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Question about Heart Monitor
I posted a response in the thread about the Polar Heart Rate monitor, but I thought I would make a seperate post to get opinions.
I've been wearing my Polar monitor for 2 days so far, and everything has been normal. After I woke up this morning and hit the summary, it said that my average heart rate was 82 and my maximum heart rate was 221.
Does that sound like a malfunction? I have never heard of my heart rate being that fast, wouldn't that have woke me up if it was in my sleep?
221 just sounds dangerous to me, and you guys know a lot more than I do, so I wanted to get your opinions. Thanks so much!
I've been wearing my Polar monitor for 2 days so far, and everything has been normal. After I woke up this morning and hit the summary, it said that my average heart rate was 82 and my maximum heart rate was 221.
Does that sound like a malfunction? I have never heard of my heart rate being that fast, wouldn't that have woke me up if it was in my sleep?
221 just sounds dangerous to me, and you guys know a lot more than I do, so I wanted to get your opinions. Thanks so much!
I agree, it was probably just a glitch, and I also agree that I shouldn't wear it for anything other than exercise, which I'm not doing much of because of the heart pounding and shortness of breath that I've been experiencing.
My doctor told me that I should get a Polar monitor and I'd be able to see my heart rate. I don't know why she suggested it, but I figured it was worth a try. When I was telling some friends of mine that my doctor recommended it, they thought she was crazy. I didn't know any better. I'm sure my Cardiologist wouldn't approve, either, especially hearing that they are not always accurate. But, needless to say, I was freaked out when I saw 221.
I hope to be able to get back into my exercise regime sometime soon, as I am just praying that the pounding and shortness of breath will go away, so I will only use the Polar Monitor while exercising from now on.
Thanks to everyone who replied. I really value all of your opinions and advice. It's so nice to be able to be a part of a forum with such knowledgeable and helpful people.
My doctor told me that I should get a Polar monitor and I'd be able to see my heart rate. I don't know why she suggested it, but I figured it was worth a try. When I was telling some friends of mine that my doctor recommended it, they thought she was crazy. I didn't know any better. I'm sure my Cardiologist wouldn't approve, either, especially hearing that they are not always accurate. But, needless to say, I was freaked out when I saw 221.
I hope to be able to get back into my exercise regime sometime soon, as I am just praying that the pounding and shortness of breath will go away, so I will only use the Polar Monitor while exercising from now on.
Thanks to everyone who replied. I really value all of your opinions and advice. It's so nice to be able to be a part of a forum with such knowledgeable and helpful people.
The Polar company makes it very clear that the monitor is for exercise monitoring. If any salesperson implied to you that it was adequate for medical monitoring you should request a refund.
If you want more medical monitoring, you can go to the doctor and get an event monitor.
I do agree with others here that this fixation on your heart is going to fuel an inflated impression of the slightest little thing.
Try putting the effort you expend on this into something you can actually effect, like lifestyle factors, and acceptance that you can't know every detail all the time . "What if ?" is a scenario every single person on the globe faces, but living that question every moment will drive a person to distraction. If you look for absolute certainty you will look forever.
Why not accept the beautful test results you have gotten, several times from different doctors, and be glad that you are healthy? If something actually changes symptom-wise (not feeling fourteen palps today versus five yesterday, or some standing up and others lying down, but something actually changes) you should go for more medical evaluation.
Respecting a doctor doesn't mean you have to be a non-entity. But it does mean that you give some weight to what they tell you, rather than going from doctor to doctor to doctor getting the same conclusion and then putting on an exercise monitor 24/7 to try to get SOMETHING to tell you that you are dramatically afflicted when no credible evidence remotely indicates that. There is no way to deny the anxiety factor when you do that. It's painfully obvious to anyone reading that post.
Get the event monitor.
If it also comes back that you are okay read up on behavior modifcation techniques to try and break the cycle of the obsession. You may be able to feel better by changing your focus. Worth a try.
If you want more medical monitoring, you can go to the doctor and get an event monitor.
I do agree with others here that this fixation on your heart is going to fuel an inflated impression of the slightest little thing.
Try putting the effort you expend on this into something you can actually effect, like lifestyle factors, and acceptance that you can't know every detail all the time . "What if ?" is a scenario every single person on the globe faces, but living that question every moment will drive a person to distraction. If you look for absolute certainty you will look forever.
Why not accept the beautful test results you have gotten, several times from different doctors, and be glad that you are healthy? If something actually changes symptom-wise (not feeling fourteen palps today versus five yesterday, or some standing up and others lying down, but something actually changes) you should go for more medical evaluation.
Respecting a doctor doesn't mean you have to be a non-entity. But it does mean that you give some weight to what they tell you, rather than going from doctor to doctor to doctor getting the same conclusion and then putting on an exercise monitor 24/7 to try to get SOMETHING to tell you that you are dramatically afflicted when no credible evidence remotely indicates that. There is no way to deny the anxiety factor when you do that. It's painfully obvious to anyone reading that post.
