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Fitbits and other wrist-worn fitness devices promise to keep track of your heart rate, but new research suggests they are less accurate than thought during certain exercises.
“If you need to know your heart rate with accuracy when exercising — either because you are training for a marathon or have safe heart rate limits set by your doctor, perhaps due to coronary artery disease, heart failure or other heart conditions — wrist-worn monitors are less accurate than the standard chest strap,” study author Dr. Marc Gillinov said in an American College of Cardiology news release.
The heart rates on the wrist-worn devices were compared to those from a continuous 4-lead electrocardiogram (EKG) and a chest strap monitor. Like an EKG, the chest strap measures electrical activity of the heart.
Many athletes utilize heart rate trackers to measure their heart rate while performing strenuous training and exercises. Athletes, as well as other individuals, depend largely on the numbers displayed in these devices to ensure they are engaging in safe activities. Some heart rate devices however, may be giving inaccurate readings. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.