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How Are High Heart Rate and Max Heart Rate Values Calculated on My Garmin Watch?
How Is Daily High Heart Rate Calculated?
Your high heart rate is the highest observed heart rate for a particular day. This will probably be higher on days you exercise, and you can expect it to fluctuate more than your resting heart rate.
How Does Garmin Connect Determine Max Heart Rate?
Garmin Connect™ applications calculate max heart rate by subtracting your age from 220 which is an estimate based on population averages. This value is then stored as your default max heart rate.
What is the Auto Detection Feature?
Auto Detection can calculate your maximum heart rate using performance data recorded by the watch during activities. Any activity with a higher recorded heart rate can increase your max heart rate, but max heart rate can also adjust upward or downward based on a proprietary algorithm designed by Firstbeat Analytics™. Your watch can automatically make those adjustments based on any running or cycling activities after you have a VO2 Max Estimate for that activity type. Cycling activities require power data and heart rate data in order to support auto detecting max heart rate.
To determine if your watch supports max heart rate auto detection, search your owner's manual for "Detecting Performance Measurements Automatically".
How Can I Determine My Actual Max Heart Rate?
IMPORTANT: It is important to ensure that you are in good health and not dealing with any kind of injury or sickness. Many things can affect your heart rate including, exercise, stress, caffeine, medication, and illness. If you have additional questions about your heart rate, consult your physician.
The most accurate method to measure your maximum heart rate is a graded maximum exercise test in a laboratory setting. Another easier way is by doing a field test on your own. Running is usually the easiest way to find your true maximum heart rate.
Use your Garmin® watch with an optical heart rate sensor or a heart rate monitor strap to record a running activity following the steps below. The activity can be performed outdoors on a track or indoors on a treadmill or track.
Warm up by performing an easy 1-3 mile run.
Run max effort for three sustained minutes without stopping.
Continue to run without stopping but slow down your pace to recover for three addition minutes.
Repeat another three minute maximum effort.
Save the activity on your watch and review it to determine the maximum rate your heart beat was. This high value can be considered your max heart rate.
For additional information about the heart rate tracking on your watch, see our science and technology page on Heart Rate Monitoring.