Heart Monitor

[Suzie48]

I wonder if anyone can recommend a heart monitor, ideally one you wear on your wrist, which I can use for exercise. There are loads out there, but I want to get one that's sensibly priced but also accurate enough that I can rely on it. I know it's important to exercise but I'm scared to push myself...

[Hidden]

I like my Apple Watch Series 2. It jumps around a bit at times, but I think it's overall very accurate plus it can do many other things to track your fitness and set goals.

[RiderontheStorm]

I wear a FitBit HR charge ($80-$100) 24/7 and charge it up from my computer usb port when it needs it. *Unfortunately No wearable yet designed will tell you when you are in AF. Not that I would need it as when I was in AF it knew it but for exercise, stairs climbed and steps taken it works fine. Also can use it for how long you were asleep. I found it pretty accurate as it correlates with my smart phone app and will do many of the same things.

[Moorso in reply to RiderontheStorm]

Hi there you've said in your post that you don't need a device to tell you when you're in AF " when I was in AF I knew it" how do you know ? What are the symptoms the tell you you're back in AF ?

When I'm in AF or think that I am my pualse rate isn't erratic but yet the feeling of extreme fatigue is enough to stop me I'm my tracks.

Many thanks

[RiderontheStorm in reply to Moorso]

When I was in AF it was easy to tell because 1. My pulse was racing so fast I could not feel my pulse in my wrist and 2. I can feel the uneven pounding heartbeats in my chest.

[Moorso in reply to RiderontheStorm]

Thanks for replying.... I've never experienced any of those symptoms which I find strange. I've been laying having a heart trace done,only to be told I'm in AF yet I feel nothing but a strange sensation and extreme fatigue which can be a pain in the ass because I've had doctors feel my Pulse tell me it's ok and I'm in Sinus Rythem when I know I'm in AF and can hardly get out of the chair .... maybe a bit of exaggeration but you know what I mean lol

[398emb in reply to Moorso]

The first sign that I normally get that I'm in AF is a need to urinate! Seriously, my urine production leaps up to about 1 litre an hour, which generally means I need to go every 30-40 minutes! The specialist told me that this is because the heart is sending out a chemical message to the body, telling it that it has too much blood to cope with, and the kidneys respond by extracting water. It was only the senior cardiologist that explained this, all the other doctors were bemused, and I was even treated for a bladder infection, despite my protests that it wasn't, before I saw the cardiologist.

Then comes the irregularity. I tend to explain it as a bit like my heart dancing a Conga that my body hasn't been invited to! If I lie quietly, I can actually feel things rocking inside my chest in an un-coordinated fashion. It's only slight, and if I was busy I might not notice it, but when sitting quietly I can often identify the moment my heart started "rocking".

I also use a pulse oximeter, to clip on my finger. I ignore the numbers, but look at their stability. If it rockets up and down by more than a couple of beats per minute, I'm in AF, if it seems stable I'm not!

Recently, I was in hospital for surgeries on my leg, and I had 3 AF episodes, two on the night before surgery was scheduled the next day. The staff all insisted on doing an ECG before they would "allow" me my medication, and sometimes they even made me wait longer, as it has not been "written up", despite it being in the admission notes! After waiting 4 hours on one occasion I remembered my "emergency" stash of pills which I had in the bottom of my handbag, and which I had forgotten to surrender on admission. I took my normal dose, and told the doctor what I had done afterwards (I was on no new medication, so felt that there was no risk of any reaction involved. Had I been on something new I wouldn't have done so). The doctor was annoyed, but within 90 minutes my AF had resolved and I was in Sinus. If I take it within 1 hr of AF starting, I can often be back in sinus within 30 minutes, so it really pays to be able to recognise the signs!

[Amcech in reply to Moorso]

I can feel the erractic heart beating, always have. When it begins my heart rate goes up to about 120 and then after 15 minutes or so it goes back down under 100 and settles in the 80 range. I can still feel the skipping beats. I always know when it stops too.

[Hidden]

I agree with RiderontheStorm. I have the same device - gives time, date, steps, HR, distance, sleep. Suggest you got to fitbit website and check out the Charge HR and also the (more expensive) Charge HR 2.

It will not tell you if and when you are in AF as it is a fitness tracker not a medical device.

John

[JackyMac in reply to Hidden]

You could also look at a garmin. I have an F35 which reads pulse, and does steps, cardio, and GPS tracks biking and running. It's waterproof so can wear in water. Upload to computer and you get loads of additional info. Can be recharged from computer or mains. Cost about £160.

[Between68and148]

I use the Apple Watch and app ( health and heart watch, very good to keep a eye on what your heart is up too etc. You need to take the reading with a pitch of salt as it can sometimes be a little confusing. Overall very happy. Apple Watch v2

[Hidden in reply to Between68and148]

Heart Watch is a great app. I also recommend Cardiogram.

[Deeferdi]

I used to wear a Polar FT4 monitor, which had a chest strap and watch. I found it gave an accurate heart rate that matched my heart rate on my Kardia. It doesn't tell you you're in AF. That was around £60, and one of the cheaper models, I'm not sure they even do that model now. I now have a Fitbit Charge 2 (£120) which I've had since December and personally I don't think is as good as the Polar.

