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

You may have noticed that many people now wear a gadget like a smartwatch or a fitness band. They use it to monitor their heart rate while exercising, walking, and even just standing still. So today, let's talk about what a heart rate monitor is, how it works, and how reliable it is. This will be very important to you.

What is this Heart Rate Monitor?

Simply put, a Heart Rate Monitor is a device that measures and displays your heart rate or pulse rate. With today's technology, these come in very small, easily wearable designs. And the sensors in these devices are quite accurate.

But there is something very important that we need to understand here. While these devices are great for our personal use, they are not a replacement for the medical devices that a doctor uses. The devices in hospitals are much more accurate.

Why do so many people use these?

Heart Rate Monitors have become a very popular feature in smartwatches and fitness trackers these days. These gadgets can often be connected to our phones and computers, so we can easily monitor and analyze our heart rate data. People mainly use them for things like:

• Monitor your heart rate while exercising: You can monitor how fast your heart beats when you run or exercise at the gym.
• Monitor stress and activity levels throughout the day: This will help you understand things like how active you are and when you feel most stressed.
• Know your sleep quality at night: You can see how deeply you slept and how your heart rate was during sleep.
• If you have certain health conditions, monitor your vital signs at home: Some people are advised by their doctors to monitor these things at home.

How does this equipment work?

Okay, there's a little thing we need to understand here. That's the difference between heart rate and pulse rate .

• Heart Rate: This is how many times your heart beats per minute.
• Pulse Rate: This is the number of times the blood vessels (arteries) expand per minute when the heart beats.

Usually, these two values ​​are the same or there is a very small difference. However, some diseases and medications can cause a difference between the two.

Although we call it a heart rate monitor, this device works in two ways.

1. Electrical - Electrocardiography: Every time your heart beats, it emits a very small electrical signal. Devices that work with this method can detect that electrical signal and measure your heart rate. This is what happens in an ECG.

2. Optical - Photoplethysmography: Have you ever noticed the green light on the bottom of your smartwatch? That's what this method is. These devices measure your heart rate by sending infrared light through your skin, which measures the dilation of blood vessels under your skin as your heart pumps blood. Some devices can also measure blood oxygen levels using this method.

Common types of heart rate monitors

There are several types of these devices on the market. Let's see what they are.

Are these readings really accurate?

This is a problem for many people. The accuracy of the device varies depending on the way it works and the activity you do while wearing it.

• Chest-band devices: These are the most accurate because they directly measure the electrical activity of the heart, giving you an accurate reading even when you're standing still, running, or cycling.
• Wrist wearables: These are very accurate when you're standing or walking. They're also often accurate when you're running or cycling. However, they can be a little inaccurate when you're doing exercises that require you to use both arms (like an elliptical machine).
• Smart rings: Research shows that these are accurate when just resting. However, there is not enough data yet to say how they work when exercising.
• Smartphones: Apps that measure by placing your finger on the phone's camera are slightly more accurate than apps that measure by looking at your face. But these are more prone to error, as a phone is not designed for this purpose.

When should you see a doctor?

It is very important to talk to a doctor if you notice anything unusual after looking at the data from these devices.

Seek medical advice if your heart rate, when you are at rest , is like this:

• Less than 60 beats per minute (Bradycardia) .
• If it is more than 100 beats per minute (Tachycardia) .

Also, if you have symptoms of an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) , especially palpitations , you should definitely see a doctor. This can feel like your heart is fluttering in your chest, beating faster, or skipping beats.

When to go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU)

If you have one or more of the following symptoms, it could be a sign of a serious condition, such as a heart attack. Therefore, go to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.

• Chest pain or discomfort (Chest pain - Angina)
• Shortness of breath (Dyspnea)
• Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
• Fainting (Syncope)

These devices are a great tool to help us stay informed about our health. But it's not a good idea to get too excited about the data they provide or ignore serious symptoms. If you have any concerns, it's best to talk to your doctor.