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I recently measured my pulse and it's around 40-42 BPM. I assumed it would be quite easy with a bit of walking around to get it below 40, but it doesn't seem to work. I now have a bit of an obsession in lowering my heart rate and really would like to know how to do it- short of killing/maiming myself. Drugs are also seen as unethical in this pursuit. It serves no purpose, it's just quite challenging.
Thanks
Thanks
In reply to Franco Cookson: its already bloody good ....leave it like it is
In reply to Franco Cookson:
I'll bite. Is this a wind-up? trying to lower it from 40 by walking around?
E
I'll bite. Is this a wind-up? trying to lower it from 40 by walking around?
E
In reply to Franco Cookson:
Why do you want to lower it further from what is already a low rate? I'm no medic, but I thought the 'optimal situation' was the rate lowering itself to normal as soon as possible after raising it via physical exertion, rather than simply having a low resting rate.
Why do you want to lower it further from what is already a low rate? I'm no medic, but I thought the 'optimal situation' was the rate lowering itself to normal as soon as possible after raising it via physical exertion, rather than simply having a low resting rate.
In reply to Franco Cookson:
Walking will only raise it as you are excersising. If you want to try for lower then measure it as soon as you wake up in the morning, that's how I got 45bpm years ago.
Walking will only raise it as you are excersising. If you want to try for lower then measure it as soon as you wake up in the morning, that's how I got 45bpm years ago.
In reply to Franco Cookson: Just lie very still like James Bond did in that film and it'll go lower.
Clearly you've not done much in the way of research into this - if you had you'd know that 40 is low enough. Mine sits around this mark, and I didn't get there intentionally. However, I do cycle a lot.
Clearly you've not done much in the way of research into this - if you had you'd know that 40 is low enough. Mine sits around this mark, and I didn't get there intentionally. However, I do cycle a lot.
In reply to Franco Cookson:
I did a lot of cycling at your age that seemed to work...
I'm thinking you'll need to be doing stuff at very high heart rates which would need to be more intense than "a bit of walking". Perhaps you could look at regular runs up Roseberry Topping.
I did a lot of cycling at your age that seemed to work...
I'm thinking you'll need to be doing stuff at very high heart rates which would need to be more intense than "a bit of walking". Perhaps you could look at regular runs up Roseberry Topping.
In reply to Franco Cookson:
You need to relax more and get someone else to take your pulse. Taking it yourself will only increase your pulse slightly.
I would suggest that you don't train to lower your pulse but train to reduce the time taken to recover to your normal resting pulse.
Steve Crowe
45-48 BPM
> I recently measured my pulse and it's around 40-42 BPM.
You need to relax more and get someone else to take your pulse. Taking it yourself will only increase your pulse slightly.
I would suggest that you don't train to lower your pulse but train to reduce the time taken to recover to your normal resting pulse.
Steve Crowe
45-48 BPM
In reply to Franco Cookson:
Franco - don't take up cycling. I did and I have a low heart rate but my legs are like tree trunks and now I can't climb overhangs
E
Franco - don't take up cycling. I did and I have a low heart rate but my legs are like tree trunks and now I can't climb overhangs
E
In reply to Franco Cookson:
There are clearly people on this forum who need to invest in other things to fill their time
There are clearly people on this forum who need to invest in other things to fill their time
In reply to Steve Crowe: Capital, will have a rest and get someone to do it in a minute.
In reply to Franco Cookson: low heart rates are ok till you go see a doctor who thinks that we should all have a rate of about 60. I went for a driving medical have always had a low pulse (lots of walking, running, cycling climbing) doctor said i should see a specialist as i had a heart problem. Also wrote this on my licence application, 'the muppet'.
In reply to JLS:
To get a low measurement, you need to have a rest day, wake in the morning and go for a p!ss, go back to bed and relax for 15min or so.
Also a low rate develops slowly as you grow the heart muscle so like finger strength it isn't something you can acquire in a few weeks.
To get a low measurement, you need to have a rest day, wake in the morning and go for a p!ss, go back to bed and relax for 15min or so.
