1. What is the Heart Rate Calculator?

The Heart Rate Calculator estimates heart rate from the RR interval measured on an EKG. This is a standard method used in clinical practice to determine heart rate from electrocardiogram readings.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard formula:

Where:

• \( HR \) — Heart rate in beats per minute (bpm)
• \( RR\ interval \) — Distance between R waves on EKG in millimeters

Explanation: The formula works because standard EKG paper speed is 25 mm/s (1 mm = 0.04 s). 1500 mm/min divided by RR interval gives beats per minute.

3. Importance of Heart Rate Calculation

Details: Accurate heart rate calculation from EKG is essential for diagnosing arrhythmias, assessing cardiac function, and guiding treatment decisions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Measure the RR interval between consecutive R waves on EKG paper and enter the value in millimeters. The value must be greater than 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use 1500 in the formula?
A: Standard EKG paper speed is 25 mm/s, so 25 mm/s × 60 s/min = 1500 mm/min. This converts the measurement to beats per minute.

Q2: What are normal heart rate values?
A: Normal resting heart rate is 60-100 bpm. Values below 60 are bradycardia, above 100 are tachycardia.

Q3: How accurate is this method?
A: Very accurate for regular rhythms. For irregular rhythms, average several RR intervals.

Q4: Does this work for all EKG paper speeds?
A: No, this formula is only for standard 25 mm/s paper speed. For 50 mm/s, use 3000/RR.

Q5: What if the rhythm is irregular?
A: For irregular rhythms, measure several RR intervals and calculate an average heart rate.