I've recently started noticing a problem while riding / training. I'm not sure if it's a fitness issue or health issue. What I'm noticing is that I get short of breath, with heaving breathing and that lack of oxygen burn in the back of the throat that you get when really pushing yourself. The weird part is that this is happening at relativley low heartrates, anywhere from 168 to 172. The last time I measured or estimated my LT, it was still close to 178, the same as when I used to train tons and race.
Maybe this isn't that unusual but it seems very strange to me. Just running up a few stairs gets my lungs burning. I know I let my fitness slide a bit last winter but this isn't even close to what I've ever experienced. I'm not a total slug or sedentary person, with little to no weight gain since I last trained.
First off 168 -172 are not relatively low heart rates medically or in cycling. If this is just a fitness issue maybe you need to spend some time in zone 2 before training in zone 4, just to regain some cardio fitness.
And of course always consult your PCP when starting an exercise program. If this is a health issue go talk to your primary, get some blood work and maybe a stress test. You know in running it's way too common to hear about some guy fit as a fiddle dying during a marathon of cardiac arrest and finding out later they had some myopathy or congenital heart defect.
Really, I think both of these things are a good idea in your case.
I agree with quenya, just to be safe, to go see a doctor. Better to be safe and pay a co-pay or a percentage or deductible or the whole office visit then to die!
If you were off the bike for quite a few years, then your pushing yourself too hard to quickly.
What do you want to accomplish in cycling now? If you want to eventually ride a century then try a schedule like at Training for a Century Ride You can add a couple of weeks to this if you want a slower starting pace. Be careful, don't let your pride kill you by thinking you can ride a fast 40 mile ride because you use to that 20 years ago the last time you rode! You have to start slow and build up.
I had a friend that hadn't worked out for 25 years, went to a doctor for 3 weeks worth of heart tests etc so he could start a work out program. My friend died a week after the tests of a heart attack because he started out to fast too hard.
Thanks for the replies everyone. I went to my GP and I spent a day wearing a Holter monitor and tomorrow I'm doing an exercise stress test.
I still find my situation to be strange. I'd think heart problems typically result in increased heart rate, which I don't think I'm getting. Maybe it's simply an issue of fitness and stress...
Keep us informed, because believe it or not, most of the forum members get concerned when one of their own is not up to par. I hope your right and this will be a quick fix.
... What I'm noticing is that I get short of breath, with heaving breathing and that lack of oxygen burn in the back of the throat that you get when really pushing yourself. The weird part is that this is happening at relatively low heart rates, anywhere from 168 to 172.
I guess the obvious question is - were you pushing yourself.
Froze's question is important ... age? In general if you jumped on your bike and rode around the block for 0.5 mile and had a 170+ HR, then I'd be VERY concerned. Ten miles into a high tempo ride cresting a significant incline, maybe not so much .. if you're relatively fit. From your original post I couldn't tell if you've been training and suddenly (and uncharacteristically) you're seeing spikes in HR , or if you're just returning to cycling and surprised at the impact it is having on your body.
Risky stuff to trust to "cyber docs". Very good to read that you are consulting with medical professionals. :thumbs up: Best wishes that all is fine and that you'll be given a clean bill of health!
