Fifty Plus (50+) - Scaring an old guy.

I go biking today. Look at my HRM and it says 216. What is this? I never ever go over 150.
Stop the bike. Check the strap around my breast. Make sure it is wet and proper tension. HR is normal while not biking.
Back on the bike. HR goes up to over 200 with easy biking. It must be the HRM. Shut the thing off.

My mind kicks in and I think I am not feeling so good. perhaps I am falling apart like some of my friends on medication for irregular HR.

Stop the bike again. Try an engineering solution. Put the HRM strap over the shirt and wet the shirt for contact.
Success. HR is back to normal.
I celebrate by going against 15 MPH wind with 18 MPH average for 35 miles.
Midway stop. Put the HRM strap back where it belongs on the skin. HR is normal.
I still do not know what happened.
Anyone has a good Idea?

Could have simply been too dry - that's happened to me though a good soaking and working the water into the sensors with your fingers is usually enough. This has only happened to me on the first ride after the strap has been through the washing machine.

Wireless networks can do strange things to even good units. I use a Polar CS200 and the HRM regularly has hysterics or stops when I ride past intense wireless network zones eg, a large apartment block. It's amazing how fast I can ride when my HRM tells me I'm dead :eek: The trip functions go into 'pause' every time I go past a railway signal, along with 'highly excited' heart rate readings. This wasn't a problem a couple of years back but as wireless internet and wireless networks have grown around here, I'm getting more interference to the point where there's a good chance I'll be looking at wired computers in future and just forgetting about the HRM - the numbers are nice but seeing as I don't ride religiously to them, I can do without the irritation of irrational readings.

Richard

I had this happen to me a couple of years ago. I thought it was the HRM going haywire and didn't think much of it. Later I found I had intermittent Atrial Fibrillation. It was only then I realized it wasn't the HRM.

:eek:Were you close to any corn fields? Did you check for crop circles?

My polar HRM is influenced by wind resistance. If I go fast down hill where the wind is really blowing against me, the HRM will almost always have my heart rate at about 125%.

It was a frequent occurrence when I was using a Polar HRM. This was due to interference from power lines or passing cars. No such issue since I use a Garmin Edge.

Don't use an HRM so don't have that problem.
If my heart beats it means I'm OK.

Don't use an HRM so don't have that problem.
If my heart beats it means I'm OK.

Yeah, sure, but you have about 20 years on many of us here. And you're in better shape than a lot of people 50 years your junior.

So while I appreciate what you're saying and what you do insofar as a bike is concerned, I have to side with Will, et al, who kinda freak out when the HRM flashes an absurd number.

I hope when I'm your age I can be as content with myself as you are.

Why didn't ypou do a manual check, ya know the old finger on the pulse count 6 seconds, and multiply by 10. If you suspect an abnormally high HR, get second reading.

Why didn't ypou do a manual check, ya know the old finger on the pulse count 6 seconds, and multiply by 10. If you suspect an abnormally high HR, get second reading.

+1

Sometimes we become slaves to our technology, and forget the simpler things of life.

Why didn't ypou do a manual check, ya know the old finger on the pulse count 6 seconds, and multiply by 10. If you suspect an abnormally high HR, get second reading.

That's what I did the first time mine went beserk

Richard

Yep, anything that generates a magnetic field can goof up a heart rate monitor. That includes power lines, transformers, electric fences, WiFi, CB radios, other HRMs, someone else's wireless bike computer, and who knows what else.

Will-could be nothing.......but I've had bouts with Afib and keep charts on my spikes when I see them and take the info with me on my doctor's visits. It could be the equipment-or it could be some abnormalities. Right now the fact is none of us knows for sure do we. Next time you see something similar try the pulse test to see what you get and maybe that will help provide better information. This is a situation you need to make sure you're dealing with the facts and not conjecture. If it were me I'd not be alarmed but treat it seriously until I could rule out Afib issues.

