Treadmill Heart Rate Question

[shamrock838]

Treadmill Heart Rate Question:

I recently started working out on a treadmill and am now up to 20 minutes at 4.0 mph and a 4-degree incline.

When I started monitoring my heart rate with a chest strap, I noticed the heart rate fluctuated up and down throughout the workout. Are these fluctuations normal? What causes them and what’s a normal range of readings? Is age a factor here? I’m retired.

P.S. - I thought the heart rate would simply increase gradually as the minutes ticked off.

Thanks.

[snwbordr008]

Well it fluctuates based on your breathing really. If you breathe a lot harder and faster it's going to spike up because your heart starts pumping oxygen throughout your body faster and harder. Almost like you're hyper ventilating. Normal range I'm not so sure about since it all depends on your age.

[ken]

How much does it fluctuate by?