Hello doctor, I am 41, female, and sedentary. I am 100 lbs or more overweight 248 lbs at 5'4". I started the gym today and I walked slowly for 15 minutes. My heart rate stayed around 120 bpm. Then I stopped moving to see how fast my heart rate would go down. It went up 10 beats to 130. I checked again a minute later, it had started going down again. Why did it jump up 10 beats after I stopped moving? I have had a phisicap less than a year ago. I was told I had a good pulse, great blood pressure. I also have panic attacks so once I thought I was having a heart attack and went to the ER. They did that tripolin test two times, EKG or ECG. They took an X-ray too. I had not had a heart attack and they said my heart did not look enlarged and no signs of a blockage. So I am still paranoid though. I just have never noticed heart rate going up briskly after stopping the activity.
Hi. Heart rate rises because of the unconditioning due to long term sedentary lifestyle. Do regular exercise, heart rate will slowly come down. The more one is fit, more heart rate will come down immediately after stopping exercise. A decrease of 20 or more in the first minute is normal, less than 12 is abnormal due to less fit heart. You need to lose weight, eat healthily, avoid addiction to be fit. Other causes are anxiety and dehydration. Do regular exercise to be fit and to lower heart rate after exercise. If you need more information, or guidance regarding weight loss, exercise, healthy food, etc., you can always ask anytime.