Also a low rate develops slowly as you grow the heart muscle so like finger strength it isn't something you can acquire in a few weeks.
In reply to Franco Cookson:
Heart rate went up to 45! Perhaps I need someone other than my girlfriend to take it...
Heart rate went up to 45! Perhaps I need someone other than my girlfriend to take it...
In reply to shaun stephens:
I think Dave Lloyd's promising pro cycling career was ruined by some doctors who told him he needed to give up for health reasons which turned out to be bullocks.
I think Dave Lloyd's promising pro cycling career was ruined by some doctors who told him he needed to give up for health reasons which turned out to be bullocks.
In reply to Franco Cookson: In order to get it lower you need to understand how you have got it so low in the first place. I think divers have the capacity to get the lowest heart rates so that'd be a good route to ivestigate.
From what I knnow (which may be rubbish but it was in a cycle training book years ago) the pulse is obviously liked into your heart beat. So your heart needs to pump blood around your body and each beat is a pump of blood. The larger you can make your heart cavity the more blood it will pump and the less beats required. To get a larger heart you need to do endurance activities such as all day in the mountains or cycling.
Secondly you want the heart muscle to be strong so each pump can move all the blood. A strong heart muscle comes from doing anaerobic activities pushing your heart rate as high as it will go for as long as possible. Cycling is great for this.
Anyhow, your pulse is already great and you're lucky enough to have a lot of time on your hands. Don't waste it in the pursuit of this nonsense.
From what I knnow (which may be rubbish but it was in a cycle training book years ago) the pulse is obviously liked into your heart beat. So your heart needs to pump blood around your body and each beat is a pump of blood. The larger you can make your heart cavity the more blood it will pump and the less beats required. To get a larger heart you need to do endurance activities such as all day in the mountains or cycling.
Secondly you want the heart muscle to be strong so each pump can move all the blood. A strong heart muscle comes from doing anaerobic activities pushing your heart rate as high as it will go for as long as possible. Cycling is great for this.
Anyhow, your pulse is already great and you're lucky enough to have a lot of time on your hands. Don't waste it in the pursuit of this nonsense.
In reply to Franco Cookson:
perhaps get her to take it while she has clothes on.
> (In reply to Franco Cookson)
>
> Heart rate went up to 45! Perhaps I need someone other than my girlfriend to take it...
>
> Heart rate went up to 45! Perhaps I need someone other than my girlfriend to take it...
perhaps get her to take it while she has clothes on.
In reply to Franco Cookson:
Measure it first thing in the morning when you wake up, before you get up. If it's 40-42 during the day, you may find that you're already < 40 when you first wake up.
Failing that I have an anaesthetist fried who will set it to whatever you want
Measure it first thing in the morning when you wake up, before you get up. If it's 40-42 during the day, you may find that you're already < 40 when you first wake up.
Failing that I have an anaesthetist fried who will set it to whatever you want
In reply to Franco Cookson:
LSD running, sessions of 60 minutes plus. 40 is very low though, I'd be suprised if you could get it much lower.
LSD running, sessions of 60 minutes plus. 40 is very low though, I'd be suprised if you could get it much lower.
In reply to Franco Cookson: If you crater from above about 50 feet, that should do it !
In reply to shaun stephens:
Yes, when I went for some tests at a hospital last year they wired me up to a machine for a routine pulse check. The red warning light went on (pulse was about 40); "You're either nearly dead or very fit". Apparently I was an interesting exhibit for the student doctor. Later, the big vein or artery (can't remember which) from my heart showed up very pronounced on an ultrasound; same sort of thing.
> (In reply to Franco Cookson) low heart rates are ok till you go see a doctor who thinks that we should all have a rate of about 60.
Yes, when I went for some tests at a hospital last year they wired me up to a machine for a routine pulse check. The red warning light went on (pulse was about 40); "You're either nearly dead or very fit". Apparently I was an interesting exhibit for the student doctor. Later, the big vein or artery (can't remember which) from my heart showed up very pronounced on an ultrasound; same sort of thing.
