Let's learn about the gadget that measures your heart rate (Heart Rate Monitor)?

Nowadays, many people use a smartwatch or a fitness tracker. Sometimes we see our heart rate, that is, the speed of our heartbeat. So, today we will talk about what these heart rate monitors are, how they work, and how accurate they really are.

What are these heart rate monitors?

Simply put, a heart rate monitor is a small gadget that measures and displays the rate at which your heart beats (heart rate), or your pulse rate. With the advancement of technology, these are now much smaller and come in wearable form. Many of the sensors they use are said to be very accurate.

But here's something very important to remember. While these devices are great for our personal use, they are not 100 percent as accurate as the medical devices that doctors use in hospitals. Those medical devices are designed to take much more precise and accurate measurements.

Why do we use these heart rate measuring devices?

There are many reasons why many people use these devices. You may be interested in this for one or more of these reasons.

• Monitor your heart rate while exercising: This will help you monitor how fast your heart is beating when you're running, walking, or working out at the gym. This will help you understand whether you're working out properly or too hard.
• Monitor stress and activity levels throughout the day: Some gadgets can give you an idea of ​​how stressed you are and how active you are during the day based on your heart rate pattern.
• Monitor your sleep quality at night: These devices can tell you how well you're sleeping by how your heart rate changes while you sleep.
• Monitor your vital signs at home: It can be helpful to monitor your heart rate at home, especially if you have a health condition (such as heart disease).

Who can use this equipment?

In fact, anyone who is willing to pay for a device like this can use it. There are plenty of them available in stores and online.

How do these devices work? It's amazing, isn't it?

Here's a little something we need to understand. There's a slight difference between your "heart rate" and your "pulse rate," but both refer to the activity of your heart.

• Heart Rate: This is how many times your heart beats per minute.
• Pulse Rate: This is the number of times your blood vessels (arteries) contract (dilate) per minute due to the pressure of the blood pumping through them when your heart beats.

Usually, there is not much difference between these two values, and most of the time they are the same. However, for people with certain diseases, those taking certain medications, or in other special cases, your pulse may not be detected properly. Then, the measurements taken by these devices may be affected.

A "heart rate monitor" can measure either your heart rate or your pulse rate. These work in two main ways:

1. Electrical method - `Electrocardiography`: Did you know, every second your heart beats, it emits a small electrical signal (Electrical Current). Just like in an ECG test. So, monitors that work with this electrical method can detect this electrical signal and measure your heart rate accordingly.

2. Optical method (Photoplethysmography or PPG): In this method, a device sends a light, such as infrared light, to your skin. When your heart pumps blood, the small blood vessels under your skin stretch, and the amount of that stretch is measured using this light. This is how your pulse rate is calculated. Some devices like this can also give you a rough idea of ​​the oxygen levels in your blood (Blood Oxygen Levels).

What kind of devices do we often see?

Now let's look at the types of ``Heart Rate Monitors'' that we see and use every day.

• Chest-band devices: These are the straps that are worn around the chest. These work in the same way as the electrical system mentioned earlier. So, the heart rate is measured directly. But for these to work properly, the strap must be wet or a special gel (Conductive Gel) must be applied to the skin. Only then can the electrical signals of the heart be clearly captured.

• Wrist- or forearm-worn wearables: Your smartwatch, fitness band, and other wearables fall into this category. These often work by using light . There are two major blood vessels in your wrist, the radial artery and the ulnar artery. These provide a good supply of blood to the skin. The LED lights and sensors on the underside of the wearable gadget detect small dilations in these blood vessels.

• Smart rings: These are devices that are worn on the finger, like a ring. These also use light to measure things like heart rate. But these are still very new, so there's little data on how accurate they are when it comes to exercise.

• Pulse oximeters: These are small devices that usually clip onto the tip of a finger. They also use a light source. They can measure both the pulse rate and the oxygen level in the blood. These are often used in hospitals. There are also battery-operated ones that can be used at home.

• Smartphones: There are also apps on your phone that can measure your pulse rate! Some of them require you to place your finger over the phone's camera lens. The camera's flash then reflects light and looks at the blood vessels under your skin. There are also apps that point the phone's camera at your face and try to tell you your pulse rate by looking at the tiny changes in your skin that we can't see.

How accurate are these devices really?

This is a problem that many people have. The accuracy of the device usually depends on the way it works (electrical or light) and what you do while wearing it.

