Hot on HuffPost Healthy Living:

 

How accurate are the heart rate displays on cardio machines?

Posted on Apr 16th 2008 10:00AM by Kristen Seymour
I was running on a new treadmill at my local gym yesterday, and I had really exerted myself and my breathing started getting a little out of control (I'm asthmatic, so I'm careful not to overdo). I slowed to a walk, and as I did so, I put my hands on the heart rate monitors, and ... according to the display, my heart rate was at only 112, but I know from monitoring it at other times, at a similar intensity, it has shown 180+. Huh?

I've noticed before that my heart rate fluctuates considerably depending on the day, but never looked into it. Yesterday, though, it made me realize that I really have no idea what heart rate I reach at my peak, and what I maintain.

Heart monitors(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Polar F4 in Red Berry, $89.95Polar CS100, $109.95Mens Cardio Shirt, $58.95Mark of Fitness MF-180 Exercise Monitor, $67.95Polar F11 in Blue Glow, $159.95
So, I got home and started Googling, and I wasn't too surprised to see that I'm not alone in experiencing some wonky readings. And while a variety of factors can influence one's heart rate -- diet, drugs (like caffeine), and hydration -- they shouldn't cause such a fluctuation.

If you want to actually monitor your heart rate, you'll need to get a personal heart rate monitor. Fortunately, there are loads of options in tons of price ranges, so you should be able to find something that works for you. I'm hoping to find one for myself, too, so if you have a recommendation, leave it in the comments!

Around the Web

Related Videos

 
 

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

 

Share Your Success Story

Jupiter Images

Have you lost weight and kept it off? We want to know how you did it and what keeps you inspired!