In reply to Franco Cookson: I've looked this up for myself before. The healthy average is 60. If you're really fit and healthy then 40. If you've got a big fat belly and have 40 then there's something wrong. Athlete's tend to have a resting rate of 30-40. Lowest recorded beat in an athlete was 28 I think.
In reply to Franco Cookson:
Do some study into static apnea. Lying down and very still and calm deep, slow (unforced) breath in filling all of your lungs from stomach to chest and then exhale as slow and relaxed as possible and your heart rate will drop right down.
The second you start moving things will inevitably go up..
Do some study into static apnea. Lying down and very still and calm deep, slow (unforced) breath in filling all of your lungs from stomach to chest and then exhale as slow and relaxed as possible and your heart rate will drop right down.
The second you start moving things will inevitably go up..
In reply to And Climb: Lowest recorded 28 resting HR a Mr Armstrong me thinks
In reply to And Climb:
A low resting HR isn't really a measure of anything much - people assume it does because they read that Miguel Indurain had a resting HR of low 30's - so therefore lower=fitter, but that's generally not the case. As someone else posted earlier a far better measure of fitness is a wide range and the speed it returns to normal after exertion. It's a reasonable measure or relative fitness (i.e. if I get fitter my resting HR will tend to go down) but to compare one persons against another is like comparing foot size. My mate has a generally higher HR than me (by some 20bpm) but at times he's miles fitter than I am - but his HR will still be higher than mine - it's just how he is. He also has much bigger feet than me, by the way.
> (In reply to Franco Cookson) I've looked this up for myself before. The healthy average is 60. If you're really fit and healthy then 40. If you've got a big fat belly and have 40 then there's something wrong. Athlete's tend to have a resting rate of 30-40. Lowest recorded beat in an athlete was 28 I think.
A low resting HR isn't really a measure of anything much - people assume it does because they read that Miguel Indurain had a resting HR of low 30's - so therefore lower=fitter, but that's generally not the case. As someone else posted earlier a far better measure of fitness is a wide range and the speed it returns to normal after exertion. It's a reasonable measure or relative fitness (i.e. if I get fitter my resting HR will tend to go down) but to compare one persons against another is like comparing foot size. My mate has a generally higher HR than me (by some 20bpm) but at times he's miles fitter than I am - but his HR will still be higher than mine - it's just how he is. He also has much bigger feet than me, by the way.
In reply to Enty:
Actually, I've had about 5 espressos...
> (In reply to Franco Cookson)
>
> How much coffee you had this morning?
>
> E
>
> How much coffee you had this morning?
>
> E
Actually, I've had about 5 espressos...
In reply to Franco Cookson:
The key thing is your heart range (capacity to do work) (max heart rate less resting heart rate). This gives you your capacity to train, endure and recover. Knowing your range helps you determine your training zones. I'm sure you realise a resting heart rate of 40 and max of 60 (not realistic numbers i know) is less useful than a resting heart rate of 70 and max of 150.
Max is theoretically genetically predetermined and gradually drops with age and there are totally useless formulas that suggest what yours should be based on your age. Ignore these, to get max rate its useful to get a medical assessment first as its a very aggressive test and potentially dangerous. I think the safest method recognised is a graded cardiac stress test. Google will prob. help. I used to do a hill climb interval test (on a big road climb on the bike-over 15km-abroad) that I could only psychologically endure once a week. Vision starting to go, tunnelling, on the push for the line... This was around 10 years ago when I was in my late 30's - rhr 37, mrh 218 heart range 181.
The key thing is your heart range (capacity to do work) (max heart rate less resting heart rate). This gives you your capacity to train, endure and recover. Knowing your range helps you determine your training zones. I'm sure you realise a resting heart rate of 40 and max of 60 (not realistic numbers i know) is less useful than a resting heart rate of 70 and max of 150.