You said breast.

There are two local areas where Moitors go berserk. One is at a busy road intersection with plenty of lights working. Local interference I suppose but the other one is offroad in the middle of nowhere. In theory there should be nothing to affect the monitor- but have even had Lights go on the blink in that area.

And another point--- Not had it myself but Modern trucks are full of electronics and probably the same goes for cars. Had a driver in the workshop a few weeks ago and he was moaning that whenever he switches on His Sat Nav in the cab- his heart monitor has a few wild moments.

Yep, anything that generates a magnetic field can goof up a heart rate monitor. That includes power lines, transformers, electric fences, WiFi, CB radios, other HRMs, someone else's wireless bike computer, and who knows what else.

+ 1 on this My cell phone freaks out my bike computer, and my ham station does it to my HRM..The RF gets into the receiver part of the units..

Bud

Why didn't ypou do a manual check, ya know the old finger on the pulse count 6 seconds, and multiply by 10. If you suspect an abnormally high HR, get second reading.


I would suggest doing a manual check as Howsteep suggests. If your finger count is reasonable (130 for you?), and the HRM reads high at the same time, bike away from any power lines or factories. If it goes back to normal, I think you have electromagnetic interference from power lines or something. I've seen this problem with a Polar when riding near power lines. Not all power lines, but on successive passes of the same power lines. As an electrical engineer it does not surprise me (in fact I expect SOME interference with low-cost consumer electronics) at all if high stray fields are causing this minor disruption of the HRM, especially if it goes back to normal when you go away. If it's always reading this 216, I think you have a bad HRM. If its really random, I think you have a bad HRM.

Road Fan

It could be Flapping Jersey Syndrome (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=425564). The jersey gets a static charge in dry weather, and makes the HRM jump up to a big number. Try holding the material away from the strap with one hand and see if the numbers go back to normal in a few seconds.

You said breast.

I had turkey breast for lunch - so there!

I had turkey breast for lunch - so there!

Watch it boys, Dad's listening in :eek:

Richard

Watch it boys, Dad's listening in :eek:

Richard


The X-Rated old guys thread. This is as good as it gets, folks!

OK guys, thanks for the comments and I will try to answer some of the points raised.
1) The good old manual test. Of course I did that while OFF the bike. My HR was near normal both measured with the HRM and manual. BTW I do not have a very strong signal for a manual test.
As I go on the bike and bike a reasonable speed, the HR starts accelerating up over 200. I tried but did not succeed in testing manual while pedaling the bike. As someone said: I was somewhat freaked out.
2) It is a Polar HRM. A electromagnetic interference is the most likely explanation IMHO.
3) You can have an joke on me. I still use German English every so often especially when I write something. In German Chest is called "Brust" and NOT gender specific. They have other names for gender specific Chest. I had a slip up to translate that "Brust" into Breast and had to think hard what I did wrong.

It could be Flapping Jersey Syndrome (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=425564). The jersey gets a static charge in dry weather, and makes the HRM jump up to a big number. Try holding the material away from the strap with one hand and see if the numbers go back to normal in a few seconds.

That is a useful suggestion. I had just a Polyester moisture transfer undershirt on. It could indeed do what you describe. As I made that shirt wet, the problem was gone.
Sounds like that may be it.
Thanks.

Will-could be nothing.......but I've had bouts with Afib and keep charts on my spikes when I see them and take the info with me on my doctor's visits. It could be the equipment-or it could be some abnormalities. Right now the fact is none of us knows for sure do we. Next time you see something similar try the pulse test to see what you get and maybe that will help provide better information. This is a situation you need to make sure you're dealing with the facts and not conjecture. If it were me I'd not be alarmed but treat it seriously until I could rule out Afib issues.

Thank you jppe.
I bike very hard several times per week just to keep the old engine tuned. We got some undulating tiny hills here where I hustle up with all out effort. That to me is HR150. I simply do not dare to go higher.

