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Heart Rate Monitors & Stress

It has been a long-held belief that prolonged stress can lead to multiple health concerns including high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. Stress is cited as risk factor for several cardiopulmonary diseases and disorders as well as for psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety and panic attacks. A study performed by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University found that pulse rate increases when stress factors are present.

  1. Monitors

    • Heart rate monitors can be prescribed by a physician to determine whether stress is placing undue pressure on the heart. In addition to prescribed monitors, there are pulse monitors that can be purchased at any health or department store. The most accurate at-home monitors can be strapped to the chest, underneath the clothing. Touch-screen monitors monitor pulse rate through a fingertip. Some watches and exercise equipment have built-in heart rate monitors.

    Considerations

    • Heart rate monitors are ideal for people who fear that stress is affecting their health. With the information from a monitor, they can create a graph depicting heart rates for different times of the day, then use that information to make lifestyle changes. Medical professionals can use the information to help diagnose and treat a stress condition.

    Benefits

    • According to New Fitness.com, heart monitors are ideal exercise tools. Monitoring heart rate during physical activity lessens the risk of injury and optimizes results. Exercising at a moderate intensity lowers stress levels, and monitors can be used to determine whether the therapeutic level of exercise has been achieved. Monitors also help manage everyday stress. An elevated reading could mean it is time for a break.

    Heart Rate and Stress

    • Stress causes physiological changes in the body including elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, rapid breathing and tight muscles. Normally, such a response is beneficial as it optimizes the body's defense mechanisms and enables escape from an imminent threat. But when no imminent threat is present, the stress hormones build up in the body, resulting in a more permanent physiological change. Chronic stress can cause elevations in heart rate even when one is relaxing, engaging in enjoyable activities or sleeping.

    Risks

    • According to clinical research published in the European Heart Journal, men with elevated heart rates caused by mental stress are more at risk for cardiac episodes. The study showed that men were twice as likely to die of a heart attack if their heart rate increased along with the introduction of mental stress.

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