Luis is using a treadmill at the gym that monitors his heart rate electronically. His target heart rate zone is 128 to 170 beats per minute, but his heart rate is currently measuring at 185 beats per minute. What should he do to get the best possible workout? Increase his speed and incline Decrease his speed and incline Increase his duration and water intake Decrease his duration and water intake
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: Decrease his speed and incline
Explanation (300 words):
Luis’s heart rate is currently 185 beats per minute, which is above his target heart rate zone of 128 to 170 beats per minute. This means his heart is working too hard, putting him at potential risk of overexertion or even cardiovascular strain.
The target heart rate zone is a range that allows for maximum benefit from cardiovascular exercise while minimizing the risk of injury or excessive fatigue. Staying within this range helps improve aerobic capacity, endurance, and heart health. Exceeding the upper limit of the zone, however, indicates that the intensity of the workout is too high for a sustained, safe, and effective exercise session.
To bring his heart rate back into the target zone, Luis should reduce the intensity of his exercise. The best and most direct way to do this on a treadmill is to decrease both the speed and incline. This will reduce the physical demand on his cardiovascular system, allowing his heart rate to lower to a safer and more effective range for aerobic conditioning.
Increasing speed and incline would further elevate his heart rate, pushing him further out of the safe zone. Increasing duration and water intake does not address the immediate issue of a dangerously high heart rate. Decreasing duration and increasing water intake might help overall recovery, but without adjusting intensity, the heart rate may remain elevated.
Conclusion: To achieve a safe and effective workout, Luis should immediately decrease his speed and incline. This will help bring his heart rate down into the ideal target range, improving the effectiveness of his workout while protecting his health. Once his heart rate returns to the safe zone, he can maintain or adjust intensity appropriately.