She needs to be seen by her primary care physician, don't look for advice here make an appointment today. Hopefully it's just a bad heart rate monitor.

you could try a 2nd HRM firs, if you have one let her wear yours, and save the $ on the dr.'s appt

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maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD

No it's my hr monitor and garmin. She is hard headed. Granted she is 23 years old but damn. If she was breathless I would be ok with it but she is not.

While it's generally a good idea to get a check-up (just to make sure), I wouldn't panic just yet. Last time I systematically checked my max. HR (couple years ago in my mid-thirties), I easily reached 205 bpm. 185 during training runs was nothing unusual (probably still isn't; haven't checked in a while). I did have my cardiovascular system thoroughly checked; everything in best order.
People are individuals, some happen to have high max. heart rates.

Cheers,
malte

I would not be too concerned either - while it may not totally comply with the 220 minus your age approximation, it doesn't seem that abnormal. But if you are concerned, go have it checked out.

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Don't forget to attack!

I would not be concerned about this HR in a 23 year old. She probably has a high maximum HR (the 220-age formula is notoriously inaccurate).

Can you verify that she is well over 200 by taking her pulse manually?

Getting a woman to listen to their husband.... Smh

Just to be certain I would go to a cardiologist to have them check it out. My wife was on beta blockers for years because of headaches and when they started clearing up she got off the meds. All the sudden her HR went from 150ish on long runs to 180-190. Turns out she has something with her heart that causes an extra beat.

I have heard of plenty of people that have max HR of 210+ so it may not be anything but it is worth checking out.

Have her dance and see how high it gets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM_gFqV1T1k

Ever seen Elaine from Seinfeld dance?

Tell her to stop looking up pictures of me on the internet before she goes running.

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Take a short break from ST and read my blog:
http://tri-banter.blogspot.com/

That scAry huh?

As others have said go see the medical Pros, and also get her Iron checked.

Maurice

That would put her run LT threshold around 215 or so, that's up there, I think the highest run LT I recall seeing posted on the web was 205 or so. Physical & blood test could rule out some things, like thyroid.

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<We all know that light travels faster than sound. That's why certain people appear bright until you hear them speak>

Just another data point to throw in for you
My wife's resting HR is in the mid 50's, just cruising along high 170's, and around 195-200 at her 5k effort.
Not affected by her ferritin levels - it's the same at 12 and 110

I'm a 36 year old female. I can race MTB at a HR of 185 for 1.5 hours with no issues. It's always higher the warmer I am (even at lower intensities). My husband used to freak out about it & how it was too high & I couldn't race at that HR etc. It's just me - I've always been like that.

If it's really bothering you, suggest she see her doctor.

Try taking her HR with your hand immediately after she stops running.
I very much doubt the readings are true.

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I about have her convinced to get checked. I'm sure monitor is correct, I use it daily and I'm not about to explode like her. Lol

The HRM can be ok on you and not on her - different anatomy and that.

Does she wear an underwire bra while running?


Yes, I realize I'm asking you about your wife's underwear.

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No just normal sport bra.

The 185's aren't concerning but the sustained 220+ is.
Not saying anything is wrong, but its worth a look I'd want an exercise stress test with EKG, not just a resting in the Dr's office.
If that's negative, maybe an echo.

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The above poster has eschewed traditional employment and is currently undertaking the ill-conceived task of launching his own hardgoods company. Statements are not made on behalf of nor reflective of anything in any manner... unless they're good, then they count.
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Yea that's what bothers me. Here is a half marathon she did a few weeks back. She literally was talking to me the entire time and hr is pretty steady up there.
Check out my 13.2 mi run on Strava.

https://www.strava.com/activities/227518569

My 26yo wife had something very similar. Heart beats of 210+ sometimes on runs but wouldn't be really all that winded. Oddly this just happened on runs, never on bike rides no matter how intense. Saw a few specialists and ultimately the cardiologist said he thought she had Supraventricular tachycardia which is basically a misfiring in the upper heart chamber that creates an extra beat. Sounds scary, but the cardiologist said as long as the heart rate goes down quickly after stopping physical activity he wasn't too worried. They could have done surgery or put her on beta blockers, but the cardiologist advised against both. My wife did give up running (never really liked it anyway), but has continued to bike hard and do regular cardio focused classes. I can't remember exactly how the conversation with our doctor went, but I think he was OK with her continuing to run, as long as we monitored her heartrate to make sure it didn't stay elevated for long periods after the run was over. My guess is your wife has the same situation. While I did stay in a Holiday Express last night, YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY SEE A QUALIFIED DOCTOR THOUGH!

Read this, might give you some insight into what is going on. It does not have to be negative, so dial down any anxiety..

http://www.slowtwitch.com/...s/coachcorn/max.html

Looks like she *may* have paced the race like a 10km, ave 185 for the first 10km then a drift in pace and HR down from there. Not a med professional but nothing unusual for mid high 180's for an hour or so.

If pace is low for a given HR check Iron, it is simple and easy to eliminate as probable cause. HR doesn't really change with low iron but pace at a given HR can be horrible if anemic.

(edit: meant to reply to OP)

Maurice

This is something i would at least have looked at by a cardiologist. My wife had a similar issue (non competitive but still active) where her HR would very quickly climb up to around 190-200 and just stay there for an hour. After a myriad of tests they said there is nothing they could find but said an sustained HR over 200 for extended periods of time is highly abnormal. The stress test and ECG were normal. My wife was around 22-23 when she had the tests and he heart still does this at 26.

There is also a big difference between 180 and over 200. My LT is 183 at 26 (male), resting HR of 45-50, and max HR around 208. I have seen other women who have high LT HR's around 185 but never over 190. If you can hold a real 200bpm for over an hour you are a serious outlier.

I could average 195ish for an oly when I was focused on tri's. Wish I had a husband and I'm 28... what's up with all these young wives?? I tried a hrm for a bit in high school swim practice and would see 240's. Not sure how accurate that was. I remember checking 6sec * 10 and it seemed about right. These days just cruising conversational pace (talking to my border collie) is 165-175. Averaged 162 for a VERY easy 14mi. Didn't wear the hrm (hate the strap, irritates my skin) for my last 5k (high 19) but would say definitely 190's the whole time.

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"When the going gets tough, get going!"

Thanks for the replies. It def helps convince her to get checked. She sees me do all these crazy ironmans and push beyond what I should and she believes she can too.

A few things:

1. 'Your wife' has a brain and can decide herself whether her heart rate is something to be concerned about
2. 'Your wife' could easily do 'crazy ironmans' too
3. 'Your wife' can push herself just as much as you can

So, have you put a finger on a vein and checked her pulse manually when she had the really high heart rates?

I am eager to hear the answer to this as well.

I bet the HRM was going funky for the 220+ workout.

Option C: She is really twins, each with a HR of 110-120.