hi all. My husband has had paroxysmal a fib for last 4 years and takes digoxin. We use the Kardia mobile with great success.
I’m wondering whether to get him either a Fitbit or more expensive Apple Watch so he can keep an eye on how high his rate goes while out on his daily walk. I don’t think it’s worth paying the extra for the ecg feature as we’ve the Kardia
Anyone here use a Fitbit or otherwise for the same reason? Or does a fib confuse it as his can go up and down and all over the place from minute to minute. And how helpful is it?
He seems to either have a low rate of around 50, about 70 other times and between 90 and 115 in a fib but finds if he does too much whilst in a fib can go to 160. I’m wondering if he can keep it low ish in a fib and he can see to go and rest so it doesn’t go crazy!
thanks
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Janau
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I use a Garmin Forerunner 35 tracker. More up to date versions are available but I don't know anything about them. If you get onto Garmin website all will be revealed. You can also google the device I have which will tell you about it.
TBH - it doesn't record any paroxysmal AF event that I may experience. I bought it just because of that. I bought it because I wanted to know my HR ( under any daily circumstances, i.e. walking, driving my car, driving my bus, sleeping, pottering around the house and garden, watching TV. You name it I wanted to capture the HR at a moment in time and I wanted information on my sleep (or lack of ) as I have mostly rubbish sleep mostly due to osteoarthritic shoulder pain. Taking that a step further I also use the information to monitor what my nightly doses of Bisoprolol are doing to me. Recently, I've used such information to give me an insight resulting in my reducing my Bisoprolol dose from 7.5 to 5 mg.
The other problem I have is that insofar as my AF is concerned I am often asymptomatic. If I feel mysteriously unwell I simply start with my BP monitor which will give me a warning on irregular heart beat and if so I just use my Kardia. Thankfully these days I don't need to do anything very often.
I use my applewatch in much the same way as John uses his Garmin, by the sounds of it. My watch is a couple of years old now, so not the latest model but it’s handy to know I can use the ECG facility if I ever think I’ve gone into Afib, rather than look for my Kardia which isn’t always on hand. The HR is accurate and good for monitoring walks so would be useful for your husband, but you always need to make sure the strap is tightened sufficiently to take HR accurately, it also can provide statistics for your heart. It also measures steps, distance and how many calories you’ve burned, the list is endless really.
Also lots of apps can be used, for sleep etc, the Apple Watch of course can be used instead of your mobile and you can answer calls on it, read emails and messages. I would be lost without it.
The downside of the HR facility though, is that I can look at it a little too much, but I’m working on it!
I used a FitBit back in the day before Apple Watch. It worked OK for tracking HR but my complaint was the build - I had 3 and all fell apart within 6 months so I found it cheaper in the long run to buy Apple Watch - which had a lot more features. Wouldn’t change back now as I am on 3rd watch - 1 I broke by chipping the glass whilst gardening, 2 I lost after 3 years and had this one - version 5 for about 3 years now and very happy with it.
If you only want to track HR whilst exercising I would research and get as accurate one as you can. If you want to do LOT more then the Apple Watch is worth the expensive. You can often get refurbished used watches through the Apple website at a lot less than paying full price for the latest version.
Gosh I have had mine for about 6 years and just got one new strap as the original was not good - I didn't like the strap from the outset and was quite glad when it broke. Bought new leather strap for it for about a fiver on amazon and still going strong. I use a chest strap heart rate monitor with wristband read out - that is the size of a normal watch, at the gym - bought used/reconditioned off ebay for £25.00 when my previous one - bought when I was a PEd instructor broke after about 20+ years use - goodness it may even be 30+ years :o. Its great and alarm goes off if I go over 130 - rarely happens. The problems for me with these is that I can barely read the fit bit can't even read the time on it - and definitely couldn't read the apple watch. The chest strap with the wristband read out is much easier to see for me - and it tells the time and I can see it ;). Getting a bit forgetful now though and rarely check readouts any longer. Think my wife occasionally checks the fit bit for resting heart rate which thankfully seems to continue to be under 60 but rising more often now to 58 when it has usually been at around 54 to 56. Again the reason my wife checks the readout is because I have an old steam driven mobile - never sent texts - fingers too big and clumsy and now with deteriorating eyesight from cataracts and dry macular degeneration can't see the texts anyway. Wife has an older iphone which she loves and wishes she had up graded when here EE package ended back in August.
