HR changes due to illness or overtraining
lfcquin
Posts: 470
Just after some other opinions on a predicament I find myself in.
Last Friday I started suffering with a dicky stomach, not heavy duty, but just some nausea and diarrhea. I felt tired and also had a headache. It came on the back of a cold that I had earlier on in the week that meant I hadn't been been able to complete some of my harder training sessions.
I rested over the weekend, taking around 12 hours of sleep a night (normally I get 6 or 7 because of the kids) and not doing a hell of a lot even when I was awake. I took Monday off work as I still felt poor and just rested up.
From Monday onwards the nausea eased and I started taking immodium. The stomach aches eased slightly (as I was blocked up), so I took to the bike again and started with a steady commute (30miles) on Tuesday. The diarrhea has returned when the immodium wears off and the gurgling achy guts return (with an odd pain down through my left glute).
On Wed and Thurs I tried to return to some normal training, but I have found that my heart rate is rising faster and will go higher. There is a standard turbo session I have been doing, same intensity and same gear and two weeks ago my heart rate remains steady through the effort. This week my heart rate was rising gradually until I had to change down a gear to ease the intensity (not because I couldn't handle the effort, just to keep in on track for intensity).
I did some threshold efforts yesterday and my heart rate rose quicker and the sessions seemed easier than two weeks ago.
I can't work out whether the rest last weekend has made a difference because I feel fresher on the bike than before or if the illness is effecting my heart rate and pushing it higher, more easily or if it is both!
Has anyone got any views? The problem is still there and I am hoping the doctor will see me today and assess me, but I just wanted some views on how the rest/illness might be impacting my training.
Thanks
Last Friday I started suffering with a dicky stomach, not heavy duty, but just some nausea and diarrhea. I felt tired and also had a headache. It came on the back of a cold that I had earlier on in the week that meant I hadn't been been able to complete some of my harder training sessions.
I rested over the weekend, taking around 12 hours of sleep a night (normally I get 6 or 7 because of the kids) and not doing a hell of a lot even when I was awake. I took Monday off work as I still felt poor and just rested up.
From Monday onwards the nausea eased and I started taking immodium. The stomach aches eased slightly (as I was blocked up), so I took to the bike again and started with a steady commute (30miles) on Tuesday. The diarrhea has returned when the immodium wears off and the gurgling achy guts return (with an odd pain down through my left glute).
On Wed and Thurs I tried to return to some normal training, but I have found that my heart rate is rising faster and will go higher. There is a standard turbo session I have been doing, same intensity and same gear and two weeks ago my heart rate remains steady through the effort. This week my heart rate was rising gradually until I had to change down a gear to ease the intensity (not because I couldn't handle the effort, just to keep in on track for intensity).
I did some threshold efforts yesterday and my heart rate rose quicker and the sessions seemed easier than two weeks ago.
I can't work out whether the rest last weekend has made a difference because I feel fresher on the bike than before or if the illness is effecting my heart rate and pushing it higher, more easily or if it is both!
Has anyone got any views? The problem is still there and I am hoping the doctor will see me today and assess me, but I just wanted some views on how the rest/illness might be impacting my training.
Thanks
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Comments
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Illness will affect heart rate in that way, also training while ill (something I am as guilty of as the next man) will just extend the period of illness as the body can't work as effectively to banish the bug.0
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I keep telling myself that the illness isn't impacting the riding, but I know you're right. It just feels weird to feel fresh and strong and have the heart rate go higher.
I have never put as much structure into my training as I have this winter, therefore I am not used to what happens to your heart rate when you have a few days off (even if you are not ill). Does your heart rate stay lower for longer, stay the same or go higher more quickly?
Im fighting the urge to train properly. I have tested myself with a couple of harder sessions, but I have really pulled the reigns back the past two weeks to try and let the illness pass. I had been doing about 9 hours a week and I have done 7 hours in two weeks with most of that at low intensity. Its just frustrating when it isn't budging. I've never had a stomach bug last this long before.0 -
lfcquin wrote:I have never put as much structure into my training as I have this winter, therefore I am not used to what happens to your heart rate when you have a few days off (even if you are not ill).
IME?, not a great deal, illness and over training will make your heart rate high(er) for a given effort level, fatigue will lower it for a given effort level.
I really wouldn't pay too much attention to it (you seem a little anal about HR) as its one of those things that tends to be a bit up and down.
If you want to check your HR for signs of illness or over training, then you are better off checking your RHR first thing in the morning and keeping an eye on it, as that will be a better indicator, some people say an increase in RHR of +5bpm means you shouldn't train, but...........0 -
Cool thanks. Its not heart rate I get anal about. I get anal about anything I don't understand which starts to affect me and it just happens to be heart rate this week (We need a new child car seat, so I will have moved onto that next week).
Thanks for taking the time to reply. 0
