Wrist heart monitor

[DukesMam]

You can buy a wrist monitor for use when exercising for around £6. You can also wear them all day. Has any one tried one, if not, do you think they would be any good. At least £6 isn't going to break the bank.

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Dukesmam

Well you could try, but I doubt they would record an accurate heartbeat, AF plays havoc with any automated HR monitor. (including many devices used in surgeries)

Some of us use the chest band type monitors with watches which cost around £200 or more, but even they only work some of the time certainly for me in persistent AF.

Depends what you are trying to do, if it's exercise to a pre-determined maximum heart rate then no don't buy one they probably won't work, and worse could cause you to over-exert.

Be well

Ian

[DukesMam in reply to Beancounter]

Thank you Ian.

[jeanjeannie50]

I had quite a good one, that was fairly accurate. It was a chest band and watch, not expensive (£10ish perhaps), which I bought at a local Lloyds chemist many years ago. I don't know if they still do them. It was a godsend to me.

Jean

[Hidden]

I've got a chest one and a wrist one. But my wrist one cost about £180. When in AF neither works. Having said that, the chest one jumps up suddenly to 200bpm if I have a bout (which is an incorrect reading), and it sticks there. Because of that, in effect it's telling me I'm having a bout. But I knew anyhow, so didn't need to see a monitor! So a waste of money in that regard.

But still good to see your heart rate when things are going normally.

PS. I've worn both at the same time just to see what readings they give. Both give almost identical reading when I'm normal, but give totally different readings during an arrhythmia.

Good luck at £6 !

Koll

[DukesMam]

Thanks everyone for your replies. They are very interesting.

[Loo53]

Still using my Omron ECG because I have to every damn day but its reassuring I'll probably have withdrawal symptoms when I have to give it up.......like my comfort blankey.... .

[Deeferdi]

Hi I wear a Polar FT4 chest band and watch daily, I find it's a good indicator of my heart rate and was pretty accurate when the doc did my pulse whilst wearing it. It cost around £50 and I think it was worth every penny. it certainly gives me peace of mind, sometimes i can't feel my heart rate at 200bpm but if I see it on the watch that it's that high, I just stay out somewhere safe and try and stay calm, and certainly don't drive!