App and Fitbit are giving me different hr data

[tashm]

Hi,

Doing my workout this morning I glanced down at my Fitbit and my hr was at 140 which I found a little surprising because I did a much more intense class yesterday and when I checked my app afterwards my highest hr was 128. When I checked my app after today’s workout it also said the highest hr I had achieved was 128. Why was there a discrepancy between the app and my Fitbit 

[YojanaFitbit · Accepted solution]

Hi @tashm, it's always great to have you here on the Fitbit Forums. Welcome! 

First of all, congratulations as it looks like you're really into fitness and willing to reach the next level in your personal training. It will be a pleasure to give you a hand with your Blaze, I know how important it is for you to have the correct heart rate readings. 

Thanks a million for reporting that you're comparing your Blaze and Fitbit Dashboard when working out. Please check these details about live heart rate data: Can I view live heart rate data in the Fitbit Coach app?

I'd like to share some details with you, since Heart-rate zones can help you optimize your workout by targeting different training intensities. The default zones are calculated using your estimated maximum heart rate. Fitbit calculates your maximum heart rate with the common formula of 220 minus your age. The illustrations below provide examples for each zone. In my case I'm 38, so mine would be 182. 

Fitbit shows 3 default zones: 

Peak zone, which means your heart rate is greater than 85% of maximum, is the high-intensity exercise zone. The peak zone is for short intense sessions that improve performance and speed.

Cardio zone, which means your heart rate is 70 to 84% of maximum, is the medium-to-high intensity exercise zone. In this zone, you're pushing yourself but not straining. For most people, this is the exercise zone to target.

Fat burn zone, which means your heart rate is 50 to 69% of maximum, is the low-to-medium intensity exercise zone and may be a good place to start for those new to exercise. It’s called the fat burn zone because a higher percentage of calories are burned from fat, but the total calorie burn rate is lower.

When you’re out of zone, which means your heart rate is below 50% of maximum, your heart rate may still be elevated but not enough to be considered exercise.

In this case, instead of using the 3 default zones you can create a custom zone if you're targeting a specific heart rate. From the Fitbit app dashboard, tap or click the Account icon and find Heart Rate Zones. Then enter your custom zone. On fitbit.com, log into your dashboard and click the gear icon in the upper right. Choose Settings > Personal Info. There you can enter your custom zone.

Remember that Heart rate may be affected by any number of factors at a given moment. Movement, temperature, humidity, stress level, physical body position, caffeine intake, and medication use are just a few things that can affect your heart rate. Different medical conditions and medications can impact your heart rate. Consult your doctor before starting an exercise routine. You can also review the wearing tips in How do I improve the accuracy of the heart-rate reading on my Fitbit device?

In case that after checking all those details, you're still getting a low number, you can try to restart your Fitbit. 

Keep me posted!