Get the event monitor.
If it also comes back that you are okay read up on behavior modifcation techniques to try and break the cycle of the obsession. You may be able to feel better by changing your focus. Worth a try.
The max HR was probably calculated as the monitor was "searching" for the actual rate.
May be you got "pause" or low heart beat when you sleep. When it averaged out then you got 82.
Your maximum heart rate was 221, how long it lasted? How many episodes do you have in a day?
My average HR - 24 Hours : 77 bpm
Maximum HR SV - Run : 253 bpm
Longest SV - Run : 6 beats
Max Pause : 3.2 sec
What your doctor comment? My cardio comment is "It didn't make sense!"
Take care.
Your maximum heart rate was 221, how long it lasted? How many episodes do you have in a day?
My average HR - 24 Hours : 77 bpm
Maximum HR SV - Run : 253 bpm
Longest SV - Run : 6 beats
Max Pause : 3.2 sec
What your doctor comment? My cardio comment is "It didn't make sense!"
Take care.
here here..
hunny, take that stupid thing off.. Its meant for exercise use only... Constantly wearing a monitor is going to do you NO GOOD.. you're jsut feeding the obsession... So is constantly looking up cardiology pages and disorders and memorizing facts and ya da ya.. Allow yourself a day to go by where you arent completely focused on your heart it will do you a world of good..
hunny, take that stupid thing off.. Its meant for exercise use only... Constantly wearing a monitor is going to do you NO GOOD.. you're jsut feeding the obsession... So is constantly looking up cardiology pages and disorders and memorizing facts and ya da ya.. Allow yourself a day to go by where you arent completely focused on your heart it will do you a world of good..
I wear a polar heart rate monitor when I exercise. I'm prone to sudden heart artery blockages and have many stents installed, but some blockages can't be stented because of very twisted heart arteries, and I'm told that bypass surgery is risky for that reason. Because I taken a beta blocker (Coreg) I can't use the traditional method to determine the optimim heart rate, and work out a formula with my Cardiologist. I use the Polar device as an indicator when I need a formal stress test. When I see certain patterns, I contact my Cardiologist. However, when the numbers stay at zero or go very high, I know something is affecting it and I disregard those moments . Usually it is the erratic or rapid heart beat moments I have like most people (I'm lucky as they don't worry me, I'm 65 years old and have had them since I was a teenager, mine aren't dangerous).
I agree, take the device off, it will drive you nuts. Use it for exercise like it's intended to be used, be aware of it's attributes and limitations.
I agree, take the device off, it will drive you nuts. Use it for exercise like it's intended to be used, be aware of it's attributes and limitations.
Devices like the Polar Heart monitor are designed for use as an exercise-fitness tool, NOT as a medical monitor. Also, you are being obsessive wearing one for two straight days.
As for the high reading, it's likely an artifact -- either there was poor contact between the skin and electrode or there was some electromagnetic interference.
The Polar website warns
"Sources of electromagnetic signals can cause erratic and faulty heart rate readings. Electromagnetic disturbances may occur near high voltage power lines, traffic lights, the overhead lines of electric railways, electric bus lines or tram lines, televisions, car motors, bike computers, some motor driven exercise equipment, cellular phones or when you walk through electric security gates. Check your surroundings and move away from the source of interference, or remove the source of the disturbance. "
also, on a section about poor electrode contact they state:
"There can be several reasons for abnormal or irregular readings during exercise. Due to the same reasons, heart rate may stay at the same value for a long time, the heart rate stays at zero (0) or a very high reading (230). "
Try not worry bout this any more and take the damn polar monitor off.
Tony.
As for the high reading, it's likely an artifact -- either there was poor contact between the skin and electrode or there was some electromagnetic interference.
The Polar website warns
"Sources of electromagnetic signals can cause erratic and faulty heart rate readings. Electromagnetic disturbances may occur near high voltage power lines, traffic lights, the overhead lines of electric railways, electric bus lines or tram lines, televisions, car motors, bike computers, some motor driven exercise equipment, cellular phones or when you walk through electric security gates. Check your surroundings and move away from the source of interference, or remove the source of the disturbance. "
also, on a section about poor electrode contact they state:
"There can be several reasons for abnormal or irregular readings during exercise. Due to the same reasons, heart rate may stay at the same value for a long time, the heart rate stays at zero (0) or a very high reading (230). "
Try not worry bout this any more and take the damn polar monitor off.
Tony.
Sorry I do not have an answer for you Robin. I have a question though. I'm looking for a monitor and I was wondering if you can tell me about the Polar Monitor. Is it reliable? Can it discriminate between good beats and extra beats? Is it easy to use? and any info you deem pertinent. Thanks.
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