Can heart rate exceed 140 during exercise?

Question

Hello doctor,

I walk and jog for 40 minutes, and my pulse often exceeds 165 beats per minute. I am 39 years old and classified as obese. I take Olmesartan 20 mg for blood pressure and Rosuvastatin 5 mg for cholesterol. I read that considering my age, I should not exceed a heart rate of 140 beats per minute during exercise. Could you please advise if I should reduce my pace to keep my heart rate below 140?

Please advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

No, there is no specific cut-off heart rate that exists. At your age, you can exercise until your heart rate reaches around 180, depending on your exercise capacity. It is important to ensure you can tolerate the exercise without experiencing excessive shortness of breath or other symptoms, such as chest pain. If you can manage these exercises comfortably, then your pulse rate is not a concern. Generally, the intensity of exercise should be gradually increased to improve tolerance.

I hope this helps.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.