• Chest-band devices: These are the most accurate , especially if used correctly, because they work electronically. Because they directly measure the electrical activity of the heart (not the pulse), they give accurate results even when you are standing still, running, cycling, or using other exercise equipment.
• Wrist- or forearm-located wearables: These are mostly accurate when you're standing or walking. Many also give good results when you're running or cycling. However, they can sometimes give inaccurate readings when you're doing exercises that use both arms (e.g., an elliptical machine with two arms).
• Smart rings: These are new, so you won't see many on the market yet. However, current research suggests they are very accurate when you're just standing still. More research is needed to see how accurate they are during exercise and other activities.
• Pulse oximeters: These are medical devices that are worn on the finger or clipped to the finger. They help doctors perform certain tests. However, non-medical, over-the-counter pulse oximeters are not suitable for use during exercise.
• Smartphones: Apps that measure by placing your finger on the phone's camera lens may be slightly more accurate than apps that scan your face. However, since the phone and camera are not designed for this purpose, there is a greater chance of error.

Important: Regardless of which device you use, if you have any doubts about the results, it is best to see a doctor for advice.

How to use this equipment properly?

The way you use it can vary depending on the type of device you're using. Some are wristbands. Others are finger rings. Chest straps have sensors on the strap itself. Some older models connect to a separate display, either with a cable or wirelessly. That display can be clipped to your clothing or carried in your pocket. Many newer models connect directly to your phone or other gadget wirelessly.

The best thing to do is to read the instruction manual that comes with your device to get the most out of it and get the most accurate results. Many of these devices have websites and user forums. This is a great place to ask questions and share information about how others are using them.

Are there any risks in using these?

In fact, there is no major risk in using these heart rate monitoring devices. The biggest problem that can arise in most cases is that you may have an allergy to the material the strap is made of or to a part of the gadget.

However, it is important to remember that while these devices are safe to use, they are never a substitute for medically approved devices. If you have a health condition that you need to monitor, the safest and most accurate devices are those that have been approved by a relevant government regulatory agency (e.g., the FDA in the United States, or the NMRA in Sri Lanka). This approval means that the devices meet very strict quality and accuracy standards, and are suitable for medical use.

What are the results we get? What do they mean?

Depending on the device you use, the meaning of the results may vary slightly.

• Electrocardiograms: These are the ones that actually measure your heart rate because they directly capture the electrical activity of your heart.
• Devices that work with light: These devices measure your pulse rate , not your heart rate directly.

But whether you measure your heart rate or your pulse rate, the results are trying to tell you the same thing: how many times your heart beats per minute. Depending on the device, it may also measure other things, such as heart rate variability (HRV). Some of them work with apps, allowing you to customize the data to suit your needs.

How long does it take to get the results?

These devices measure your heart rate or pulse rate while you're wearing them. So it's very easy to see the results, whether you look at the gadget itself or the app on your phone that connects to it.

When should I call my doctor?

If you notice that your heart rate is unusually fast or slow , you should definitely let your doctor know. For adults, this means:

• If the heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute (this is called bradycardia).
• If your heart rate is more than 100 beats per minute when you are just standing still (this is called tachycardia).

Also, if you have any symptoms of an irregular heartbeat (`(Arrhythmia)`), especially if you feel your heart beating very fast (Palpitations) , that is, you just feel your heart beating, which is usually an unpleasant sensation. You may feel like your heart is beating fast in your chest, like it is rolling around in your chest, or like it is skipping a beat. If you have any of these, be sure to tell a doctor.

When should I go to the hospital?

If you have symptoms of a heart attack or other serious heart disease, you should go to the hospital immediately. These symptoms include the arrhythmia symptoms mentioned earlier, a pounding heart, and the following:

• Chest pain (angina): A pain that feels like a tightening or constriction in the chest.
• Difficulty breathing (dyspnea): Difficulty breathing, feeling like you're suffocating.
• Vertigo or dizziness (vertigo, dizziness): A feeling of spinning, a feeling of fainting.
• Fainting or loss of consciousness (syncope): Sudden loss of consciousness.

If you see a sign like this, don't waste time and go to the hospital immediately.

Finally, things to remember

Heart rate monitors are a great, easy-to-use tool that helps you keep track of your heart's activity. Depending on the device you choose, you can get a variety of information and data. That data can help you improve your health, create and manage an exercise plan, and more.

However, these heart rate monitors are never a substitute for regular checkups with your doctor. It's important to follow your doctor's advice, especially if you think you may have a problem or if you already have a heart condition.

You can talk to your doctor and get advice on how to use these devices to your advantage and how to take care of your health intelligently instead of just working hard.

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