What’s the best heart rate monitor to buy?

I want to measure my heart rate. What’s the best kind of monitor to buy? My smartphone says it can monitor my pulse rate – is this reliable? 

Chloe MacArthur says:

Wearable devices and smartphone apps to monitor your heart rate are becoming increasingly popular. They can be helpful for tracking fitness and noticing if something is out of the ordinary, but they can’t give a diagnosis. You will still need to discuss any changes with your doctor so that they can assess you properly and find out whether there is any cause for concern. 

Keep in mind that these devices are not as accurate as professional equipment used by doctors and nurses. Because they can vary in accuracy, if you see a reading that is unusual for you it’s important that you try not to worry if it is just one time. If you notice that you are seeing these readings repeatedly, let your doctor know, especially if you are also experiencing any new symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain.

With so many at-home pulse rate monitors available these days, it can be hard to choose. It may help to start thinking about what you would like from your monitor. For example, if you do a lot of exercise and are trying to build your fitness, you may be interested in a device with recovery heart rate mode or time in target zone modes. But if you want to keep it simpler, a more basic device may suit you better and save you money.

• Buy blood pressure monitors and portable ECGs to measure pulse rate

Devices that are strapped to your chest to monitor your heart’s electrical activity are generally more accurate than devices worn on the wrist or smartphone apps, which mostly work by using light to measure changes in blood flow under the skin. For example, heart monitors worn on the wrists may produce an inaccurate reading if you move your arm vigorously.

If you are using a smartphone, an app that requires you to put your finger on the camera and light on the back of your phone is likely to be more reliable at monitoring your heart rate than one that uses the camera to look at your face.

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