Understanding Your Heart Rate During Exercise: A Guide for Women Over 50

Question
QUESTION: I am a 50 year old female. I weigh 165. I rode a bike all summer till an
accident stopped me. I work out at a gym. My heart rate will hit 160 to 180
and I'm not breathing very fast. Is this too high for my age group?

ANSWER: Hi Sharon,
Thank you for your question.
Your target heart rate is 220 minus your age-then 60%-80% of that.
Target heart rate-180.
You are a little high for your age group-in the upper paremeters.
If your heart rate is high but you are not breathing hard-you might need to up the intensity of your workout.
More resistance on the cardio machines and less rest between weight training exercises.
Thank you,
Bonnie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: isn't 180 heart attack zone? I thought it was supposed to be 150 ish. If I
exercise harder won't my heart rate go a lot higher? Is this normal? Why
would it be so high when I'm barely panting?

Answer
Hi Sharon,
The upper parameters of heart rate is not heart attack zone.
If you are getting 180 beats per minute on a piece of cardio equipment-those are notoriously unreliable and can be off by as much as 20%-30%.
I am honestly not sure why your heart rate is so high but you are barely panting.
You might want to go see your doctor if your heart rate always goes so high when you are exercising but barely panting.
Thank You,
Good Luck,
Bonnie