[ad_1]
We earn a commission for products purchased through certain links in this article.
Tracking your heart rate can be a fantastic way to closely monitor your overall health. From fitness to potential illness, our Beats Per Minute (BPM) report speaks volumes about our current well-being. Heart rate monitors in mainstream devices are more accurate than ever. In some cases, they even offer a medical feature that can offer life-critical information about overall heart health.
Whether it's a smart watch, a fitness monitor, a dedicated sports watch or a medical device, a heart rate monitor has become an indispensable feature of most portable devices. They allow homeowners to gather extremely valuable information through real-time readings done during exercise, sleep and normal activities.
This is certainly the case of the Apple Watch Series 4, the first mainstream consumer device to include an electrocardiogram approved by medical equipment regulators in the United States (and now Europe).
This is a major breakthrough with potentially life-threatening consequences. Performing a 30 second rapid test can help identify the dangerous condition of atrial fibrillation (more commonly known as AFib), which increases the overall risk of stroke and heart failure. Indeed, we have already seen many examples of the condition detected by Apple Watch 4 users.
Apple's positioning of its smartwatch as a health-focused device, rather than just a smartphone extension, reflects a growing trend. These advancements in consumer technology are allowing us to take more and more control of our own health. Rather than relying on infrequent visits to the doctor for a series of tests, we begin to have access to minute-by-minute data, which gives a much more complete picture. It's a bit like a movie compared to a photo. And there are huge benefits to that.
The benefits of monitoring your heart rate
A heart rate monitor that works well can help:
✔️ Reveal stress: The use of continuous human resources monitors can tell you when your human resources are increasing or decreasing over the course of a day. Over time, it is possible to detect stress triggers and act to combat them.
✔️ Follow the overall physical shape: a lower heart rate at rest is a sign of improvement in cardiovascular fitness.
✔️ Point sickness: parameters such as heart rate variability (HRV) and high resting heart rate may be signs of disease control.
✔️ Identify the serious conditions: Advanced heart rate sensors can indicate conditions such as atrial fibrillation, sleep apnea and hypertension.
Are some heart rate monitors more accurate?
While the trend is for Fitbit, Apple, Garmin and Polar heart rate followers, they can also be worn on the forearm, in or on the ears and, for best results, around the chest. There are even monitors that you do not need to wear at all!
When you buy a heart rate monitor, you'll have the choice between an optical heart rate sensor (also called PPG), like most fitness devices, and the growing number of monitors offering ECG technology. more advanced. While optical heart rate sensors use LED lights to detect blood flow through the skin, ECG-based devices detect electrical signals emitted by the heart.
ECG technology has been the preeminent medical standard for decades, but it is important to remember that not all devices that offer this technology are approved by medical regulators. Optical sensors are becoming more competitive and may be more useful for comparing heart rate changes over time. That's why we've chosen the best trackers to monitor your heart health.
The best heart rate monitors to try
From smart watches to electronic ballasts, here are 10 of the best heart rate monitors to help keep your heart healthy:
Apple Watch Series 4
Apple
Buy now
Apple's latest smart watch represents a breakthrough. It was the first consumer device offering an FDA-approved electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). By placing a digit on the Digital Crown, users can get a reading in just 30 seconds via the Heart Rate application. It is hoped that this feature will help users detect serious underlying conditions such as Afib, which can often go undiagnosed.
Beyond the ECG test, Apple has added irregular heartbeat notifications to Series 1-4 watches. Apple monitors the arrhythmia during regular monitoring of heart rate and sends alerts if abnormalities are detected. These measures are reported to the Apple Health app and may be shared with a health care professional. If the Apple Watch is not your cup of tea, the ECG Withings Move, cheaper, arrives this spring with an ECG approved by the FDA.
Kardia Mobile
Kardia
Buy now
Kardia is a portable ECG connected to a smartphone that is an excellent option for those wishing to track potential irregularities without wearing a device. The FDA-approved pouch-compatible device allows patients to take a quick read in case of palpitations or heart palpitations. The readings are relayed to an auxiliary application, which prevents users from having to consult a doctor every time.
Access to 24-hour technology also allows users to relate these irregularities to symptoms they may feel. If you own an Apple Watch Series 1-3 and you do not want to upgrade to a Series 4 with the built-in ECG, the Apple Watch KardiaBand wrist strap allows you to increase the ECG of an existing watch. Pretty smart.
