Target heart rate on a beta blocker
Ask the doctor
Your article about interval training in the September issue suggests a target heart rate of at least 80% of your maximum heart rate during the high-intensity intervals. But what about people like me who take drugs such as metoprolol, which lowers the heart rate? Should I adjust my target heart rate for exercise?To estimate your target heart rate, subtract your age from 220, then multiply that number by 0.8. If you are 70 years old, for instance, your adjusted target heart rate would be (220 - 70) 0.8 = 120 beats per minute. For people on a beta blocker, one suggestion is to adjust your target heart rate by the same amount that the beta blocker has reduced your resting heart rate (usually around 10 beats per minute). However, beta blockers may also blunt the rise in heart rate that normally occurs with exercise, so this calculation may not fully capture the limits that the beta blocker puts on your heart. In fact, that is one of the ways beta blockers are believed to prevent heart attacks — by keeping the heart rate from getting too high.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online Plus (HHO+) to unlock expert-backed health insights, personalized tools, and exclusive resources to feel your best every day.
Here’s what you get with your HHO+ membership:
- Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
- 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
- Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
- In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
- Interactive features like videos and quizzes
- Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources
I’d like to subscribe to HHO+ for $4.99/month to access expert-backed content to help make smart, informed decisions about my well-being.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
