Rate Response

This may sound very naive as I have had this for 6+ years, but I am not sure of some specifics with my friend/enemy here.
I am 100% paced in the Ventrical and about 36 % in the other. I am fighting a weight issue and am not sure if it's futile, with this thing. I have a St jude duel lead PM set at 60 and I belive 120 (130?) When I exercise, my heart rate does not seem to increase significantly no matter what. The only time I notice a major increase, is after a hot bath, hot tub etc. My question is: do I need to raise my hr to get any benefit from exercise (and help me get rid of this middle aged spread). Any thoughts on the matter would be great. Thanks Debera

8 Comments

maybe

by Tracey_E - 2009-10-30 03:10:21

Only your doctor can answer that question, but in general you need to get your hr up enough that you are working up a sweat in order to burn fat and keep your heart healthy. Do you feel tired or energized? If you're able to do what you want and feel good, it's probably fine. If you get too tired and feel like your rate needs to be higher, they may be able to increase the sensitivity on your rate response.

sound like twins! lol

by Hot Heart - 2009-10-30 04:10:46

Hi Debera, read my post from a couple of days ago! lol. I got my rate response turned on yesterday and suddenly full of energy. Been to gym today and heart rate went up.

Fast walking is the key to burning fat. Good luck!

HH

When it is not on

by jimmy412 - 2009-10-30 07:10:11

On my first month after I had my pacemaker, mine was not on. When I went walking in the evening, I would sweat alot on the back of my neck, and felt like the energy was sucked out of me. After it was turned on a month later, I noticed a huge difference, especially when exercising.

Heart Rate And Demand

by SMITTY - 2009-10-30 07:10:29

Hello GrandmaD,

I can't answer your question of "do I need to raise my hr to get any benefit from exercise" but I can say you need your heart rate to increase during exercise so as to not overload it. If I were to guess, I have to say yes you need a higher heart rate to burn off the stuff that causes middle age spread.

The reason we need a faster a heart rate when we exercise is very simple. Our body depends on blood to supply the nutrients and oxygen to "feed" the muscles as we increase the load on them, which we do when we call on them for more or extra work. In fact there is a muscle we seldom think about that wants extra blood flow from time to time and that is our stomach. Eat a meal and the stomach muscles must go to work to start the digestion process which is one of the reasons we may at times feel short of breath after eating. Just like our legs need additional blood supply when we are walking or running. All of these things depend on the heart to supply enough blood flow to meet the demands. The only way the heart can do this is by increasing its pumping or beating rate.

To compound our problem with a low heart rate during exercise is our heart is not very smart, or maybe I should say our heart is too benevolent for its own good. It knows that our entire body depends on it to supply blood with its life giving substances. When we do something that requires an increased blood flow, our heart will do what it can to supply those needs, meeting its own demands last. This is the reason we often find ourselves short of breath when we increase our physical activity. Of course another reason for SOB is we do something for which our heart cannot meet the demand.

Back to your question, you need to talk to your doctor about your situation, and while you are at it, talk to the doctor about the rate response settings on your pacemaker. This feature can provide the goosing our heart may need when we increase its load.

Good luck,

Smitty

hi

by jessie - 2009-10-30 09:10:22

debbie mine is set not to go below 60. i have been on the dr. shouldice reducing diet for 3 months now and have lost 18 pounds. the last while it is coming off slow. i need to exercise more but feel so much better losing this weight. i love to try on clothes now. i got the reducing diet from a friend whose husband was having hernia surgery. you should ask your dr. tho about rate response. mine seems okay just slow becasue hey i am 68 but feel younger now regards jessie

GrandmaD

by GMan - 2009-11-03 07:11:20

In addition to exercise......probably walking best for you, cut your portion size down. In other words take what you usually eat and only eat half. Then 1/3. Cut the portions down. I have found this the easiest way for me. Try it!

Gary

British heart foundation

by Hot Heart - 2009-11-05 04:11:49

Hi again! If you go onto bhf.org there is loads of brilliant info about diet and exercise. The eatwell plate is the basis of good diet and there are portion amounts there as well which can help you. The mainstay of the healthy eating plan is high starch, high fibre, lots of fruit and veg, small amounts of protein,low salt, low sugar and try to have small amounts of fat, but always go for good fats, mono and poly unsaturates, rather than saturated from animal produce.

This is a lifestyle rather than a diet, and nothing is banned.

Hope this helps

HH

whoops me again!

by Hot Heart - 2009-11-05 04:11:57

I'm 60-120 as well, rate response on. Try to raise your heart rate in short bursts, walk then walk real fast for a min, gradually you will build up your stamina.

Move as much as you can!

HH

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