Expert: Todd Bublitz, RCEP - 6/12/2007

Question
I am a 26 year old female. my resting heart rate is usually between 85 and 120 beats per minute. Is this normal.I recently got on an elliptical machine after 4 minutes my heart rate went up to 189! I cant work out because my heart rate gets too high and it wears me out. I feel tired all the time. I am not overweight ( I weigh 130 pounds), i feel as though I am old and over weight. I sometimes have chest pains, and these strange pains in the side of my neck. I am constantly nervous, and everyone in my family has some sort of heart related disease. Do you know what could cause these symptoms, and should I go to the doctor?

Answer
Rachel,

Your resting heart rate does sound like it is a bit high (85 is a "bit" high and 120 is really high for a resting heart rate).

Your exercising heart rate could be an abnormal response to exercise or it could be that you are just trying too hard as soon as you start exercising.  

You are having symptoms such as "tired all the time" and "chest pains, and these strange pains in the side of my neck".  These pains and other symptoms may be nothing at all, but you won't know unless you have a good check-up. I'd say that a check-up by your doctor is a good idea.

Best of luck.

Todd