Heart Rate Response and the Heat

author : dara
comments : 0

An explanation about how the cardiovascular system works, so that it makes more sense about how the human body responds to exercise in the heat.

There are some trainers who do not believe in monitoring heart rate (HR) during exercise, as they say it does not tell the whole story. This is true; levels of sleep, hydration status, fatigue, and heat will affect one’s HR response. However, when modified with input about breathing rate and the rate of perceived exertion (RPE), HR response can be very telling.


This is never more true than when training in severe heat. I believe that the heart rate gives us very valuable information that should not be overlooked.

Without going into too much detail, I want to explain a little about how the cardiovascular system works, so that it makes more sense about how the human body responds to exercise in the heat.


The cardiovascular system responds very specifically to exercise, and one of the ways in which we measure the rate of exertion is through oxygen uptake (VO2). [.....]

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date: April 24, 2005

dara

I have been a personal trainer for eight years and a tri/endurance coach for five years. During that time I have trained several athletes for whom sports must fit into very busy lives. My clientele are full time mothers, office workers, schoolteachers, and entrepreneurs whose working and personal lives come before their sports.

avatardara

I have been a personal trainer for eight years and a tri/endurance coach for five years. During that time I have trained several athletes for whom sports must fit into very busy lives. My clientele are full time mothers, office workers, schoolteachers, and entrepreneurs whose working and personal lives come before their sports.

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