My heart-rate increased to 160 bpm while exercising….is that too high?
No, your heart rate isn’t too high – see why! When undertaking an exercise program it is important to have a goal and a target range that you are trying to accomplish in each workout. To be of benefit, you want the workout to be neither too hard nor too easy. There is a simple formula to predict your maximum heart rate that is used in the fitness industry: Take 220 and subtract your age. This will give you a predicted maximum heart rate. For example, you are 26 years old, subtract 26 from 220 (220 – 26 = 194). This means that your maximum physiological limit as to how fast your heart should beat is 194 beats per minute. Most exercise programs suggest that when someone is just getting started that their heart rate during exercise should not exceed 60 – 70% of their maximum heart rate. Therefore, given my example above, 60% of 194 = 116 beats per minute. As you progress in your exercise, the percentage of your maximum heart rate to be set as a goal can be gradually increased. Calculating
