Understanding Your Heart Rate
Why should I monitor my heart rate?
Knowing your heart rate is key to managing your weight and
achieving your fitness goals. With MIO you can take your heart
rate quickly and easily with the simple touch of a button, which
means you can use it during a work out to ensure you're
exercising efficiently, and throughout the day to monitor your
stress levels.
By monitoring your heart rate during
exercise, you can maximize your workouts. Your heart
rate measures your intensity level, and by monitoring it you'll
know exactly when to increase or decrease your intensity so that
you can exercise safely and efficiently while achieving the
fitness results you desire. Using MIO during exercise will
therefore ensure that you exercise at an appropriate level of
intensity and make the most of your workout time.
It is also beneficial to measure your heart rate
throughout the day. Because MIO does not require
you to wear an uncomfortable chest-strap, it has never been
easier to take a medically accurate heart rate anytime you want
it! This can provide reassurance to cardiac patients and others
interested in all-day monitoring.
MIO also provides biofeedback, which is useful for stress
reduction. By using MIO you can see how your heart rate
varies throughout the day and how you respond to stressful
situations. Using relaxation techniques such as deep breathing
and rest, you can easily learn how to lower and control your
heart rate leaving you more calm and focused!
What is the difference between my pulse and heart rate?
Heart rate is based on the number of times your heart contracts
in a given period, measured in beats per minute. Your pulse rate
is the number of times blood, forced by your contracting heart,
surges through and dilates your vessels in a given period.
Why is measuring my heart rate better?
Measuring your heart rate is much more accurate. Also, heart rate
monitors are tested for accuracy while pulse monitors are
not.
Sometimes, such as with irregular or premature beats, the heart
does not send out enough blood to be felt as a pulse, and the
pulse rate will differ from the heart rate. Before beginning any
fitness program, you should have a complete physical examination
and consult your physician about an appropriate heart rate target
zone for your fitness level.
What is resting heart rate?
Resting heart rate is just that - the rate of your heart while
you are at rest. It is best to measure for your resting heart
rate when you are not performing any physical activity. Ideally,
this would be immediately after waking up (without an alarm).
Most people have an average resting value of 72 beats per
minute. Genetics and other factors play a role, but generally
resting heart rate is also a measure of fitness. Those who are
well conditioned may have resting heart rate values in the high
thirties to low forties. Most values fall between 38 to 78 beats
per minute.
What is heart rate recovery?
Heart rate recovery is the best indicator of your fitness
level.
With MIO, a recovery test can easily be taken manually. Take your
heart rate during activity. Cease activity. Wait 1 minute. Take
your heart rate again. The value should drop at least 20 beats
per minute. If it does not drop quickly you need to work on your
cardio conditioning. The more conditioned you are the faster your
heart rate should drop. For more info contact your physician.
What is maximum heart rate?
Your heart has a theoretical maximum value at which during
extreme exertion, you approach physical exhaustion. Coming too
close to this value is dangerous for those at risk for heart
attacks. The percentage of maximum heart rate tells you how close
you are to this dangerous value. For most people, exercising
within a range between 55% and 75% of maximum will yield the
greatest benefit.
All MIO models display your percentage of maximum every time
you take a reading, which is personalized based on the personal
data you enter into the watch (age, gender, weight, resting heart
rate).
To work out efficiently and maximize the results of your
fitness program, you should monitor your heart rate regularly to
ensure that you are excercising at an appropriate level of
maximum heart rate.
**Before beginning any exercise program, please consult
with your physician.**
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