Checking pulse daily hugely beneficial

When my GP diagnosed AFib I was given Bisopropol 😔 swiftly changed to Nebivolol and Apixaban and for weeks I just felt rotten most of the time. I then subscribed to technology which gave me unlimited reports on what my heart was up to at any time of the day or night. Reports were consistently showing I was on the brink of bradycardia quite a lot of the time and my heart rate was otherwise around the low to mid seventies with odd peaks of 90. As a consequence I only took Nebivolol if my heart rate indicated it and it reduced the worst of my symptoms. I’ve just seen a cardiologist, had an ultrasound and on the list for a cardioversion. It’s helpful being able to show the reports from which he could see why I only took the Nebivolol as needed and agreed with me. Had I not kept tabs on my heart rate I would almost certainly have gone into significant bradycardia. It’s a big 👏 for personal heart rate monitoring technology in my case.

[jeanjeannie50]

What you say is so true. I always feel sorry for elderly people, who have so much trust in their GP's that even when they feel dreadful they carry on taking prescribed pills that are making them feel ill. Many times one of them collapses when out shopping because their blood pressure has dropped too low.

It's so important to know what our heart and BP rates are.

Jean

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks for your observations Jean. I too thought of older people (says me at 74!) who would be suffering but accepting their fate. I also never questioned treatment decisions until a few years ago when it became clear that GPs were becoming more and more attached to their computer logarithms and stopped thinking independently or ‘looking beyond the obvious’. It stands to reason that if they rely on technology then it follows we will.

[mav7]

May I ask which technology did you use for heart rate monitoring ?

I am searching for a wearable device that will record heart rate 24hrs a day and keep it on file.

Would an Apple watch do this with accuracy ?

Thanks !

[Hidden in reply to mav7]

I don’t use a wearable device such as a smart watch so I suggest you put out a post on the site asking for recommendations/feedback on various wearables. I subscribe to an Ap called Fibricheck on my smartphone and monitor my condition whenever I like. It stores every Reading plus tachograms (not actually stored on the iPhone but in the Ap ) so I can access my total history - I’ve got several months of data so far and I can send readings on to my doctor. However you monitor it really is useful to keep tabs on what’s happening.

[beach_bum in reply to mav7]

Apple watch will record, and it is sent to your iPhone. They work in tandem. The heart data...AFIB events/alerts, high/low BP and HR...set by you the user, sine-wave, activity...walking etc, are all logged in Apple health and can be saved, printed out and shared with your health professionals. I am sure Android devices have similar features, but I don't know which features.

techcrunch.com/2021/06/16/a...

[mav7 in reply to beach_bum]

Thanks ! Apple user. Any thoughts on accuracy ?

[beach_bum in reply to mav7]

I compare against my Life Source UA-767 Plus BP/HR monitor, and my Dr's office unit, and it is pretty much spot on .

[mav7 in reply to beach_bum]

Thanks !

[Whonnock in reply to mav7]

I have an Apple Watch which shows my heart rate dropping into the 30’s throughout the day and sometimes it alerts me when it stays below 40 for more than 10 minutes. At the same time the ecg shows constant pvc’s. All tests show my heart is fine but I’m waiting for an appointment with an electrophysiologist. Waiting is hard. The watch is helpful but sometimes ups the anxiety.

[Hidden in reply to Whonnock]

I’m not surprised you are anxious with these heart rates. Do you take beta blockers? I don’t take mine when I get a reading below 70bpm

[Whonnock in reply to Hidden]

I was taking bisoloprol but the side effects ( fatigue, brain fog, lethargy) got so bad and they weren’t helping reduce pvc’s so the dr recommended I stop. I feel slightly more human now but often tired.

[Hidden in reply to Whonnock]

I know how awful you feel on Bisopropol. I came off that and was given Nebivolol which didn’t give me symptoms but I take it only when heart rate a bit high.

[mav7 in reply to Whonnock]

Thx for your comments !

[mav7]

Thanks for your reply !

[Hidden]

Thanks for this. I’m not that tech savvy and I struggled with setting a waterproof watch I bought for snorkelling on holiday in Cairns which had different time settings depending on where I was in the world. I have a health Ap on my phone anyway so just wanted to monitor what’s happening with my AFib. It gives me a real time ECG (same as AliveCor Cardia Mobile) just by going into the Ap and putting my forefinger over the camera lense. I measure 4 Times per day regularly plus anytime I feel ‘off’ (which pre-cardioversion is often!) I can then if necessary self-adjust on medication and take steps to prevent me going further into bradycardia. I’m sure the watch does this too but the Ap is user friendly for me.