Indication of High and Low Heart Rates

Get more for less—heart rate training works out as simple as this. By working out within a specific heart rate range called the target heart rate, you can get more benefits from your exercise while lowering health risks and improving your fitness.

Before starting an exercise or training program, you must know what your target heart rate is. It will depend on your maximum heart rate and the intensity that you are aiming for. A physician may give you a more reliable maximum heart rate by conducting an exercise stress test. But there are also other methods to calculate this; however, it is just a ballpark figure. But you definitely have to consult your health provider for a target heart rate zone that is appropriate for your level and health condition. Otherwise you would be putting yourself in peril had you not been aware of your doctor’s precautions.

Once known, you might notice that your target heart rate has an upper and lower limit. Beyond these there might be serious effects on your health and performance. Lesser would mean you are merely wasting your energy and your efforts.

As a famous cliché goes, too much is bad. Going above the maximum value would be detrimental. One good reason behind this is that it poses a risk to our cardiovascular health. There are some claims that going beyond is already burning lean muscle. On the contrary, as stated in literature, our body draws fuel from muscle glycogen and fats rather than protein (which mostly make up a muscle). Protein only becomes the fuel for energy when all of the other potential energy sources are all used up.

A lower heart rate than what is supposed to be simply means that you are not working to the optimum level. If you feel exhausted but still have a lower heart rate, you should check on the intensity you are working on. Probably you must be trying to get involved at a target zone that is more than what matches your needs. This is why we should check with our physicians before participating in such training.

Heart Rate Monitor – Accuracy of Calculations

Each heart beat produces a wave of blood that is felt as a pulse as it passes through superficial blood vessels. A pulse rate therefore, is indicative of the number of times the heart beats for a particular period of time. And in order to measure the heart rate, the pulse must be located—either manually or mechanically.

In a bid for accuracy, let us try to compare both methods of eliciting the heart rate and cite examples as well as the advantages or disadvantages for each.

There are a number of possible pulse points in the body. We commonly use the radial (wrist) and carotid (neck) pulse to count our heart rate manually—cost effective. However, the main disadvantage for this method is the risk for human error. During exercise, it’s almost impossible to pinpoint and count the heart rate manually because of the person’s continuous movements, not to mention the fact that the heart rate also rapidly rises during such activities.

Since a heart beat is generated by a rhythmic firing of electrical impulses inside the heart, then the most logical way of measuring the pulse rate is through an electrocardiogram or EKG. Commercial heart monitors operate similarly under the same principle. The electrical signals from within are detected by externally-located electrodes and calculated by receivers to ensure the accuracy of the count. If it’s not accurate, it would be totally senseless that a heart rate monitor was called as such.

But still, inaccuracy remains a big concern when using heart rate monitors. Commonly, again this I caused by human error, the user himself. Hence, it would best if you, the user, would read the manual first before doing anything with your gadget. Typically, for it to work properly, the device and its complementary accessories must be worn properly. Some units necessitate wetting the side of the chest strap that goes in contact with the skin for better conduction.

Technical errors are also possible. For data to be transmitted to its correct receiver there must be a unique signal that matches only both of them. Otherwise, interference with similar models nearby is likely to occur. Fortunately, companies that produce heart rate monitors have already devised a way to address this problem.

In terms of calorie expenditure calculations, most of these are rough calculations only. Studies performed by Polar and other companies revealed that heart rate monitors underestimated the calories burned by less than 15% during walking and cycling. At this point, it will be up to the user if he/she will stay motivated with the results the device is giving. But one thing is for sure, a heart rate monitor gives a precise real-time heart rate count which caused it to earn its place as one of the world’s leading fitness innovation.