Bp readings ?

[Ticktoc]

Gp asked for my Bp readings showing ideal to normal over 1 week but still showing A fib for example 107/78 pulse 63 109/81 p80 highest was 117/75 p 72 no a fib?

[Hidden]

I think you need to bear in mind that blood pressure readings are notoriously inaccurate for anyone in AF. This is particularly true for the majority of monitors used for home testing. I’m not medically trained, but I believe the same applies to monitors that provide pulse rates. The irregular nature of the heart rate when in AF makes it difficult for monitors to detect an accurate figure and it’s not that easy if you take your pulse for say 15 seconds and multiply that by 4 to assess the bpm........

[BobD Volunteer]

Unusual to have AF with a pulse that low. Maybe ectopics? BP excellent.

[baba in reply to BobD]

It is possible to have AF and a low heart rate

[BobD Volunteer in reply to baba]

quite but unusual.

[CloudRunner in reply to BobD]

I wouldn’t know how unusual or otherwise but I am in persistent (or maybe permanent) AFib and have an RHR of between 55 and 75. Quite a big range but that’s AFib for you!

[Hammerboy in reply to baba]

Yes, I've had paroxysmal AF for over 2 years now and my HR usually around mid 50's only goes up to mid to late 80's during an episode

[Lucymoo in reply to Hammerboy]

I’ve had PSVT and have daily incidents at the moment with pulse at times between 130-180 so feel your pulse appears a little low as I understand normal pulse 60-100 and of course goes up on exercise? Not sure what to suggest

[Ticktoc in reply to BobD]

I thought that usually reads 79/82 was wondering if other bp meds making it to low amlodipine and Atorvastatin also tiotropium haven't used my copd inhalers since a fib diagnosed in Dec have lost 1st plus by changing diet get a fib niggles and like mini electric shocks and like trapped wind pain above left breast not seen cardio and had 1 blood test last week re petechia rash. As previously showed raised liver enzymes and lowered auto immune other tests due been put on hold so just having to wait no results back yet from recent blood test thanks for reply

[PlanetaryKim]

As someone else has already said... it's very hard with any home device to get an accurate pulse reading when you are in Afib. I have used a BP cuff, a fingertip pulse oximeter, and my own two fingertips checking at wrist. In most cases, if I am in Afib, these techniques will register a pulse of 70-80 bpm, when my Afib pulse is really going 120-160 bpm. In fact even in hospital ER, their pulse oximeter on my fingertip did the same - it displayed a heart rate of 70-80 when the EKG electrodes on my chest were recording heart rate of 120-160.

I recently acquired a stethoscope (Littmann). And that is really the best way to confirm arrhythmia, and to confirm the severity of the arrhythmia. E.g. is it "just" premature ventricular contraction (PVCs)? Or is it more scattered and wildly erratic like Afib?

Also, my blood pressure cuff produces a symbol (jagged chart sign) when my pulse is arrhythmic. And there is a similar display on my fingertip pulse oximeter. So while those devices may not be accurate in telling me my pulse rate, they are pretty good at identifying arrhythmia vs. normal rhythm.

[Ticktoc in reply to PlanetaryKim]

My bp monitor shows a heart symbol pulsing but when shows afib its a vibrating heart ((❤️))

[Truckerclark in reply to PlanetaryKim]

I’m the same cardiologist told me get stethoscope to check at heart as it’s better to check when in AF , oxymeters are great in normal but fast rhythm ,but erratic heart beat it can’t handle ,

[Barb1 in reply to PlanetaryKim]

I am in AF with my BP monitor, App on my phone and oximeter all showing heart rate of high 90's to low 100's so if that is not accurate and it is in fact higher then I am really worried.

[PlanetaryKim in reply to Barb1]

That is indeed the problem. If you are taking a rate control drug like metoprolol, then 90-100 might be your accurate rate in Afib. I think the only way to know your rate for sure in Afib is with ECG.

[sdonate in reply to PlanetaryKim]

What products do you use please?

[PlanetaryKim in reply to sdonate]

My BP cuff is "Equate" brand from Walmart. But I don't think that product is made anymore. I can't find a manual for it online. Just make sure the display has some symbol for arrhythmia. Some of them don't. And if I were buying again, I would get one that can be inflated manually with a little squeeze pump. Because when the machine inflates the cuff, it sometimes takes it up so high it's painful - like 240 (even though my BP is just 100/60). If you can inflate the cuff manually, that won't ever happen.

My pulse oximeter is "Drive" brand Deluxe Fingertip Pulse Oximeter. I think it's pretty good. It was the only one they had at the pharmacy when I went to buy one. It shows oxygen saturation and heart rate, but it also displays a wave form of my heart beat traveling across the bottom of small display screen, and it's possibly to visually see arrhythmia on that. Looks different than normal sinus rhythm.

Stethoscope is Littmann. I think it's important to get the best stethoscope you can. You will hear more and better.

[MarkS]

My Kardia has recorded 3 episodes of AF for a few hours over the last 3 weeks. The pulse rates were 74, 67 and 71. Looking at the traces, they do look like AF but I would need an expert opinion that they aren't ectopics masquerading as AF. The blood pressure on my machine is 100/75-110/80 in AF compared with 120-125/80 normally. I think as long as your pulse rate is relatively low in AF then the BP readings are accurate.

[RoyM]

It is possibleto be in AF and have a low (ish) Heart rate. I have been in Permenent AF for 4 years. My resting HR is 68 to 72 and when exercising can be anything from 85 to 115 but after exercise will quickly drop back to sub 80 BPM. I think I am quite lucky. I long ago stopped chasing the "Holy Grail" of NSR.

[PlanetaryKim in reply to RoyM]

I wish I had a resting heart rate as low as yours Roy! In either Afib or NSR. Are you on a rate control drug? Metoprolol, or...?

[RoyM in reply to PlanetaryKim]

Hi Kim. I take the anticoagulant Apixiban twice daily and Bisoprolol 1.25g every other day and I do consider myself lucky..before I went into permanent AF in May 2016 I had a resting heart rate anywhere from the low 50,s to 60. Even when I exercised hard my heart rate rarely went above 100 BPM. Take care. Roy

[Truckerclark in reply to RoyM]

Yes it’s possible my heart rate although I’m on meds to reduce it ,can go as low as 35 and within 10 seconds be back to 55 which is normal for me ,,,, being in AF can trigger either high Tachycardia or low ( bradycardia) is low heart rate , I’m awaiting going for either ablation again or pacemaker as drugs are limited to what works for me now after 20 years with it ,

[Rubymurray25]

I use two free apps on my phone, Cardio and 85BPM, both will show readings jumping around and in my case 50 up to 180 BPM so there is no doubt you are in AF, equally if I use my OMRON BP machine it would just come up error. Whilst in hospital last week, having gone from AF at 181BPM to a steady flutter rate of 121 BPM after 300mg Flecainide, I showed a young doctor who at first doubted the apps so we checked and the app was reading exactly the same as the hospital monitor, 121 BPM. ( Tip once you use your free goes on either and don't sign up, just ignore and they let you have them free)

[Ticktoc in reply to Rubymurray25]

Thanks downloaded cardio did reading before morning meds 68 then 89 off to greenhouse now thanks again think I ll just do once a week

[sdonate in reply to Rubymurray25]

What apps do you use please?

[Rubymurray25 in reply to sdonate]

Hi, One is called "85BPM" and the other one is "Cardio" , I use them on my iphone and are both free. Hope that helps.