Max is theoretically genetically predetermined and gradually drops with age and there are totally useless formulas that suggest what yours should be based on your age. Ignore these, to get max rate its useful to get a medical assessment first as its a very aggressive test and potentially dangerous. I think the safest method recognised is a graded cardiac stress test. Google will prob. help. I used to do a hill climb interval test (on a big road climb on the bike-over 15km-abroad) that I could only psychologically endure once a week. Vision starting to go, tunnelling, on the push for the line... This was around 10 years ago when I was in my late 30's - rhr 37, mrh 218 heart range 181.
In reply to simondgee: Just took mine and it was 73 at rest. Am I going to die or something?
In reply to Franco Cookson:
lol. To do it properly you really need it done professionally with an inclining treadmill but you can use an HRM like Polar or Garmin for pretty good results.
I would suggest with your obsession with your pulse that you get one of these asap then you can do all kinds of experiments on yourself : )
I just got one a few days ago motivated after another bout of overtraining on the bike.
amazing tool. can check morning heart rate and input rest and max into computer thereby telling what training zone I'm in when out on the bike.
> (In reply to jazzyjackson)
>
> I'm not sure. How do I measure that?
>
> I'm not sure. How do I measure that?
lol. To do it properly you really need it done professionally with an inclining treadmill but you can use an HRM like Polar or Garmin for pretty good results.
I would suggest with your obsession with your pulse that you get one of these asap then you can do all kinds of experiments on yourself : )
I just got one a few days ago motivated after another bout of overtraining on the bike.
amazing tool. can check morning heart rate and input rest and max into computer thereby telling what training zone I'm in when out on the bike.
In reply to Lord_ash2000:
very likely, im sorry.
> (In reply to simondgee) Just took mine and it was 173 at rest. Am I going to die or something?
very likely, im sorry.
In reply to Franco Cookson:
Franco you have inspired me to dig my old heart rate monitor out after about 6 years in the back of the cupboard. I'm 55bpm doing the washing up and packing my gear for a trip away. This is fab as last time I checked my rhr it was about 56bpm 1st thing after waking up so I've obviously improved my heart health in the intervening years. Can't wait to check it properly tomorrow morning. Yee haa.
Franco you have inspired me to dig my old heart rate monitor out after about 6 years in the back of the cupboard. I'm 55bpm doing the washing up and packing my gear for a trip away. This is fab as last time I checked my rhr it was about 56bpm 1st thing after waking up so I've obviously improved my heart health in the intervening years. Can't wait to check it properly tomorrow morning. Yee haa.
In reply to Lord_ash2000:
clearly you are hyperactive and need to consider slowing down... train your resting heart rate by lying on the sofa stuffing your face with cakes.
clearly you are hyperactive and need to consider slowing down... train your resting heart rate by lying on the sofa stuffing your face with cakes.
In reply to Snoweider:
put a new battery in it
put a new battery in it
In reply to Lord_ash2000:
Nah, I find mine ranges massively. My lowest is 43, and just now it was 70. And I'm sitting around doing nothing right now.
Re Franco, check it just after you wake up with as little movement as possible.
Nah, I find mine ranges massively. My lowest is 43, and just now it was 70. And I'm sitting around doing nothing right now.
Re Franco, check it just after you wake up with as little movement as possible.
In reply to Snoweider:
cant wait to read your post tommorow morning. Yee ha
> (In reply to Franco Cookson)
> Franco you have inspired me to dig my old heart rate monitor out after about 6 years in the back of the cupboard. I'm 55bpm doing the washing up and packing my gear for a trip away. This is fab as last time I checked my rhr it was about 56bpm 1st thing after waking up so I've obviously improved my heart health in the intervening years. Can't wait to check it properly tomorrow morning. Yee haa.
> Franco you have inspired me to dig my old heart rate monitor out after about 6 years in the back of the cupboard. I'm 55bpm doing the washing up and packing my gear for a trip away. This is fab as last time I checked my rhr it was about 56bpm 1st thing after waking up so I've obviously improved my heart health in the intervening years. Can't wait to check it properly tomorrow morning. Yee haa.
cant wait to read your post tommorow morning. Yee ha
In reply to simondgee:
I did wonder, so went for a wee jog round the block and it went up to 145 so I think its working ok....?