I know that the advise is to go to a Sports Doctor. Believe me that a GOOD Sports Doctor does not reside here. So that means that I am my own doctor and that is why I do not take things like this lightly.

It seems as if I am OK and the Polar HRM had interference of some sort.

I had this happen to me a couple of years ago. I thought it was the HRM going haywire and didn't think much of it. Later I found I had intermittent Atrial Fibrillation. It was only then I realized it wasn't the HRM.

That is why I was worried. This is no joke for me.
Thanks.

Why didn't ypou do a manual check, ya know the old finger on the pulse count 6 seconds, and multiply by 10. If you suspect an abnormally high HR, get second reading.

Trust me that I did.

The good old manual test. Of course I did that while OFF the bike. My HR was near normal both measured with the HRM and manual. BTW I do not have a very strong signal for a manual test.
As I go on the bike and bike at a reasonable speed, the HR starts accelerating up over 200. I tried but did not succeed in testing manual while pedaling the bike. As someone said: I was somewhat freaked out.

You said breast.

Yeah I know. Genglish! As also called German English.

German for male or female chest is "Brust". I translated to Breast without considering Gender. I call a female breast something else you know?

I had a cateye wireless comp for a weekend then returned it.
Other electronics anywhere near it would show me traveling over 100 mph.
Wireless has since improved, but not that much.
Any chance you could test the HRM indoors with no chance of interference?

Trust me that I did.

The good old manual test. Of course I did that while OFF the bike. My HR was near normal both measured with the HRM and manual. BTW I do not have a very strong signal for a manual test.
As I go on the bike and bike at a reasonable speed, the HR starts accelerating up over 200. I tried but did not succeed in testing manual while pedaling the bike. As someone said: I was somewhat freaked out.

Will,

I work with German engineers all the time. Genglish is easy to understand, especially when the thinking is logical.

I think your manual test is good. I doubt that a true cycling HR of 216, has recovered down to 130 in the minute or so it took to stop and look at your watch - 20 or 30 beats, maybe, but not nearly 100. So try to get away from powerlines, phones and microwaves (this may include an LED headlight and a cyclocomputer), et cetera, for a little while, and see if there are any conditions for which it works right. If it just races away every time you ride no matter what, then I think you have a bad HRM.

If it's a Polar, contact the Polar service center, it's here in Michigan. They've been very accommodating in dealing with hardware problems.

Road Fan

Why didn't ypou do a manual check, ya know the old finger on the pulse count 6 seconds, and multiply by 10. If you suspect an abnormally high HR, get second reading.

I've tried and tried, but I can never find my pulse anywhere to count it.

IF you checked manually very soon after you saw the 200+ spike and it was somewhat normal I wold also think it was some kind of interference affecting the HRM. What happens if you go back to where the high readings occurred? Can you download your HRM data and look at it? The again as I recall you are not a fan of the western medical system, so you could just keep riding without regard. After all, say your heart did spike up to over 200, would you go to the DR? I had something similar happen last summer, my HR Max is 198 bpm. I was getting ready for a ride and my resting HR was way high, and pretty much as soon as I started riding HR went up to190+ and stayed there the entire ride. As I am not one to go to the Dr unless I am unconscious, I believe it was something I had eaten that I had a bad reaction to. I am just fine, and its not happened again.

OK, so this thread was started two days ago. What did the doctor say?

I had a cateye wireless comp for a weekend then returned it.
Other electronics anywhere near it would show me traveling over 100 mph.
Wireless has since improved, but not that much.
Any chance you could test the HRM indoors with no chance of interference?

This Polar HRM has been used by me for several years. Indoor and out. Never did act up like this.

My thinking and I am no expert: The flapping Polyester dry shirt idea? That could be it since I never used that shirt before.
Interference from some nearby transmitter? (But why only as I bike?)
A new idea: Low batteries? (but now it works and I can not find where to put new batteries)

Will,

I work with German engineers all the time. Genglish is easy to understand, especially when the thinking is logical.

