Heart rate monitors, you've probably seen people using them while out running or in the gym on the treadmill or exercise bike. Heart rate monitor users make frequent glances at the wrist unit and possibly take notes, but what are these heart rate devices and how do they help people in their fitness goals?

Firstly, heart rate monitors (HRM) are not just training aids for athletes and fitness fanatics. Anybody starting out on a exercise regime possibly just to get fit or maybe to lose body weight, should consider buying and learning how to use a heart rate monitor.

In understanding how a heart rate monitor could help you in your journey to better health, a quick overview of the heart pumping action and the related bits and pieces of a HRM might help.

I think it is safe to say anybody reading this article has a functioning heart muscle beating and pumping blood around your body. Your heart pumps, under substantial pressure, oxygen rich blood to every cell in your body.

Within the cell, oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide and other waste products. Now under much lower pressure, the pumping action of the heart moves the oxygen depleted blood to the lungs were the blood is refreshed with oxygen and cleansed of carbon dioxide.

The newly oxygen refreshed blood returns to the heart and whole the cycle starts again. (This is of course a simplistic overview of what is a complex system)    Heart Rate Monitors Page Two