[Hidden]

I used to wear one of the leading brands and when I went into AF it shot up to 200 BPM. I thought blimey! So I bought another leading make and wore them both at the same time. When in AF they gave completely different readings. One would go up to 200 and stick there, and the other would stay at around 100 but jump around a lot instead of sticking at a figure. To be honest, neither had a clue what my heart rate was when in AF. The only advantage, if you can call it that, was that when the one went up to 200 and stuck there, I knew I was in AF. But actually I knew already because I could feel it. The 200 BPM was wrong, I'd feel that it was in the low 100's.

An EP told me why they often couldn't work when in AF (and obviously it depends on your AF), which was because they couldn't detect what was and what wasn't a heart beat. He said if you want to know, then listen to your heart with a stethascope or just go with how you feel.

When not if AF, they both worked fine and also agreed with each other. One was a chest strap, the other a wrist model.

Koll

[AndyDuk]

I wear a fitbit blaze, and it works well for me. As with all of these Heart Rate monitors, they report erratically when in AF, but thats the time for me to take it easy. I also keep an eye on my resting Heart Rate, as it tends to build, up before an AF Attack.

When cycling I use a chest mounted strap as it connects to my computer, it my case its Garmin or Polar. Polar have just release the H10 strap which is supposed to be even more accurate, so it would be intresting to see how it works when in AF.

So, yes HR's monitors are good, when tracking your day to day HR, but as soon as you hit AF they tend to be erratic. For me I can see my HR shooting up, and on my Cycle Computer (Wahoo Elmnt) I have a flashing Red Lights when I get above my comfort zone!!

Andy

[rabbithutch]

I'm using Garmin Vivo active, it gives heart rate, sleep monitor,sports tracking, gps and even golf courses. It is not always giving the same reading as when I'm in Cardio rehab and wearing a holter but that said,apparently no wrist worn device will be as accurate as chest band.

[jondeanp]

I use Polar monitors with a chest strap. I have a "fitbit type" bracelet and a GPS watch ( bought at different times with different intentions)

I have looked at the wrist based HR solutions but i'm not convinced they are as accurate/ robust to monitor during exercise

For info my Polars do give erratic readings when in AF, that i interpret depending on how i am feeling

[Drounding]

I have a Charge HR as well and find it great for tracking movements and exercise.

Kardia also sell a 'band'/watch that will monitor your heart rate and can detect AF - not cheap mind. See here: shop.gb.alivecor.com/

Note that you will still need an Apple watch mind, on top of the £200 band!

[Suzie48]

Wow!! Wasn't expecting such a massive response! I'll look into all the different models you've all recommended, but I'll need to find one that works with an Android phone. Thank you for all your replies!! 😊 x

[Peter1955]

I use a Polar RC3 GPS, it is not a cheap model, but has now been superceeded by a more recent one. It uses a chest strap. There was a programme on TV 2-3 months ago which compared several monitors and concluded that the type which use chest straps are far more accurate than those which take a reading from your wrist. My device can be used for different sports, such as jogging, cycling, weights, walking etc. You can upload the data quite easily onto a website, it gives a lot of useful info such as time, speed, distance and altitude gain. During my period of persistent AF it recorded instances of very high pulse, up to 200 or more, and also showed periods of very erratic pulse, so though it did not actually prove I was in AF, it showed the periods of activity when there was clearly something odd going on. This was helpful, because I never actually felt the rapid heartbeat or palpitations, though the AF did manifest itself with a lack of power/speed. Another excellent feature (on the website) is that it gives "training load", and shows how hard your heart has worked during an activity, giving also an indication whether you are pushing it a bit and need a rest day. My AF has virtually gone, following ablation, but I continue to track pulse carefully during exercise. It may be that there are equivalent Garmins, but I am very pleased with my Polar RC3 GPS, their support is very good also. I think it is worth paying the money to get all the useful info and track things carefully. Good Luck!

[Hidden]

Once Kardia gets FDA approval on the Apple Watch band, I'll be buying it day one. I think that will be the easiest and most immediate way of checking for AFib while exercising, etc. I hope it comes out soon. Isn't it available now in the UK and Germany?

[Pam296]

I use a Fitbit Charge HR 2 which is very good for keeping check on steps, weight monitoring, exercise, etc. I also have a Polar HR monitor with a chest strap which monitors pulse rate. This device is what finally helped me prove I had PAF as my rate suddenly went up when I was exercising. You can see it immediately.

[Suzie48]

This guy must be psychic!!

youtu.be/_uJG9pDu_is(Not working as expected?)

[Loquitir]

I have suffered from AF for over 20 years.

I started with an Observer handheld ecg monitor which could capture rhythms of over 220 bpm. I still use this for backup.

I was one of the first to test alivecor ECG skin on my iPhone 4. That proved very handy and easy to use on the go. I then went on to by Kardia Band for my iwatch which enabled you to take an ecg on the go. I was however allergic to the strap.

I bought the Alivecor mobile ecg which is a small hand held strip and this has proved to be the best for me so far. It also works both with my iPhone and iPad.

The alivecor product provides a facility to email a system generated report for your doctor and to email ecgs.

I have used anawiz also but found it required a lot of work.

[Tbernst]

I have tried various heart monitors and have found the fitbit charge 2 for 24 hour monitoring. It has the best software and works well as a sleep monitor. For accuracy when you work out the Polar 400 with chest band H7 is what I have found to be the best option. None of the wrist monitors are very precise.