I think your manual test is good. I doubt that a true cycling HR of 216, has recovered down to 130 in the minute or so it took to stop and look at your watch - 20 or 30 beats, maybe, but not nearly 100. So try to get away from powerlines, phones and microwaves (this may include an LED headlight and a cyclocomputer), et cetera, for a little while, and see if there are any conditions for which it works right. If it just races away every time you ride no matter what, then I think you have a bad HRM.

If it's a Polar, contact the Polar service center, it's here in Michigan. They've been very accommodating in dealing with hardware problems.

Road Fan

Yes I agree with your thinking except a power line or such should also create a problem as I am off the bike and it did not. So I am thinking it is the Polyester shirt. I did the exact same ride again Today wit a different shirt and had no problems with the HRM.
I will try that same shirt again and report if I get the same results.
Interesting is it not?

I've tried and tried, but I can never find my pulse anywhere to count it.

+1 for me.
I have to get off the bike. Be very focused and fiddle around to find my pulse. That is if the pulse is in a normal range like 100 or below. At 150 I would feel the pulse very clearly. This why I thought it had to be the HRM and not me.

IF you checked manually very soon after you saw the 200+ spike and it was somewhat normal I wold also think it was some kind of interference affecting the HRM. What happens if you go back to where the high readings occurred? Can you download your HRM data and look at it? The again as I recall you are not a fan of the western medical system, so you could just keep riding without regard. After all, say your heart did spike up to over 200, would you go to the DR? I had something similar happen last summer, my HR Max is 198 bpm. I was getting ready for a ride and my resting HR was way high, and pretty much as soon as I started riding HR went up to190+ and stayed there the entire ride. As I am not one to go to the Dr unless I am unconscious, I believe it was something I had eaten that I had a bad reaction to. I am just fine, and its not happened again.

It is just a Polar HRM. Nothing there to download.
I agree NOW that it is the HRM with some interference. Someone suggested Static electricity from a flopping Polyester shirt. IMHO could be?
--------
Would I go to a doctor? Yes if I am sure that it is not a false positive test. I was on my way to an LBS and would have bought another HRM to verify the first results. That was not needed after I did what I did. But I like to clearly state that my dislike of the medical profession does not extend into total avoidance.
Just minimize it.

OK, so this thread was started two days ago. What did the doctor say?

I will go to a doctor after I have exhausted all other avenues of diagnosis.
My family has suffered the consequences of false positives several times. My wife's Mammogram, false MRI diagnosis for me, false x-ray diagnosis for my son.
Let us say that I do not think that doctors walk on water.
But if all else fails........

I will go to a doctor after I have exhausted all other avenues of diagnosis.
My family has suffered the consequences of false positives several times. My wife's Mammogram, false MRI diagnosis for me, false x-ray diagnosis for my son.
Let us say that I do not think that doctors walk on water.
But if all else fails........


I agree that doctor do not walk on water, they make mistakes, their human, however I would much rather have a false positive (even with all the extra stress that causes) than a false negative.

Do not be misled because you may be in good or even great shape physically. A childhood friend of my wife's dad was an avid runner (20+ miles per week) One day he went out for his run and never came back (heart attack). I think he was only about 50 at the time, this happened years ago.

If at all in doubt, have it checked out.

Yeah, sure, but you have about 20 years on many of us here. And you're in better shape than a lot of people 50 years your junior.

So while I appreciate what you're saying and what you do insofar as a bike is concerned, I have to side with Will, et al, who kinda freak out when the HRM flashes an absurd number.

I hope when I'm your age I can be as content with myself as you are.

