Heart Rate Monitor: FSA Eligibility

What’s a heart rate?

A heart rate is a pulse, or the number of times your heart beats per minute. When a person is exerting energy or performing physical activity, their heart rate is higher. When a person is at rest, their heart rate is slower (WebMD).

What is a heart rate monitor?

A heart rate monitor is a device worn that detects and tracks the number of times a person’s heart beats per minute and then displays it on a screen. A heart rate monitor can also be used to collect a person’s heart rate data, and helps to identify any concerns regarding heart health. 

What is a normal heart rate?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for moderate-intensity physical activity a person's target heart rate should be 50-70% of his or her maximum heart rate, which is based on age. An estimate of a person's maximum age-related heart rate can be obtained by subtracting the person's age from 220. For example, for a 50-year-old person, the estimated maximum age-related heart rate would be calculated as 220 - 50 years = 170 beats per minute (bpm). The 50% and 70% levels would be:

• 50% level: 170 x 0.50 = 85 bpm, and

• 70% level: 170 x 0.70 = 119 bpm

A heart rate monitor can be useful for those required to meet a certain heart rate during exercise for physical therapy purposes.