You're right to check your pulse during cardiovascular exercise, and to wonder whether a pulse of 188 means you're getting a safe and effective workout. A pulse rate of 188 is, in any realistic instance, too high to be healthy during aerobic exercise. Your personal healthy pulse rate is directly related to your age and level of fitness. To better understand how pulse relates to a cardio workout, you need to know your target heart rate.
Target Heart Rate
Your target heart rate represents how many times your heart should be beating per minute during the peak of a cardiovascular routine. Achieving and maintaining your target heart rate means you're pushing yourself hard enough to benefit from the exercise, but not so hard that it may be dangerous. Target heart rate is a function of your maximum heart rate, or the most rapid speed at which your heart can beat.
Target Pulse Rate Formula
There is a formula for finding the pulse rate that's most healthy for you during cardiovascular workouts, and it will invariably give you a number lower than 188. For an idea of your target heart rate, first find your maximum heart rate by subtracting your age in years from 220. If you're 27 years old, your maximum heart rate is 193 beats per minute. A target heart rate is typically 60 to 85 percent of your maximum heart rate. For some, it may be as low as 50 percent. The more fit you are, the higher in this window you need to go. A 27-year-old new to exercising would have a target pulse rate around 116, while a 27-year-old in peak condition would have one around 160.
Beyond the Formula
A variety of individual health factors are essential considerations when determining a target heart rate, and a formula cannot take these into account. It is therefore unsafe to simply plug in the numbers and decide on your target heart rate. Your weight and level of fitness, the condition of your heart and lungs, and other medical conditions affect what you can safely do during a workout. Consult your doctor for a personalized target heart rate recommendation, and for advice on how to reach it, how long to maintain it and how to gradually build it up.
Finding Your Pulse During Exercise
If you are counting a pulse rate of 188 beats per minute during cardiovascular exercise, you may not be getting an accurate reading. Many people check their pulse while still in motion, but this is not reliable. To take your pulse during a workout, you must stop moving briefly. Pause, and place the tips of your index and middle fingers on the underside of your other wrist below the thumb. Alternatively, place them on your throat next to the windpipe, just below the jaw. Use a watch to time 10 seconds, and count the number of beats. Multiply this number by six to determine your pulse. Resume your exercise.
