Exercise is an important part of disease prevention – and that includes cancer prevention, too. But not all exercise is created equal. It’s essential that some of your exercise make your heart beat faster than it does when you’re resting. Show
Getting your heart to beat faster trains your body to move oxygen and blood to your muscles more efficiently, helps you burn more calories and lowers your cholesterol. All of this can help you stay healthy and lower your cancer risk. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week can help lower your cancer risk. It’s the vigorous exercises that can help you get your heart rate up. How to measure your heart rate So, how do you determine your heart rate? One of the easiest ways to measure your heart rate is with a monitor, says Whittney Thoman, exercise physiologist at MD Anderson’s Cancer Prevention Center. This is typically a watch or a strap that goes around your arm or chest that syncs with a watch or another device. Many wearable fitness trackers now include heart rate monitors. If you don’t have a heart rate monitor you can check your heart rate using your pulse. To find your pulse, use two fingers (your middle and your index fingers) to find your carotid artery, just below your esophagus or throat. Then, count the beats you feel for 10 seconds. Multiply that number by six. That’s roughly the number your heart beats per minute. Understanding your heart rate Now that you know how to measure your heart rate, you can determine:
Check your pulse or your heart rate monitor while you’re resting and then again while you’re exercising to compare your resting heart rate to your active heart rate. If you’re working at 50 to 70% of your maximum heart rate, then that exercise is considered moderate. If you’re working at 70 to 85% of your heart rate then its vigorous exercise. If your heart is working harder than that (above 85%) it could be dangerous, so be sure to back off or consult your doctor. If you’re worried about an increased heart rate causing other health problems or have had heart problems in the past, talk to your doctor before you begin exercising at a higher intensity. Ways to get your heart rate up Now that you know how to determine your heart rate, the next step is to find exercises that will help boost it to improve your health. Here are a few ways to get your heart rate up.
Racing Heartbeat: Should You See a Doctor?My heart was beating really fast, but I don’t have symptoms now. Should I see a doctor? If you’ve asked yourself this question, then you’ve probably noticed your heart skipping a beat, fluttering, or just feeling like it’s working too hard inside your chest, neck, or throat. Everyone has a racing heart from time to time. Stress, exercise, or even too much alcohol or caffeine can cause your heart to beat faster than normal. But if your heart races a lot—or if you notice your heartbeat is often irregular—then you should see a doctor. Even though most racing heartbeats are caused by common situations (like stress or fevers), some irregular heartbeats are caused by serious heart conditions like atrial fibrillation. People who have these conditions need monitoring and treatment from a cardiologist (heart doctor).  What Causes a Racing Heart?Normal hearts beat 60—100 times every minute. When your heart beats more than 100 times each minute, that’s considered high (called tachycardia in the medical world). Fast heartbeats can last for seconds to hours. Not all cases of a racing heartbeat are dangerous. Many everyday situations that aren’t related to heart problems can cause your heart to race. These can include the following:
If you notice that your heart is beating faster than normal, look for obvious explanations first:
You can also try keeping a diary of your symptoms and write down what you were doing before you started to notice your heart was beating fast. Recording when your heart rate goes up can help your doctor better pinpoint what’s causing it. If you notice that your heart is racing a lot and you’re not exercising or stressed (for example), then you should think strongly about seeing a doctor. Heart Diseases That Can Cause a Racing HeartSometimes a fast or irregular heartbeat can be a sign of a serious heart condition. These conditions include the following:
If your doctor thinks you may have one of these conditions, your doctor may give you an EKG, a chest X-ray, or an echocardiogram (echo test) to diagnose what’s wrong. Atrial FibrillationAtrial fibrillation is one of several heart conditions that can cause an irregular heartbeat. Also known as A-Fib or AF, atrial fibrillation causes your heart’s upper chambers (atria) to beat faster than normal. People with A-Fib have electrical signaling problems in the upper part of their heart. Atrial Fibrillation & StrokesAtrial fibrillation is a serious condition that can be life-threatening. As many as six million people in the US may have atrial fibrillation. But one in three people who have A-Fib don’t know they have it. A-Fib may also increase your chances of having a stroke. That’s because A-Fib’s irregular heartbeat lets blood pool inside the upper chambers of your heart. This pooled blood can cause blood clots, which can then travel out of your heart and into your brain, which causes a stroke. If you think you may have A-Fib, it’s important to make an appointment with a cardiologist. ArrhythmiaArrhythmias also cause fast or irregular heartbeats, or can make your heart beat too slowly. Arrhythmias happen when the electrical signals inside your heart don’t happen when and how they should. Atrial fibrillation is one type of arrhythmia. When to Call a Doctor Right AwayCall your doctor or 911 right away if you have a fast or irregular heartbeat and you also have:
These symptoms may be signs of a heart attack or stroke. Next StepsMany times, fast or irregular heartbeats are caused by normal life situations, like drinking too much caffeine or having anxiety. But if you notice that your heart is beating quickly a lot, you should consider seeing a cardiologist to make sure you don’t have a dangerous, undiagnosed heart condition. Make an appointment with a cardiologist. Call us at 801-585-7676. How can I quickly lower my heart rate?“Close your mouth and nose and raise the pressure in your chest, like you're stifling a sneeze.” Breathe in for 5-8 seconds, hold that breath for 3-5 seconds, then exhale slowly. Repeat several times. Raising your aortic pressure in this way will lower your heart rate.
What is a dangerously high heart rate?You may want to start with a visit to your health care provider if your heart rate is consistently above 100 beats per minute or below 60 beats per minute (and you're not an athlete), or if you're also experiencing shortness of breath, fainting spells, lightheadedness or feeling fluttering or palpitations in your chest ...
Why is my my heart rate so high?Stress, exercise, or even too much alcohol or caffeine can cause your heart to beat faster than normal. But if your heart races a lot—or if you notice your heartbeat is often irregular—then you should see a doctor.
Why is my resting heart rate high?Common causes of a fast resting heart rate include stress, certain medical conditions, and pregnancy. Supplements, caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco can also lead to an accelerated heart rate.
|
What to do when your heart rate is high
Related Posts
Copyright © 2024 ketiadaan Inc.
