How to Use a Heart Monitor
There are various types of personal heart monitors. The easiest to use are sent by a monitoring company with three colored leads attached. They attach to metal button electrodes. The other type of monitor can be purchased at most pharmacies or department stores and is often placed on the wrist. Using a heart monitor is a fairly simple process.
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Instructions
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Using a Heart Monitor
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Use the heart monitor to measure the rate your heart is beating (beats per minute) and your blood pressure. A healthy person should have a resting pulse rate of 60 to100 beats per minute and blood pressure of about 120/80.
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When applying the three-lead monitor, place the electrodes in the appropriate locations on your chest. The white belongs above your right breast area, the black belongs below your right breast and the red belongs below the left breast.
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When working with the wrist monitor, read the directions provided with the device. Most wrist monitors have metal nodules that should be placed on the inside of your wrist (the area where you will most likely find an accurate pulse rate).
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Record the heart rates with the two different monitors. With the leads monitor, a company records the rates and pressure and reports them to your doctor. The recordings are stored in the box monitor that is attached through the three leads. After the monitor is full and tells you to transmit, you will have to call the information in so the company can collect all recordings and send them to your doctor.
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With the wrist monitor it is important to keep a daily journal. You should record your heart if you feel funny or ill and at specific intervals during the day to ensure accuracy. You should bring your daily journal to a cardiologist if you find anything out of the ordinary or suspect a problem. Your journal of recordings could reveal a lot.
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Tips & Warnings
When recording make sure you sit still to reduce movement interference. Always put the three leads on in the correct places. The wrist monitor is not always accurate and should be checked periodically by your doctor.
