What type of results do you get, and what do the results mean?
Depending on the device you’re using, the results might have slightly different meanings.
- Electrical-detection devices: These are the only devices that truly detect your heart rate. That’s because they are picking up the electrical activity of your heart itself.
- Optical-detection devices: These devices detect your pulse rate, not your heart rate.
Regardless of whether or not they measure your heart rate or your pulse rate, the results try to convey the same thing: How many times your heart beats per minute. Depending on the device, they may also measure and display other metrics, like heart rate variability. Some also use apps that offer you that data in ways that you can tailor to your uses and needs.
When should I know the results of the test?
These devices track your heart or pulse rate while you wear them. Seeing your results should be as easy as looking at the device itself or the associated app on your smartphone.
When should I call my healthcare provider?
You should call your healthcare provider if you notice that your heart rate is unusually fast or slow. For adults, that means slower than 60 beats per minute (bradycardia) or faster than 100 beats per minute while you’re resting (tachycardia).
You should also call your healthcare provider if you experience any symptoms of an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia), especially heart palpitations. This symptom is the ability to feel your heart beating without trying, and it’s usually an unpleasant feeling. It can also feel like your heart is pounding, flip-flopping or skipping beats.
When to go to the hospital
You should go to the hospital if you have any symptoms of a heart attack or other serious heart problem. Those include the symptoms of arrhythmias, heart palpitations, or the following:
- Chest pain (angina).
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea).
- Feeling lightheaded or dizzy.
- Fainting or passing out (syncope).
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Heart rate monitors are a useful and accessible tool to help you track your heart’s activity. Depending on the device you pick, you can access a wide range of information and data. That data can help you improve your health, create and manage an exercise plan and more. However, heart rate monitors aren’t a substitute for regular visits with a healthcare provider, especially if you think you might have a problem. You can also talk to your healthcare provider about recommendations on how you can use these devices to benefit you and how you can work smarter — not just harder — on taking care of yourself.
