stroke facts for patients

Man, if anything is an essential item for a stroke or heart attack survivour when exercising it’s this little baby! 

Heart rate monitors are seriously important.  They can mean the matter of having a TIA or not having one or having a stroke and not having one.

Maybe that sounds a bit dramatic, but the reason I started using one was because after I went for a run during the summer, I had a TIA that I swore was going to send me to ER again.

What caused it?  My ego, which is the size of Manhattan.  I was  convinced that I could monitor my body and know if I was pushing too hard or not.  I was wrong and my TIA proved it.  So, I picked up an Omron heart rate monitor. I bought the same one you see in the pic. 

Anyway, I felt like an idiot at first, but the more I used it the more I realised how much easier it was making my training.

Before my run/walk, I called my doc to find out what she thought my max heart rate should be.  She set it at 160.  So I set the alarm to trigger once I hit 160.  It was nice not having to think about it.  :]

As a result, my training improved!  I could do much more than I was.  It was like having a coach strapped to my chest and wrist.

I also learned that using the formula in exercise books, including the guide that came with my monitor is only for healthy people, not those of us who have had a stroke or heart attack.

That’s the reason why you NEED to call your doc and get their decision for maximum heart rate.  Read the emphasized “NEED” again.  That’s really important!  Also, it lets your doc know what you’re up to, which in this case is really important.

Tomorrow, I’ll talk a bit more about heart monitors and give you my heart rate monitor review on the Omron HR-100C Heart Rate Monitor, along with tips on how to use one in your workouts and how they work!