> (In reply to Snoweider)
> put a new battery in it
> put a new battery in it
I did wonder, so went for a wee jog round the block and it went up to 145 so I think its working ok....?
In reply to Franco Cookson: I started to reply then thought that this all seemed a bit familiar.
http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=391324&v=1#x5647357
Take a look there.
http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=391324&v=1#x5647357
Take a look there.
In reply to Franco Cookson: 81bpm after dinner and half a bottle of wine, well chuffed, lets see if the other half brings it down. All in the name of science of course :P
In reply to fireman_al:
I suspect the booze will have the opposite affect. Had to go for a medical for a job once, it was first thing in the morning after a biblically heavy night, when the male nurse took my pulse it was through the roof! Luckily he was Irish and understood my predicament. Needless to say, results were fudged!
Having said that, better drink the rest just to be sure. Franco will owe you big time for your dedicated research!
I suspect the booze will have the opposite affect. Had to go for a medical for a job once, it was first thing in the morning after a biblically heavy night, when the male nurse took my pulse it was through the roof! Luckily he was Irish and understood my predicament. Needless to say, results were fudged!
Having said that, better drink the rest just to be sure. Franco will owe you big time for your dedicated research!
In reply to Franco Cookson:
Haha well for gods sake don't try the alcohol test next. Booze and tramadol can shut down your respiratory system!
....Although your heart rate would be very low after that.
Haha well for gods sake don't try the alcohol test next. Booze and tramadol can shut down your respiratory system!
....Although your heart rate would be very low after that.
In reply to Franco Cookson:
I used to use a heart rate monitor. My lowest rate as measured by the recommended method (lie down and relax for a long time) was a bit higher than yours (47) although I was a bit older at the time (58). Although 47 was the lowest I got with the procedure recommended for measuring a minimum, I got a few marginally lower readings when I didn't expect it. These all occurred at a bouldering wall (Broughton) when I had got a bit pumped and was sitting waitng to feel ready to go again. Nothing like the level of relaxation and rest used in the recommended minimum HR measurement procedure (I was barely feeling recovered in the forearms) but for some unexplained reason the HR was very low. This happened several few timea. Something like this may just get you a little lower if you are obsessed with the numbers?
Incidentslly, if anyone has an explanation I would be very interested.
I used to use a heart rate monitor. My lowest rate as measured by the recommended method (lie down and relax for a long time) was a bit higher than yours (47) although I was a bit older at the time (58). Although 47 was the lowest I got with the procedure recommended for measuring a minimum, I got a few marginally lower readings when I didn't expect it. These all occurred at a bouldering wall (Broughton) when I had got a bit pumped and was sitting waitng to feel ready to go again. Nothing like the level of relaxation and rest used in the recommended minimum HR measurement procedure (I was barely feeling recovered in the forearms) but for some unexplained reason the HR was very low. This happened several few timea. Something like this may just get you a little lower if you are obsessed with the numbers?
Incidentslly, if anyone has an explanation I would be very interested.
In reply to Ciderslider:
> (In reply to And Climb) Lowest recorded 28 resting HR a Mr Armstrong me thinks.
Miguel Indurain had a resting heartbeat of 28 as well so cyclings got to be good for your heart.In reply to jonathan shepherd:
Or...people with naturally low resting heart rates are predisposed to be good at cycling...
Or...people with naturally low resting heart rates are predisposed to be good at cycling...
In reply to Franco Cookson:
HI Franco,
Skimmed through thread so I may be repeating others.
A RHR of 40-42 is excellent or not? People can have a low RHR naturally. I have a friend who does NO physical excercise and has a RHR of 36!
I used to be a competitive runner and used a HRM to check my RHR as a guage to fitness. It is important to check under the same conditions. I checked mine BEFORE getting out of bed in the morning, every morning! I had a RHR of 38-40 and if it was over 5 above I had an easy day! More than 10 I had a rest day.
pad
HI Franco,
Skimmed through thread so I may be repeating others.
