How to pick and use a heart rate monitor?

[Tella]

Which brand can u recommend? I’d like one that has a stopwatch on it. Do they all emit signals? I don’t want smth strapped to me like a phone with constant signals on. Are they comfortable?
Finally, Are they useful? How do u use them? I’ve tried a cheap one, it shows me what I already seen to know: that I can only manage to go to bathroom. But if my hr stays ok while I walk for longer and I have pots symptoms etc, is it good to push yourself till the hr is too high for me as an individual (I worked out an optimum one for me thru some calculation online). Thanks

 

[Sushi]

There are basically two kinds—The wristwatch only kind which uses an optical measurement of blood flow in the wrist and the chest strap plus wristwatch type which is much more accurate but less comfortable. It really depends on how you want to use it as while the wristwatch type is much more convenient it will not accurately count heartbeats if there is any type of arrhythmia involved. Both types average several beats together so you will not find one that gives a beat by beat read out.

If you want just a good idea of how your heart rate responds to activity then the wrist only type is probably appropriate. But if you are wanting to measure tachycardia for instance you would need one with a chest strap.

 

[Tella]

There are basically two kinds—The wristwatch only kind which uses an optical measurement of blood flow in the wrist and the chest strap plus wristwatch type which is much more accurate but less comfortable. It really depends on how you want to use it as while the wristwatch type is much more convenient it will not accurately count heartbeats if there is any type of arrhythmia involved. Both types average several beats together so you will not find one that gives a beat by beat read out.

If you want just a good idea of how your heart rate responds to activity then the wrist only type is probably appropriate. But if you are wanting to measure tachycardia for instance you would need one with a chest strap.

Thanks. Could anyone recommend how exactly to use one to pace? Do they even work? Thanks again

 

[Sushi]

Thanks. Could anyone recommend how exactly to use one to pace? Do they even work? Thanks again

The better ones let you set a “HR range” that works for you and have some kind of alarm if you go over your range. The good ones work very well and even plug into your computer so that you can set parameters there.

 

[Tella]

The better ones let you set a “HR range” that works for you and have some kind of alarm if you go over your range. The good ones work very well and even plug into your computer so that you can set parameters there.

Thank u! So does it mean that if my heart rate allows me to walk more but I feel not great while doing so, I should then keep on walking until the heart rate isn’t ideal anymore (to not become de-conditioned and to train my body to use the muscles as far as the hr allows me to without going over the limit so presumably I can do even more next time?)?

 

[Insomniac]

There are a few facebook groups specifically for ME patients who want to do pacing with a heart rate monitor. They will be able to answer your questions.

They recommended a number of them in the group. I have no idea which is the best so I just bought the cheapest. I am waiting for it to be delivered from Amazon.

 

[Sushi]

Thank u! So does it mean that if my heart rate allows me to walk more but I feel not great while doing so, I should then keep on walking until the heart rate isn’t ideal anymore (to not become de-conditioned and to train my body to use the muscles as far as the hr allows me to without going over the limit so presumably I can do even more next time?)?

That is not what I would do. I find that if I don’t feel great while trying to exercise that this a warning to stop as I might be headed for PEM if I try to push through it.

 

[Tella]

That is not what I would do. I find that if I don’t feel great while trying to exercise that this a warning to stop as I might be headed for PEM if I try to push through it.

Then it seems a monitor may not help me as I can’t stand for even a minute without getting worse...