Ahh, c'mon... This doesn't sound like arrogance to me, which is what you seem to be implying.
I think it's possible to be TOO reliant on technology in cases like this. I've been in chronic fib for more than 20 years, and run marathons and ridden centuries with it. A certain amount of attention is prudent (as it is in anybody in his 60s), but you drive yourself crazy if you worry about it all the time.
I can't go as hard as I used to, or sometimes as hard as I'd like to, but I'm not just going to sit down and count my hearbeats until I die. With the approval of my cardiologist, I took the monitor off and gave it away. What's the point of having one if it flashes 76...190...110...64...135...85? Barring special circumstances, anyone who's exercised regularly over a period of time learns to read his body.

............................................A certain amount of attention is prudent (as it is in anybody in his 60s), but you drive yourself crazy if you worry about it all the time.
I can't go as hard as I used to, or sometimes as hard as I'd like to, but I'm not just going to sit down and count my hearbeats until I die. With the approval of my cardiologist, I took the monitor off and gave it away. What's the point of having one if it flashes 76...190...110...64...135...85? Barring special circumstances, anyone who's exercised regularly over a period of time learns to read his body.

We are not having an argument here, OK. Just different experiences.
I am strictly talking biking.
I am assuming but not sure that HR150 is sort of at the high end what I should do. I did go to a Sports Doctor one time who said HR140 should be my sustained maximum. On what basis he said that I do not know.
Anyway, there were a few scares for me recently were healthy looking bikers died and/or had heart Attacks. Because of that I have become more careful.
BTW HR150 does require a very big effort by me.
---------------
Now to the need for HRM. I was recently in a competitive situation and racing some guys. I look at my HRM. It was above 150 and I told the guys I will slow down.
Please believe me if I tell you that I could have pushed harder but made that decision based on available information.

Will, I get the feeling that there's a certain level of over reaction in this thread. That is NOT to say that I don't think you should get checked out if you feel it's warranted, of course you should.

However, I'd like to make a few observations.

First, by far the greatest probability is that your HRM had the hysterics, not your heart. Whether this was due to the contacts being a bit dry (your water treatement cured that) or spurious signals, is unknown and never will be, but believe me, these units are so damned sensitive to things not being right that they can be almost useless at times ... and then you'll go months without a problem.

Second, unless you've had a stress test, you've no idea of where your maximum heart rate is and without that, no-one, not even a doctor, can guess at what level you should be working at. You sound as if you're concerned about your heart so get it tested by a doctor who understands these things. I've found that GPs tend to be very conservative about these things unless they're using a HRM personally.

Thirdly, it sounds like you're new to HRMs. None of us really understand how hard that pump works until we see some consistent numbers and I used to be freaked out a little until I got used to seeing high numbers. I'm 52, max HR in the mid 180's (tested on a long hill, not in a lab so it could be higher) and regularly get averate HRs in the 150s - that's a little scary until you get used to it.

I'm not trying to put you down or anyone else, I just feel that things are leaning a little too much towards worry when in reality, it's probably just a wireless HRM behaving like a wireless HRM. If you've got a concern, go annoy your doctor, I would.

Richard

I have had this happen many times so I checked the Polar website for possible solutions, one that worked for me is to wear the chest strap upside down. Don't ask me to explain why but it seams to work.

Will, I get the feeling that there's a certain level of over reaction in this thread. That is NOT to say that I don't think you should get checked out if you feel it's warranted, of course you should.

However, I'd like to make a few observations.

First, by far the greatest probability is that your HRM had the hysterics, not your heart. Whether this was due to the contacts being a bit dry (your water treatement cured that) or spurious signals, is unknown and never will be, but believe me, these units are so damned sensitive to things not being right that they can be almost useless at times ... and then you'll go months without a problem.

Second, unless you've had a stress test, you've no idea of where your maximum heart rate is and without that, no-one, not even a doctor, can guess at what level you should be working at. You sound as if you're concerned about your heart so get it tested by a doctor who understands these things. I've found that GPs tend to be very conservative about these things unless they're using a HRM personally.

