"...a better formulation for both sexes would be 211 minus 64 percent of age. " - Kevin (aka ThreadKilla)

This seems WAY more like what I'm experiencing than the old formula of 211 minus my age. - Kevin (aka ThreadKilla)

My heart rate will be 0 by the age of 320? - Amit Patel

Of course, they only studied a population in Norway, so who knows how generalizable this really is. From what I can tell, the original 220 - age formula only really exists to make sure the techs don't totally kill you when they run a stress test. There's no real mechanism behind it. The real way to determine your HRmax is to keep ramping up the treadmill slope until you start having ST depressions on your EKG (meaning you're starting to experience coronary ischemia.) - Victor Ganata

Can you put that in terms an ordinary mortal might understand, Victor? ;) - Kevin (aka ThreadKilla)

I think they stop you right before they kill you? :) - That's So CAJ!

From what I can tell, the main reason cardiologists originally tried to calculate maximal heart rate was so that they could have an estimate for what would be considered "normal" when they run a stress test. The way it works is they ramp up the treadmill until you're at the target heart rate for a set period of time or you start having chest pain or start having an abnormal EKG. If you start having signs or symptoms of inadequate oxygenation of the heart muscle before you hit that target heart rate, then the stress test is considered positive, and you probably need more invasive testing. - Victor Ganata

CAJ - That reminds me of, when I was a kid, I asked my dad how they determine a bridge's weight limit. Being an engineer, he jokingly told me that they drive heavier & heavier trucks over it until the bridge breaks. Then, they build it the same way again. :P - COMPLICATED MR. NOODLE

Curtiss, now THAT'S a stress test. :) - That's So CAJ!