Dear All,

Could you comment on this please?

Heart beats

Frequency measurements are often used to describe events that happen
rhythmically � like your heart beat.

If you check the frequency of your heart beating and notice that your heart
beats once each second � then the frequency of your heart beat is one beat
per second or, to use the SI unit for frequency, your heart rate is one
hertz (1 Hz). A low frequency � like 1 hertz � probably means that you are
well rested and that you are physically fit. Through your normal day your
heart rate varies constantly according to your activities.

Your heart beat frequency can change quickly from your resting rate of (say)
1 hertz to a rate that is appropriate for your current activity. Your heart
might beat at 1.5 hertz when you are walking briskly or jogging and it might
go to 2 hertz when you are running. Super fit athletes might have a heart
beat frequency above 3 hertz and their ultimate performance might approach 4
hertz.

However, using simple numbers like 1, 2, 3, and 4 might be a bit too chunky.
You might need to know details small subtle differences of your heart beat.
To do this simply use an SI prefix � millihertz would be good for this � and
will give you the same sort of details that millimetres give to length.

Using millihertz the previous paragraph would now read:

Your heart beat frequency can change quickly from your resting rate of (say)
1000 millihertz to a rate that is appropriate for your current activity.
Your heart might beat at 1500 millihertz when you are walking briskly or
jogging and it might go to 2000 millihertz when you are running. Super fit
athletes might have a heart beat frequency above 3000 millihertz and their
ultimate performance might approach 4000 millihertz.

Thanks,

Pat Naughtin CAMS
Geelong, Australia

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