Thirdly, it sounds like you're new to HRMs. None of us really understand how hard that pump works until we see some consistent numbers and I used to be freaked out a little until I got used to seeing high numbers. I'm 52, max HR in the mid 180's (tested on a long hill, not in a lab so it could be higher) and regularly get averate HRs in the 150s - that's a little scary until you get used to it.

I'm not trying to put you down or anyone else, I just feel that things are leaning a little too much towards worry when in reality, it's probably just a wireless HRM behaving like a wireless HRM. If you've got a concern, go annoy your doctor, I would.

Richard

Thank you for your kind advise. I do not want to overreact either.
In my defense, I have used this HRM for years and Cross Country and never had such a signal. So, yes I was worried but you all put it to rest.

Not to worry - electrical (RF) interference. Happens to me every once in awhile. It worried me the first couple of times.

HI,
Thought I had the thing all primed and working, and was ridding out with the group, and glanced down and said aww crap I ve flat lined and don't have a pulse :eek:, the guy next to nearly fell off his bike laughing at my statement.:roflmao2:
I guess I am still alive cause I finished the ride and changed my chest battery the next day.
Doug

I read somewhere its important to wipe the moisture off the chest reader to prevent discharge of the battery when not in use. makes sense.

PS I find that when I am sick or really tired the heart rate monitor is a good indicator of fatigue, when it shoots up to easily and dosen't coast down maybe it better to go slow.

So I am thinking it is the Polyester shirt

Well, there ya go. These monstrosities have been to blame for a variety of ills.

Seriously, my Polar (702?) used to freak out regularly on my rides around San Francisco, finally just chucked it, POS as far as protection from interference. Never considered it was my heart, never a doubt it was the watch getting interference.

Yes I agree with your thinking except a power line or such should also create a problem as I am off the bike and it did not. So I am thinking it is the Polyester shirt. I did the exact same ride again Today wit a different shirt and had no problems with the HRM.
I will try that same shirt again and report if I get the same results.
Interesting is it not?


Will,

Actually the flapping dry shirt thing (if that's what's happening) would be electrical, as well. Dry cloth of certain types generate static electric charges as they move, and from time to time those charges dissipate in a little (not visible) spark. That spark radiates electromagnetic fields that can link you HRM and sender, possibly causing some sort of misoperation.

I agree with the fellow who said you probably just have an HRM acting like an HRM. But my wife's Polar gave it up after three years, so yours could be at the end of its days. But it's not clear a new one would resist external fields any better than yours does.

I wouldn't ignore the medical possibility, however.

Will, if your HR was REALLY 216, I assure you that you would know it. You would feel a little weak and you would probably feel a fluttering sensation in your chest. I've had A-fib on a number of occasions and felt like this. I've been fully checked out and my cardiologist tells me I can ride as hard as I like unless I feel dizzines or pain, which I don't at HRmax of 161 (age 68). I don't hammer like this every day, but I don't feel restricted in how I ride. If you have concerns, get fully checked out to allay any fears.

BTW, I have the opposite problem with my Forerunnner 305; it doesn't give a constant readout no matter what I do. I've changed the transmitter, batteries, even tried a new 305, used gel, saliva, put the transmitter on my back etc, etc but it still behaves intermittently. I therefore use a Polar in addition to the 305, which is a PITA.

Hi guys.
I was able to verify the same conditions and it is the shirt. Tucking the shirt into my shorts with some water splashed on the area of the HRM will fix the problem.
There is another cause for error. I used some body lotion on the contact area. That will not work. It needs to be clean and wet.
Thanks for all the feedback.

Hi guys.
I was able to verify the same conditions and it is the shirt. Tucking the shirt into my shorts with some water splashed on the area of the HRM will fix the problem.
There is another cause for error. I used some body lotion on the contact area. That will not work. It needs to be clean and wet.
Thanks for all the feedback.

I always like it when a good mystery is solved.