Posted by Health Handouts | Posted in Fitness Tips | Posted on 10-06-2010
Heart rate is affected by age, gender, exercise habits, heredity, cardiovascular level of fitness, body conditions (such as hydration), blood volume, and environment (such as humidity and temperature). As an athlete increases his or her exercise intensity, heart rate increases.
Due to all these variables, it is impossible to predict how increased intensity translates into a specific rate of elevation in your heartbeat.
For example, as a individuals improves his or her fitness level, his or her resting heart rate decreases. As a result, it may take a greater effort to elicit a specific heart rate.
Think of it this way – an out-of-shape person huffs and puffs climbing up a flight of stairs.
A fit person can bound up those stairs with ease because his or her heart is already well conditioned. Also, the person might need to climb ten flights to significantly raise his or her heart rate.
This adaptation occurs over time and is constantly changing. Response to workout also varies greatly from individuals to individuals.
A good way to become more aware of your conditioning and reaction to train is to monitor changes in your heart rate as a result of exercise.
Perhaps buying a heart rate monitor at a local sporting goods store (or via the Internet) will allow you to better keep track of your heart rate’s ups and downs.
To further understand your heart rate, pay attention to your breathing, sweating, and performance during exercise.
<!– ckey=”0C4B6242″ –>