heart rate monitors

[bvdr]

Hi, I started cardio rehab today. I am on a telemetry unit the whole time I am there but something came up today that I could tell made some of the staff quite nervous. My resting heartrate is still around 104-112 so it doesn't take much for my rate to exceed 140. At about that rate my radial pulse rate sometimes then becomes about 70. This is not new for me but it caused some confusion so I just suggested they record both numbers. I wasn't supposed to exceed 140 today but uninvited it bumped up to 165 for several minutes while I was on the treadmill and had to stop while it slowed back down. I can't say I really felt any different at 120bpm than I did at 160bpm.

Does anyone have their own heart rate monitors and if you do, what kind do you have and do your like them?

 

[Christina]

Hi Betty,

I bougt a "POLAR" heart rate monitor some 15 or more years ago, and have used it ever since, and still do to this day. Real easy to strap on and use. It just needs a new battery so once in a while, but for the rest it works great.
The resting heart rate will be higher with a spanking new valve, but as your exercise tollerance increases the heart rate will go down and back to normal.
So, as you can tell I like the heart rate monitor a lot, and I believe we all should strap one on when we want to exercise correctly. Just stay "in the "ZONE". The ZONE is: 220 minus your age, than exercise at 70-80% of that last number.

Happy walking..

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Hello Betty,

Heart Rate Monitors are available at most Sporting Goods stores and / or departments. The Brand Name units used to be fairly expensive (over $100) but seem to be coming down in price.

I found a good unit at Wall Mart in the sporting goods dept for $50 and I believe they have come down to around $35 now.

It is a GREAT way to keep you 'in the zone'. Sometimes they are a little slow to indicate (i.e. it helps if you are sweating). I sometimes use a drop of saline nose spray to 'jump start' the monitor. Be careful to keep it away from the battery compartment in the middle, otherwise the metal contacts may rust.

'AL'

 

[BillCobit]

Heart Rate Monitors

Heart Rate Monitors

Hi Betty -

I use a Timex (that I'm pretty happy with), but I don't think you can go wrong with Christina's advice - I don't know anybody who has a polar that is dissatisfied with it's accuracy, tho some folks regret not getting a model with more or fewer features.

I am aware that some of the cheaper off-brands (sorry I can't cite specific brands) have a lot variability in their read out, due to interference, etc. So you might see artificial transient spikes or dips in heart rate...exactly what you don't need given your current condition!

You might want to check out product reviews - just type in "heart rate monitor" at www.epinions.com - you'll probably get some good info.

Good luck, Bill

 

[terry40]

Betty

Betty

Christina is right on target. When I started cardiac rehab my resting heart rate was 110, I monitor my heart rate right now with a Timex also like Bill, post-op 11 months my rate runs about 100 bpm resting.

Best of luck with rehab
terry

 

[MelissaM]

My heart rate monitor arrived last week and I love it!! Sometimes it is fun just to wear around the house and see what my heart rate does, how fast it recovers, etc. After a fair amount of research, I ended up buying a Sports Instruments ECG 5 from a website called http://www.ediscoutbike.com . To read reviews, I Googled "heart rate monitor reviews" (http://www.google.com).

Reading the reviews was very helpful. It seemed like some are expensive to purchase and expensive to repair b'cause you are supposed to send that brand back to the mfgr for battery changes. The brand that I bought got good reviews for having the same functions as the more expensive brands, at a fraction of the cost. Plus you can replace the battery yourself. It ran about $59 on the site, plus shipping.

It is fun keeping track of the stats. Yesterday I went for a 31 minute walk, spent 7 minutes above my target hr zone, spent 30 seconds below my zone, with an average heart rate of 142 bpm. How cool is that?

Learning the menus is a bit of an exercise (requires careful reading), but I think that will be true for almost any monitor you buy. This one requires a chest strap, and based on the reading I did, this is a requirement for getting any sort of accuracy out of your monitor. If you go for the strap, they tout 99% accuracy.

Melissa

 

[Marty]

Polar Pacer

Polar Pacer

I have used Polar through rehab (20 weeks) and now at my fitness center. I use a chest strap transmitter with a wrist watch receiver. I bought the simplest cheapest receiver they had. Its very reliable.
When I started rehab my resting pulse rate was 105-110 and with a little exercise went up to 140 easily. Now five years later and age 77 my resting rate is 60-65 and at maximum stress I can barely reach 120. I do 45 minutes three times a week on the treadmill at 4.3 mph at 4% incline. Have fun. I watch TV or listen to my Sony Walkman while on the treadmill.

 

[bvdr]

Thanks everyone. What wonderful feedback. I just a very basic Polar brand for $59.00 from the local sports store. It seems easy to use and the internal batteries are supposed to last 2500 work-out hours and then it costs $7.00 to have them replaced.

I can't wait to try it out. I'm like you Melissa, it seems like a new toy and I'm sure I'll initially keep stats too.

 

[epstns]

Betty - It looks like the gang has taken good care of you here. I have a Timex monitor that I've had for 8 or 9 months. May be battery time soon, but other than that, the simpler, the better. Next time I may look at the Polar.

Happy trails!