Withings BPM Core
The next Withings BPM Core is a home monitor that responds to many demands in cardiovascular health and provides a holistic view of heart health. The Wi-Fi armband and connected via Bluetooth can measure blood pressure and heart rate, while providing an electrocardiogram via a pair of electrodes (one in the cuff and one in the steel tube held during the tests).
This device is also notable as the first blood pressure monitor to detect valvular heart disease – often a silent killer – via an integrated digital stethoscope. In just 90 seconds, the Core can perform hypertension, AFib and VHD controls – diseases that often have no symptoms – and report color-coded results to the Health Mate application . The device is currently pending clearance by the FDA and is expected to go on sale in the spring.
Muse 2
Muse
Buy now
Heart health is not limited to monitoring beats per minute. Some portable devices are designed to help you reduce these readings when stressed. The Muse 2 of the young Canadian startup InteraXon is a guided meditation helmet offering stress management techniques to help reduce heart rate. It uses brainwave sensors to interpret your mental activity and will reward you with quiet time sounds when you can calm your mind. Lose your concentration and you will hear the stormy weather.
In addition to the addition of an HR optical sensor, this high-quality on-ear headband also measures pulse oximetry and informs wearers whether the heart is doing its job and sending adequate levels of oxygen to the body. .
Withings Body Cardio
Withings
Buy now
Do not forget that we mentioned that some heart rate monitors should not be worn at all. The Withings Body Cardio Smart Scale is one of these devices. If you weigh yourself at the same time each day, it's a great way to track changes in your heart's health over time.
A resting heart rate that tends to fall is an excellent indicator of improved cardiovascular fitness. A higher resting heart rate could mean that your body is fighting sickness or the effects of a particularly enjoyable weekend. In any case, drink more water.
Scosche Rhythm24
Scosche
Buy now
Variability of heart rate (HRV) – the variability of time between individual heart beats – is an increasingly popular measure of heart health; especially when it comes to measuring how your heart reacts to the effort. A higher HRV may indicate that the body is willing to accept your workout demands, while a lower reading may indicate that the body needs rest.
Although a selection of portable devices now offers VRC readings, the highly accurate Scosche Rhythm24 might be the best choice. The waterproof band ready for use near the pool is worn around the forearm and also uses LED lights (rather than a screen) to indicate the heart rate zones. It is also compatible with many popular sports watches and will transmit data to an application such as HRV4Training, which provides a number of health-centric views other than cardiovascular fitness.
Polar H10
Polar
Buy now
For sports and fitness enthusiasts, the Polar H10 is undoubtedly the absolute reference. Renowned for its precision readings, the chest-worn monitor will record a workout (even when used under water) and report the results to a Polar application or watch.
Combined with a compatible device such as the Vantage V Triathlon Watch (see below), the H10 strap also allows you to perform the orthostatic test, based on reading the variability of your heart rate, and of Help users find a balance between training and recovery. . Performed regularly, the test can serve as a basis. Discrepancies, which could be caused by lack of sleep, sickness, environmental factors and stress, are a clue that you should not insist on so strongly nowadays.
Fitbit Charge HR 3
Fitbit
Buy now
Delivering the best heart rate monitor on a dedicated Fitbit tracking, the third generation Charge HR PurePulse technology provides 24/7 continuous monitoring to provide you with essential BPM information at work, at rest and at home. Hobbies. The device also inspires the Muse 2 tracker by guiding users through breathing exercises based on their current heart rate. For fitness enthusiasts, the powerful companion app is ideal for tracking heart rate zones, but it also allows users to keep an eye on trends in resting heart rate.
Polar OH1 +
Polar
Buy now
Everyone does not feel comfortable with a chest strap. The latest Polar tracker can be worn on the biceps, forearm or even on a pair of swimming goggles. Yes, it is completely waterproof and fits comfortably against the temple in the pool. With six optical sensors, the tracker can stream your data to any application or device of your choice in real time, but also has a standalone drive mode that will store 200 hours of workouts until you're ready for synchronizing data.
Polar Vantage V
Polar
Buy now
You may have located the trio of devices in this list. Polar is unparalleled in fitness-oriented heart rate monitors. Heck, it's been making them since 1976! The Vantage V is a watch designed for triathletes and is the best optical sensor for a watch. New Precision Prime Technology Sets New Standards for Wrist-based Optical HR Sensors by Integrating Skin Contact Measures That "Exclude Movement Artifacts That Could Disturb the Heart Rate Signal and Provide Unreliable Readings" . The watch is designed for a specific audience – this rare breed of gourmands who like to swim, bike and run one after the other, excelling in tension and recovery.
[ad_2]
Source link