

DeeDee: Your fear is my fear! My constant fear (take for instance right now) is that I'm going to have a heart attack. And that's where my mind goes when my pulse is very high when on the treadmill. I was actually just at the doctor 3 days ago and they did an x-ray of my chest and the doctor said my chest wall and lungs looked "perfect". And I had an EKG back in June and that was good too. So I know I'm okay, but I always just seem to think that maybe they missed something and there really IS something wrong with my heart...because it always feels that way. I've had horrible anxiety since about 2am (it's now 3pm) and it's the sense of impending doom...I really feel like something bad is going to happen to me. *shrugs*

Lisa

If in doubt, stop and take your pulse the old-fashioned way to get an accurate number. You can find numbers online so you will know what your rate should be. When I go to the gym, I don't hold the pulse sensors because they just make me fear hear attack or something. I cover them with my towel or hold on somewhere else. Also remember to opay attention to how you are feeling. If you are breathing hard and unable to talk, slow down. Give yourself time to build up your workout. Good luck.

Hi Lisa,

I'm actually a nurse working in the Cardiac Rehab Program at a local hospital. I know you don't have heart problems but the following information can be beneficial for a healthy individual too:

For our patients who have had acute heart attacks and/or patients that have actually had heart bypasses or stents placed, we advise for them to gradually increase their TIME on the treadmill rather than the speed or the incline. It's better for your heart to receive the extra time in the workout than to cause added stress to an already diseased heart by increasing the speed. We also strictly monitor their blood pressure before, during and after exercise to ensure that the patient is having a "good" blood pressure response to exercise. A good blood pressure response would be "normal" blood pressure before exercise, an increase in blood pressure during, and a normal, if not lower than normal after your cool-down stretches. The same goes with pulse: check your radial pulse with your index and middle fingers for ONE minute right before you begin your treadmill walk. Halfway through your walk, stop and check your radial pulse again for ONE minute. This is considered your "peak" heart rate. It should be 30-50 beats greater than your starting heartrate (if your working hard). When your walk is over, do your cool down stretches (this is important) and some deep breathing and then recheck your radial pulse. It should be back to your original starting heartrate (give or take a few beats). If it is still elevated, you may have rushed through your cool down exercises not allowing your body to readjust.

You are young and are free from heart disease but monitoring your bp and heart rate from time to time during, before, and after exercise gives you an idea of how your body is "reacting" to it. Hope this helped! Congratulations on starting and sticking with your walking program! You're on your way to a much healthier heart!!!!

Celeste

Hi Lisa. As you said, you went to the doctors and you are fine. Now, when you're on that treadmill you have to keep telling yourself positive things until you believe it. The fear will go away.

By the way, I went to your website and you both are absolutely gorgeous. Congratulations.

DeeDee.

Thanks for all the advice so far!

DeeDee, thanks for the compliment!

~Lisa~