In this case, such a device, as promised by manufacturers, will allow accurate measurement of the pulse. And this, in turn, will help control the work of the heart, preserve and strengthen its health.
Consider the device of this type of heart rate monitor, its advantages and disadvantages and the basic selection rules.
To whom and for what is needed
The pulse meter allows you to monitor the heart rate. This is necessary for the
to keep the pulse in a certain corridor of values - for example, from 130 to 160 beats per minute. Also, these devices can be used for purely diagnostic purposes - in the event that you need to monitor the heart rate during the day. 
Pulse meters use:
- athletes;
- people who want to lose weight;
- people with heart disease.
Athletes keep a pulse in a certain value corridor, , to maximize the effectiveness of the : if it is below a certain minimum, it means that the load is not large enough and it needs to be increased so that the body gets a good workout. If the frequency of cardiac contractions has exceeded the maximum - the athlete is working too hard.
Everyone involved in a particular sport, the , in order to lose extra pounds of , also must adhere to certain pulse values during classes( the corridor of values for each trainee is calculated individually according to a special formula, taking into account age and weight).
Also a medical wrist pulse monitor - is a necessary thing for people with heart diseases , who, on the recommendation of a doctor, are engaged in light training, some kind of physical activity.
If you control the heart rate and do not allow it to exceed a certain limit, the loads will only bring health benefits to the , stop the progression of the disease or even improve the condition of the heart muscle.
Design Any heart rate monitor consists of a pulse sensor and a receiver that displays the result of the measurements.
The standard breast pulse monitor is attached to the chest on a soft elastic band, and the receiver is in the form of a clock on the arm. At the heart rate monitor, the sensor and receiver are combined in one body in the form of a clock located on the wrist, without a chest strap and a sensor it is much more convenient to do.
There are two main types of wrist heart rate meters:
- classic : in order to measure the pulse, you need to touch the electrodes of the device, fixed on the arm, with the other hand;
- heart rate monitor with : after the instrument is put on hand, it reads the pulse constantly, it is not necessary to touch it with the second hand.
This device, equipped with an electronic-optical sensor, not only determines the heart rate - it also monitors the status of its owner throughout the day , determining the overall level of its activity, the number of steps and calories burned, and much more.
Advantages and Disadvantages of
The main advantages of fitness bracelets - their compactness and convenience in the toe .A small and light device is almost not felt on the hand, there is no restrictive movement of the chest sensor, which must be worn, wetting its contacts with water or lubricating the gel. There are no sensors on the finger or on the ear lobe, which are mandatory for instruments that determine heart rate for pulsation of blood.
But these bracelets also have serious drawbacks:
- Their functionality is lower than that of classic models with a chest sensor.
- They determine the heart rate inaccurately - even the most modern models are far from the heart rate monitor with chest sensors.
- In addition, the range of sports bracelets is still small - although the future is most likely behind them, today due to the above drawbacks, such heart rate monitors are not too common.
How to choose a device for yourself
In order not to be mistaken with the purchase, when choosing , pay attention to three main points of the :
- functionality of the : modern devices can not only read the pulse, they also have many additional functions( more about them in the next section);
- Possibility of synchronization with external devices : synchronization, for example, with a smartphone will greatly expand your capabilities;
- Waterproof : hand-held heart rate monitors are available that can be used for swimming, as they are protected from water, as well as exclusively "land" - they can not be floated with, they are cheaper and more suitable for running;
And, of course, in order to make the right choice, you can refer to reviews of devices and expert advice, as well as reviews of athletes and other buyers who have already managed to evaluate these or other models in action.
Additional functions of the
All modern heart rate monitors have many additional functions besides measuring heart rate and displaying this information on the screen. The most important of them is the ability to manually set the desired pulse corridor .If you exit it, the device will alert you with a beep.
In addition, to standard additional functions include :
- clock;
- stopwatch and timer;
- pedometer, determination of running speed, counting the number of laps and distance traveled
- calculator for body mass index, calorie consumption and burned fat;
- determination of the average heart rate during training and maximum heart rate;
- keeping statistics, storing in-memory training data so that in the future it can be analyzed.
Find out which device is most suitable for running, from video:
Popular wrist models
Mio Alpha 2
The second version of the sports bracelet Alpha retained the features that were in the first model and acquired additional functions.
This device continuously monitors the heart rate of the , beeps when it exceeds the established pulse band and synchronizes with the smartphone.
Fitbit Charge HR
This sports bracelet monitors the status of its owner 24 hours a day.
In addition to the function of the heart rate monitor, the also has a pedometer, distance assessment, activity level determination during the day, calorie counting, "quiet" alarm clock( Charge HR wakes up the owner with a call) and much more.
Mio Fuse
According to the manufacturer, this sports bracelet determines the heart rate with particularly high accuracy due to the optical sensor and a simplified algorithm for monitoring the heart rate.
Has the full functionality of modern heart rate controllers on hand - pedometer, calculating burned calories, synchronizing with a smartphone and so on. There are two modes of operation - everyday and training.
How to use the heart rate monitor
Consider the use of a fitness bracelet on the example of Mio Alpha 2:
- on a smartphone running Android or iOS you need to put a special application Mio Go and synchronize the phone with a bracelet;
- then you need to configure the device, set the pulse zones, date and time, enter your data( height, weight, and so on);
- pulse meter is triggered by a long press on the button on the right;
- when an out-of-range pulse is placed, the device beeps.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sports Bracelets
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How much does a heart rate monitor cost?
On average, a good fitness bracelet costs from 8 to 15 thousand rubles. Thus, these devices in general are much more expensive than heart rate monitors with a chest sensor, which cost from 3 thousand rubles.
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What is the cheapest device different from the expensive one and how to understand what is better to choose?
Perhaps the most important difference between more expensive models is the accuracy of heart rate measurements. If you want it to be at a high level, do not buy cheap wrist heart rate monitors. The price is also determined by the level of hardware "stuffing" of the device and its functionality.
In addition, good quality models have a number of non-obvious advantages: for example, information from the screen of such a device can be easily read even in bright sunlight, which can not be said about many of their budget counterparts. Excessive savings on the purchase is not worth it.
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Can the heart rate monitor harm the body? What precautions should I follow?
All quality sports bracelets purchased from reliable sellers are absolutely safe for health. To ensure that the device does not do you any harm, you just need to read the instructions before using and follow the recommendations stated in it - for example, a sports bracelet that is not waterproof can not be used for swimming.
Its main drawback, perhaps, is the accuracy, which is low compared to the chest pulse meter, but it is higher than that of the heart rate monitor on the finger. However, fitness bracelets are good for amateur sports, as well as to monitor the heart rate and the overall level of activity during the day.
