How to Use a Heart Rate Monitor

A heart rate monitor is an electronic device that helps people measure their heartbeats. In many cases, a heart rate monitor is a system of two devices: a chest strap, which is fitted around the chest just below the breasts, and a wrist band, which looks and weighs about the same as an athletic watch. These two devices communicate with each other in order to provide the user with a read-out of his or her heart rate.

The chest strap is constructed with small electrodes that monitor the conductivity in the heart. Conductivity correlates to a heartbeat. Therefore, this chest strap measures the heart beats and sends information about those beats to the wrist monitor. In many cases, the wrist monitor can not only provide information about how fast the heart is beating, but it is also built with calculators that can help you to determine how many calories you are burning and how hard your body is working.

Why use a heart rate monitor

Different people use heart rate monitors for different reasons. For example, some people with known heart conditions may use a heart rate monitor in order to ensure that their heart beats at the right intensity during their activities. In such an example, someone with a pacemaker should use a heart rate monitor during exercise to avoid over-exertion, which could trigger the pacemaker to defibrillate.

Many individuals who are dedicated to improving their fitness will also use a heart rate monitor in order to ensure that they are pushing their bodies to perform at the body's capacity - or to ensure that they are pacing themselves properly for their activities.

In order to use a heart rate monitor for fitness, it is important to push your body to work between 50 and 85 percent of you maximum heart rate. You can determine your base and maximum heart rates when you initially begin using the heart rate monitor by first measuring your heart rate while relaxing and then measuring your heart rate while sprinting.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), your target heart rate zone should be lower than your maximum heart rate. For example, the average maximum heart rate for a 20 year-old is about 200 beats per minute. However, the target heart rate zone (when working at 50-85 percent) is between 100 and 170 beats per minute. In order to calculate your maximum heart rate, subtract your age from 220.

Also according to the AHA, It is important to gradually increase your exercise so that you start your exercise program at about 50 percent of your maximum heart rate and work your way up to 85 percent so that you do not fatigue or get injuries. (http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4736)

Resources:

www.imtypefree.com

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4736