Exercising is great for our health and cardiopulmonary fitness. Your heart rate increases naturally with exercising. But beware - if it skyrockets and you start feeling palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and even weakness and declining performance, it could be a sign of atrial fibrillation.

How can I calculate my maximum heart rate?

You can simply calculate your maximum heart rate by subtracting your age from 220. For example, the maximum heart rate of a 30-year-old person is 190/min.

Remember, the maximum heart rate varies between people as it can be affected by age, gender and genetics. A professional test is needed to calculate the precise number.

If you are a newbie in sports or a senior, don’t let your heart rate reach its maximum value. Reaching the target heart rate which is about 50-70% of the maximum heart rate can already effectively train your cardiopulmonary functions. The higher your heart rate during physical activity, the higher the exercise intensity, but not everyone can manage vigorous exercises. If you experience difficulty in breathing or pain during exercises, the intensity may be too tough for you and is likely to cause injuries and even heart problems if you persist.

What is atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is a common type of arrhythmia caused by chaotic signals in the atria replacing the normal signals from sinus nodes. The atria fail to maintain rhythmic contraction and beat quickly and irregularly, up to 300-600 beats per minute. Patients may experience dizziness and shortness of breath at the same time.

Increasing heart rate during physical activity is generally considered a normal phenomenon, which makes atrial fibrillation often go unnoticed at its early stage. The condition may become persistent over time, leading to shortness of breath, swollen feet, pulmonary oedema, and even heart failure.

The dangers of improper exercise: it could trigger atrial problems

Many obese people, diabetics and seniors want to lose weight and improve their health, therefore actively engage in running and other exercises. But if they start with intense exercises without a proper plan, it may trigger atrial fibrosis and lead to atrial fibrillation.

If the condition develops into chronic atrial fibrillation, a low heart rate of 30-40 beats per minute may develop. The heart may even stop beating for a few seconds before resuming beating, which causes a lack of blood supply to the brain, hence fainting.

To prevent atrial problems, inactive people or those with obesity, chronic diseases or old age are advised to perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) before starting any new exercise regimen to check for any heart problems. If related symptoms are identified, patients can receive further examinations such as cardiac ultrasound scan and exercise ECG to prevent life-threatening situations during physical activities.