A heart rate monitor is called a pulse watch. It is able to measure the number of beats that the heart gives off per minute.
What is a heart rate monitor?
For the most part, heart rate monitors are used by professional and recreational athletes. They are used to increase the quality of training. Pulse watches are special devices for measuring heart rate. They were introduced in 1983 and are also known as chest straps or heart rate monitors. Pulse watches are used primarily by professional and recreational athletes. They are used to increase the quality of training. However, pulse watches are also of great interest for the health sector as well as fitness and wellness. Thus, the heart rate monitors contribute to a positive course of athletic training and counteract a threat to health.
Forms, types and types
The most common form of heart rate monitor is the chest strap. This is a strap that the wearer puts on around the chest. The heart rate is measured by two integrated skin electrodes. The chest strap picks up the impulses, the transmission of which takes place via the skin. To keep skin resistance as low as possible, some moisture is required between the skin and the electrodes. This is formed during sporting activities by the accumulation of sweat underneath the belt. If this does not happen, it is possible to moisten the electrodes with a little water or electrode gel. The chest strap is used primarily for endurance sports to prevent overloading. Stationary heart rate monitors built into sports equipment are an alternative to the mobile chest strap. They record the heart rate with the aid of two electrodes. To do this, however, the athlete must grasp them with his hands. With other heart rate monitors, the heart rate is registered via the earlobes. However, neither of these methods is suitable for areas geared to peak athletic performance. Since the chest strap restricts the user’s ability to move, there are now also pulse watches without a chest attachment. The precision of the measuring devices is similar to that of the chest straps. The measurement is taken by placing the thumb or finger on a sensor. However, these devices are more useful for use on an exercise bike. Since 2013, there has also been a heart rate monitor that actually resembles a wristwatch in appearance. Like a watch, it is also strapped around the arm. The device can take the measurement continuously without a finger sensor or chest strap and provide the heart rate. However, the new model is not yet considered reliable enough.
Structure and operation
Pulse watches are now equipped with numerous different functions. In addition to measuring the heartbeats emitted per minute, they can, for example, calculate the calories burned, count steps, measure the altitude difference traveled, and determine temperatures and loads. If the desired heart rate range is exceeded or undershot, the heart rate monitor also triggers an acoustic alarm. The energy supply of chest straps usually takes place through a lithium button cell. To transmit the respective heart rate value, a VLF radio signal is emitted, which has a short range. For receiving and evaluating the data, the heart rate monitor usually has a small computer in the form of a wristwatch. Furthermore, there are high-quality bike computers that can receive and analyze the signal from the chest strap. When choosing a heart rate monitor, it is important to pay attention to the presence of important basic functions. It should be possible to enter personal and biometric data into the device. This includes gender, age, training frequency, training goals and fat percentage. Furthermore, the heart rate monitor must have an ECG-accurate display and be able to divide the heart rate into a minimum pulse and a maximum pulse. Also important are the determination of the training duration, the display of calories in kcal, as well as the recording of the different training sessions. It is important that the user has all the relevant data for an effective workout and that it can be analyzed.
Medical and health benefits
The health benefits of heart rate monitors vary, as they are used for a wide variety of purposes. Most users use heart rate monitors for optimal fat burning while running.Professionals, on the other hand, tend to use the devices to establish performance diagnostics. In the warm summer months, heart rate monitors are very useful because they can prevent the unhealthy exceeding of the performance limit. For example, physical exertion is significantly greater at higher temperatures than when it is less warm. This also applies to the same distances. In the event of overload, however, the heart rate monitor will sound the alarm in good time. A heart rate monitor is particularly recommended for sports beginners or people who have only a slight feeling for their body. Likewise, a heart rate monitor can be useful for untrained people, runners who are only occasionally on the go, or overweight people. On the other hand, a heart rate monitor is also suitable for advanced runners who want to further improve their performance. With the help of a heart rate monitor, the limits of various load ranges can be positively influenced. This can be about burning fat, maximum load or achieving endurance specific to a competition. However, despite all the positive benefits of heart rate monitors, it should be borne in mind that the body’s reactions to physical exertion vary greatly. In addition, measuring heart rate provides only limited information about fat and energy consumption. Thus, the measuring devices cannot replace careful observation of the organism. Nevertheless, the heart rate monitor helps inexperienced athletes avoid risky misjudgments.
