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calculate max heart rate for ill person

Former Member over 4 years ago

Hi All

I am recovering from Covid, I have post viral fatigue and a bunch of other unknowns (acute phase in March, am building back up since then). I am back walking for the last month or so and would like an accurate calculation of my max heart rate because my sleep tracking is just crap.

I cannot run for 3 mins (It would cause a pretty severe relapse). When I look at all my heart rate data since July my max heart rate hasn't gone above 136 (and that causes relapses and leaves me tapped out for days). Currently my max heart rate in the App is 182. Would it be silly of me to reduce it down to 140 to see what happens?

Thanks

0 Former Member over 4 years ago

I was just playing around and although my max heart rate was at 182, my 50% was at 90... When I checked that using the karvonen formula my 50% came out at 125-136. My resting heart rate is 67, I'm 38, and currently sedentary :(

I don't have CFS / ME (no diagnosis yet and hoping to recover tho I've been warned I will have to get a diagnosis if I don't show progress) but this articule https://solvecfs.org/using-a-heart-rate-monitor-to-prevent-post-exertional-malaise-in-me-cfs/ suggests that my max HR should be much lower to prevent PEM?

0 5375639 over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

Hi, this doesn't answer your question but it might be helpful... I have ME/CFS and have found that HR itself is not very useful with pacing and staying within limits. Heart Rate Variability is far more helpful as it gives a realistic measure of how physically stressed you are at any given time, so you can tailor your activity accordingly. HRV is tracked in the Stress and Body Battery graphs and over time you'll probably find they correlate very well with how you're feeling. On the good days, when the graphs are looking good, you'll probably be able to do more without going over your limits, and conversely when the graphs are bad you'll know to spend the day(s) on the sofa. If you ignore HRV and try to push yourself to near (but below) your anearobic threshold on a bad day you may be doing yourself harm. HRV is a recognised measure of physical wellbeing, you'll find plenty of articles online.

0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to 5375639

hiya, Yeah I was using HRV before I got the Garmin and it's why I got it but as far as I understand the stress and body battery are combination of HRV and MAX HR?

0 5375639 over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

I'd assumed it's just HRV but I don't know. Maybe the Garmin people can answer that for us