AF Monitoring....

[travelbug54]

Hi Everyone, reading posts I see Alivecore seems very popular to read your heart rhythm, I was interested to know if there is any other way of monitoring AF which doesn't attach to your mobile phone, thanks for reading....

[Rellim296]

I have an Omron HCG-801 HeartScan ECG Monitor which has nothing to do with a mobile phone. It's a neat gadget, described as an ultra portable Arrhythmia screening device. It will give a brief analysis : irregular rhythm / fast, irregular rhythm / deviating waveform (which I don't get although my other half does) and so on. It stores up to 300 readings, although you need to remember whose heart has been monitored. The software to do printouts was expensive, but it is useful to be able to hand your GP/EP a copy.

I wouldn't be without it although I don't use it unless my heart is being silly.

[Hidden in reply to Rellim296]

What sort of prices are we looking at Rellim ?

[Rellim296 in reply to Hidden]

About £200 (no VAT) for the device. My other half hasn't told me what the software cost! He bought me the Omron as a 'present' at some conference he was at.

[Hidden in reply to Rellim296]

Hi travelbug,

For me it all goes back to the day AF hit. I felt crap, like I was going down with 'flu. I took blood pressure readings and for some 6 or 7 hours my Blood pressure monitor went ballistic. It would take readings, it would send error messages, and would generally behave in an unusual way. However, the readings it did give had a downward trend line. In those days my BP averaged 136/80 when it got to 90/50 I saw my GP, was sent to hospital and AF diagnosed and treatment started - all within 9 hours of onset ! Since then any trigger for AF has come from food and many foods will cause me bloating which will push my blood pressure sky high. My average BP these days is 127/75 and when the bloating occurs it pushes up to around 165/90 and then takes some 5 days to drop back. So for me Alivecor wasn't a sensible choice apart from the fact that following such a quick diagnosis my consultant announced that it was paroxysmal AF, but with a twist, I was asymptomatic. Imagine my delight when I read that NICE had approved the 'Microlife WatchBP home A' blood pressure monitor and AF detector. Do suggest you go to NICE website and Microlife website and read a bit more. For me, this does the job. I bought the Microlife in April 2015 and since then it has recorded only 1 AF event. I admit that it will only detect AF when you are taking a BP reading but that's all I want. When I start to bloat which pushes up the BP it can also trigger me into AF, so then I use it to supplement irregular random BP checks. I should also say I'm 71, I hold a PCV licence and a Council issued Private Hire Licence both of which I have an annual medical for renewal which includes an ECG. So one way or another my own package of checks enables me to know exactly where my AF is - under control.

Apologies for this long post but I needed you to see the logic as to where I was coming from , my base line.

Cheers,

[travelbug54 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply carneuny, will read about the Microlife, it expensive?

[Hidden in reply to travelbug54]

I think it was about £80.

[PeterWh in reply to Hidden]

I bought mine a year ago and it is good. However if actual lion AF the AliveCor gives a more accurate HB. I use both.

[Hidden]

Alivecor doesn't need to attach to your mobile phone, just needs to be near it. It can also run with iPad's etc, again not attached, just near to the device that is running the app.

[EngMac]

I have this one and like it. iheartrhythm.com