1. Type Matters
Heart monitors come in two basic grades. Some monitors are used for monitoring your heart during regular activities to try to diagnose heart disease. These heart monitors are medical grade. Other heart monitors are used by athletes to monitor their heart rate during exercise. These are commercial grade monitors. In general, medical grade heart monitors are more accurate than commercial grade monitors. Sometimes, this is simply because medical grade heart monitors undergo testing more often and receive better care than commercial grade monitors.
2. The Perfect Fit
Heart monitors work by keeping track of the heart's electrical activity. Because of this, making sure that your heart monitor is properly attached is vital to getting an accurate reading. When using a heart monitor for medical purposes, you will have electrodes placed on your chest that will pick up your heart's activity. The electrodes are attached to a monitor that you have to keep close to your chest. When you are using a heart monitor during exercise, you will usually have a strap placed around your chest. Some machines will have a sensor that you place on your finger or your ear.
3. False Readings
A heart monitor records the electrical impulses of your heart. When you are being monitored by your doctor for a heart condition, it is vitally important that the recordings are accurate. You will have to plan your time with your heart monitor very carefully. You can avoid false readings by avoiding areas that have strong magnetic or electrical properties such as metal detectors, areas that have high voltage such as a power station and electric blankets.
4. Look Away
Using a heart monitor during exercise is a widely debated topic. Some experts say that monitoring your heart rate during exercise will help you to reach your maximum potential. Other experts say that the heart rate monitors can give you false readings. One thing that is agreed upon is that when you are using a heart rate monitor during exercise, you shouldn't look at the reading constantly. Many experts say that you should only look at the heart rate monitor when you are feeling tired or exhausted during exercise. Looking at the monitor frequently can cause injury and may decrease the effectiveness of your workout.
5. Results May Vary
An important factor in using a heart monitor is the correct interpretation of the readings. Different people may interpret the readings differently. If you are using a heart monitor for medical purposes, your doctor is the best person to interpret the results. Heart monitors that are widely available for the general public to use are generally easy to interpret. Before you try to interpret the readings on either type of monitor, it is important that you read the manufacturer's instructions until you fully understand how to interpret the readings. If you are unsure of any part of the instructions, consult your doctor or an exercise physiologist to help you.
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