Several weeks ago I was on the treadmill doing a new cardio routine that involved inserting five one-minute interval spikes into my thirty-minute session. For the uninitiated, an interval is a short segment of time where one increases their intensity to boost heart rate. If you are biking on the road, you can go faster or ride up a hill. If you are walking or running on a treadmill, you achieve this by going faster or increasing the elevation. How much the intensity should increase over the normal “cruising” rate has been the subject of many books and a myriad of scholarly articles. There are many reasons why I’ve added intervals to my cardio routines, including:
- Increases the strength of my heart by allowing it to pump more blood with each beat
- Improves the speed and power components of my athletic performance
- Boosts the amount of calories I burn during the cardio workout
- Tricks my brain into releasing chemicals that tell the cells in my body they are younger than they really are
The most important benefit of pushing my heart rate close to red zone RPMs is one I never thought of, but may be the one that ultimately saves my life. Long story short, while doing my new interval cardio routine on a treadmill, I felt tightness in my chest and experienced an irregular heartbeat. Yes…I was pounding it up a fifteen degree incline at 4.2 MPH. To achieve this level of intensity, I pushed the old ticker to 151 beats per minute, which is 93% of its maximum. The challenge was drill-sergeant-at-Parris-Island-screaming-at-a-new-recruit difficult…but I did it.
The irregular heartbeat and tightness in my chest served as a canary in the coal mine, as it prompted me to seek medical attention. My father died at 52 of a heart attack caused by atherosclerosis. I did not want to suffer the same fate at 58. After consulting with my physician, two days later I was having a treadmill stress test under the supervision of a cardiologist. Running shirtless up a thirty degree grade with EKG leads and blood pressure cuffs tethered to a large computer console, I felt like Steve Austin, the Six Million Dollar Man.
After the test, the cardiologist told me “…You have the heart, lungs and muscles of an Olympian, but your arteries are from John’s Bargain Store. There are blockages. How many arteries are involved and the level of occlusion need to be determined. But don’t worry. Problems inside the heart are a big deal, what you have are some clogged pipes…it’s just plumbing.”
I told my doctor I felt betrayed by my body, as I have taken great care if it with lots of exercise and healthy food…hey…I’m a personal trainer and lifestyle coach…so I walk the walk. He comforted me by saying that “…if I weren’t in such good condition, this would have happened ten years ago at a much lower level of exertion. Who knows what would have happened then?”
Anyway, I am scheduled for a PET scan of the heart, which will help determine what to do next. I’ll keep you posted if you keep me in your thoughts and prayers.
Joe, we’re keeping everything crossed — fingers, toes, eyes, legs — for you! Hope you’ve found a really, really good plumber… Please keep us updated.
Cousins Joan & Mark
Hi Joan and Nark,
Will do! PET scan in 1+ hours. Trying to follow my own advice about conquering fear. Working well so far!
Hi, Joe….How did you do on your test? Bet you aced it!
We’re thinking of you and sending our best wishes —
Joan & Mark
Thinking about you and wishing all goes well! Anita
Thank you for sharing your personal experience and the good work you do.
Thank you for sharing your personal experience and the good work you do! Good Luck moving forward resolving this issue.
Hi Mary Lou, thank you for your kind words. I have to be tough…I can’t give Little Silver a bad name, you know!
Rooting for you Joe you’re an inspiration! Thanks for sharing your personal story and I wish you well.
Hi Margie,
Thanks for your support and keep rooting! I’m sure I’ll be just fine, better than ever once I’m thru it all. But I’ll take all the help I can get.
Hi Joe,
I’m sorry to hear that you are experiencing some difficulties. I have all the faith in the world that you will come through this just fine, and better than ever! I admire your strenth, courage and positive attitude. I wish you the best in health and happiness. Hugs to you! Erin
Hi Erin,
Thank you for your kind and encouranging words. Difficulties are just speedbumps on life’s road. I am confident I’ll be find; I know about a dozen people who have had angioplasties and stents (what I’ll probably need) and ARE better than they were before. Hugs to you and your fine staff.
Glad you were able to detect and then follow-up on the issue after its early warning! And you were “walking the walk” in doing the proper exercise to being with! Our prayers are with you.
— Mark and Bev
Hi Bev and Mark,
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I’m not a wus, but I felt the need to see the doc on this…and I was right. Hopefully I’ll be past all of this soon.
Thanks, Joe, for this important reminder that even the most fit folks must still have regular physicals, listen to their body’s signals, and seek medical advice when things seem off.
Thinking of you!
We may not be able to out run our genes, but we can out outsmart them and win. Thanks for your kind words.
Hi Joe!
Josie, Vicki, Conrad & I are always proud of you and inspired by you..and our prayers are with you!
I always feel God gives us these challenges to make us even stronger or become better informed often to help others later, too!
You have already been an amazing beacon of inspiration through health, humor and dedication.
I bet this experience ironically will make you an even better informed trainer and inspirateur! (Is there such a word?) Unfortunately, we can’t rush these things..they always go at God’s pace! ;-)
I’ve always wondered from time to time about your motivation to exercise being sourced from a fear about your dad. Perhaps God is giving this to you as an opportunity to make peace with that ~ just like you mentioned in your Fear piece, and get to a better, more exhilarating or peaceful, less stressful state.
I went on a yoga and meditation retreat with Conrad for about 4 days this summer. That was a refreshing experience. Helped me feel more quietly stronger…inside and out!
Sending you hugs! God bless!
Zane, Josie & Vicki
Hi Zane,
Thank you for your kind words and prayers. I am confident I will get thru this and be better than ever with the additional blood flow. Some folks can’t believe I am running on diminished capacity. Trainer Joe at 50% is tougher than many at 110%!