According to MayoClinic.com, 40 percent of deaths are related to heart disease each year in the United States. Heart rate monitors are simple, inexpensive tools that may catch life-threatening arrythmias, or malfunctions in heart rhythm. Dependent on the type, heart rate monitors can transmit information directly to the cardiologist when needed by phone, Bluetooth or old-fashioned paper printouts.
Atrial Fibrillation
The heart contains a natural pacemaker that controls the beats, pace and rhythm of each heart contraction. This natural pacemaker can malfunction causing the heart to contract in sporadic rhythms, causing symptoms such as chest palpitations, dizziness and lethargy. Atrial fibrillation occurs when the top chambers of the heart, the atria, are not contracting in sync. They just quiver, or fibrillate. When this occurs, blood trickles down to the ventricles for dispersion to the body, but some remains in the atrium and can form clots. Heart rate monitors identify the abnormal rate, which is usually too fast; the occurrence of atrial fibrillation; and some monitors will record the rhythm for a later discussion with a physician.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is a catchall term for many problems of the heart including coronary artery disease, a history of heart attacks known as myocardial infarctions, angina or defects within the heart. The U.S. National Library of Medicine states that a 24-hour heart rate monitor, also known as the Holter monitor, is sometimes used after a heart attack to record abnormal heart rhythms that are typical after infarction. Cardiologists can prescribe medications specific to each type of heart disease, which can affect the heart rate or rhythm. Occasionally, when a new cardiac medication is started, the cardiologist will want to monitor the heart's rate and rhythm at home with use of a heart rate monitor.
Arterial Disease
Arteriosclerosis is a plaque buildup in the arteries that can cause high blood pressure, heart attacks and fainting. Fainting, or syncope, has many underlying causes for which a physician may order use of a heart rate monitor to discern. A cause of syncope is very high blood pressure, which will not show on a heart rate monitor, but the physician may use the monitor to rule out other complicating factors.
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