I went for an easy, aerobic-paced run today and the heart rate monitor was off the charts - up to 192 BPM without even breathing hard. I chalk it up to problems with the HRM.
Thinking about it later though, I started to wonder about a couple of things: does a heart murmur (I’ve had one all my life) throw off a HRM reading? Looking at another possible cause, will an iPod throw off an HRM reading (I happened to be running with one)?
Interested in any thoughts on the matter…
How long was it that high? Were you running near power lines, particularly high voltage lines?
If it was longer than a few seconds, do a search on here for “tachycardia”, “A-fib”, and/or “heart rate spike”
You’ll find a decent amount.
my timex sometimes gives erratic readings when the battery starts to run down, that and when I run past the hospital here which has the local wireless ISP transmitter on the roof.
Just a few points to clarify the question(s)…
The HRM is my wifes, and is a couple of years old;
I looked for overhead powerlines as soon as I noticed the readings were elevated - that wasn’t the cause;
This is the first time that I have run with an iPod and an HRM together - wondered whether the iPod might cause “glitches” in readings;
Heart rate was elevated throughout the 45:00 workout, but effort was easy throughout.
Again, thanks for the input; no cause can necessarily be ruled out…
I usually run with either an iPod mini or a shuffle, and either a garmin or a Polar HRM and have never noticed any interaction between music player and HRM.
did you at any point take your radial or carotid pulse to verify the HRM readings?
Did you moisten your chest and the strap? I always get strange readings with my polar when I don’t actively moisten my chest and the monitor before starting a run or if it is dry and windy. Just another thought.
This is the first time that I have run with an iPod and an HRM together - wondered whether the iPod might cause “glitches” in readings;
Did you happen to be listening to Barry Manilow at the time? His music has been know to cause drastic HR changes.
BH,
I’ll bet you 5 to 1 that either the battery in your HRM receiver of HRM transmitter/chest strap is low and requires replacement. This will cure your problem immediately.
Good luck.
Another question I’d ask in solving this, since it’s your wife’s, has it ever happened to her and have you used it before, and did it work OK then?