A RHR of 40-42 is excellent or not? People can have a low RHR naturally. I have a friend who does NO physical excercise and has a RHR of 36!
I used to be a competitive runner and used a HRM to check my RHR as a guage to fitness. It is important to check under the same conditions. I checked mine BEFORE getting out of bed in the morning, every morning! I had a RHR of 38-40 and if it was over 5 above I had an easy day! More than 10 I had a rest day.
pad
In reply to Franco Cookson:
Forgot to say the best way imo to reduce your RHR is by aerobic excercise, plenty & often!
Forgot to say the best way imo to reduce your RHR is by aerobic excercise, plenty & often!
In reply to jazzyjackson: 46bpm but I forgot and made coffee first (I'm in my camper) and had to go back to bed.didn't drink it though. Happy with that!
In reply to Franco Cookson:
Planning on giving up this E9 nonsense and having a go at the Tour de France?
Planning on giving up this E9 nonsense and having a go at the Tour de France?
In reply to Franco Cookson:
That's very good.
Fancy turning your hand to 10miles-in-an-hour or similar feat?
That's very good.
Fancy turning your hand to 10miles-in-an-hour or similar feat?
In reply to Padraig:
the lack of exercise may be associated with the 36! Mine went down to 37 or 38 before I had treatment for hypothyroidism
the lack of exercise may be associated with the 36! Mine went down to 37 or 38 before I had treatment for hypothyroidism
In reply to Franco Cookson:
The programme about Sperm Whales that was on last night said they can get down to just a couple of beats per minute. Perhaps there's something we can all learn from that?
The programme about Sperm Whales that was on last night said they can get down to just a couple of beats per minute. Perhaps there's something we can all learn from that?
In reply to Franco Cookson:
mine was down to 38 when i was training for ironman. Usually about 42. I bet it's probably pretty low at the moment as i'm pretty much acclimatized to 6000m but i haven't taken it at rest.
mine was down to 38 when i was training for ironman. Usually about 42. I bet it's probably pretty low at the moment as i'm pretty much acclimatized to 6000m but i haven't taken it at rest.
In reply to Franco Cookson: Why not go for 0? It's easier to achieve!
In reply to Franco Cookson:
Mine hovers around the 40 BPM mark. First thing in the morning it's in the 35-38 range, and after walking around a bit is in the 40-45 region. Despite a big increase in my training regime, it remains at these rates. Must be my natural 'low'!
I do, however, have a benign heart murmur which always gets doctors excited. Ultrasound / ECG investigations showed that this is nothing more than turbulence in my arteries due to the volume of blood being pushed in each beat. Very fit heart!
Mine hovers around the 40 BPM mark. First thing in the morning it's in the 35-38 range, and after walking around a bit is in the 40-45 region. Despite a big increase in my training regime, it remains at these rates. Must be my natural 'low'!
I do, however, have a benign heart murmur which always gets doctors excited. Ultrasound / ECG investigations showed that this is nothing more than turbulence in my arteries due to the volume of blood being pushed in each beat. Very fit heart!
In reply to Franco Cookson: stick your thumb in your mouth, hold your nose and blow against both without exhaling.
In reply to Franco Cookson: What am I doing wrong? My resting heart rate is 110bpm
In reply to Lord_ash2000:
Absolutely! I guarantee it.
The real question you should be asking is "When?"
N
> (In reply to simondgee) Am I going to die or something?
Absolutely! I guarantee it.
The real question you should be asking is "When?"
N
In reply to Franco Cookson: look up "mammalian dive reflex" and stick your face in a sink full of ice cold water. your heart rate will drop massively.
In reply to Franco Cookson:
Auto-erotic asphyxia has been known to work...
Auto-erotic asphyxia has been known to work...
In reply to Franco Cookson: yep.. it sped up and stayed that way for about 4 hours, then i fell asleep. What a waste of time huff!
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