I have been using a fitbit for many years first fitbit 2 then 4 it tracks my HR, gives distance walked max speed ave speed, max and ave HE. I wouldn't be without it
I use a Fitbit to keep an eye on my HR. It’s handy for that. Also it makes me feel I am ‘in charge’ of my condition in a way that my doctor doesn’t seem to be….I had a massive AFib event 7weeks ago for the first time and haven’t even met my doctor yet. Spoken on the phone only!
I quite like the Fitbit but take it off at night as I dont want to get obsessed by it.
I also want to add that the Fitbit caused a red mark on the skin, like a burn. So I put sellotape over the metal connector points and it’s ok now. Just letting you know that as well.
Hi Janau - I’ve used Garmin Instinct, Fitbit Versa 3 plus Apple Watch 4 & 7’s over the last few years to measure my HR + in terms of accuracy I’d rank them in that order with the Apple ones being the best. I’ve worn the Fitbit & Apple ones when I’ve been in AF + both have recorded fluctuations fine with figures similar to the ones you quote ie one reading can be 70 & the next 95 etc. Plus, like your husband, it’s nice to see the AF HR levels go down a bit when I rest.
Hi Dave thanks for the reply. Yes seems to be maybe Apple is the way to go to get the best accuracy. I wasn’t sure if Fitbit would pick up the up and down numbers.
Fitbit will certainly register up and down numbers Janau and, in some ways, because of its "always on HR" viewing of rate can be easier to see albeit not quite as accurate as the Apple Watches! Apple Watch needs to be in exercise mode or keep pressing HR rate to see a reading. I ended up wearing a Fitbit on one wrist and an Apple Watch on the other!! Good luck with choice.
Similar to Mitcham we've had Fitbit Charge 2 and 4 over the years. Build quality is inconsistent, if you get a good one it lasts and lasts but a bad one will be giving issues within a few months. HR reading is taken from wrist so when in AF will be inaccurate but will still show the rise and fall of HR as you get when in AF. When not in AF it's also very good for the resting HR which we keep an eye on .
Hi Janau I have owned a fitbit, basic model, for nearly 3 years. I have had A Fib for 4 years and the watch appears to monitor my heart rate very well. I believe I have paroxymal A Fib and the watch readings always support what I am feeling when the heart rate rises. My A Fib varies from thirty something to the one hundred and sixties. The sleep function on the watch is perhaps the least accurate function, but even that is mostly correct. Initially the strap made my wrist sore, but after switching it back and fore on my wrists to ease the soreness, I now tolerate the plastic strap ok. Hope this is helpful.
Hi thanks for reply. Sounds very familiar he’s had it nearly 4 years too and can be in the same range of numbers. Glad to know it’s just not him! I just wish I could pin down what sets him off. No alcohol at all any more, decaf tea, I thought ice cream, curry, cheese (not all on same plate 😀) may have been but he still gets af about once a week whatever he does.
In my experience, a Fitbit will track your heart rate - UNTIL you go into AF when the rate shown will be wildly off. The problem with all wristwatch heart monitors is that what it is monitoring (using a little light and sensor on the back) is the reddening of the capillary blood vessels with each pulse of pressure. When in AF, not all beats of the heart will cause a pulse of pressure. Also, they filter out random noise by looking for a regular pattern within certain limits, often 50 - 150 bpm. By definition, AF is NOT regular, and will exceed these limits.
I’ve had a Fitbit for a year or so, no problems with it at all. Yes, it tracks HR etc. but although it’s supposed to alert me to any arrhythmia I didn’t hear a thing when I had a blip lasting half an hour recently.
I wouldn't count on a Fitbit to alert you to atrial fibrillation. It will let you keep track of your heart rate during exercise but may not pick up very short rapid pulses due to actual AF.My wife uses a Fitbit. A few years ago she had to get a GP appointment at which she was sent off to hospital due to a heart rate of 170. The Fitbit had not recorded that very high rate.
You probably need something that actually records an ECG. The Fitbit works by looking at the colour of the blood pulsing through your veins.
I think so yes. We rely on the Kardia a lot as most of the time he has no idea he is in a fib. Thankfully doesn’t get side affects very often. But something would alert him to maybe slow down when he’s out would be beneficial and not let his heart rate go too high. I may be wrong but it seems if it does go too high sometimes, it seems to top him over the edge into a fib
I have had the latest fit bit model that records ECG , but I didn’t find it they great for my as it didn’t synch that well with my iPhone , although was accurate for HR , and you had to press the watch to assess if you were in AF , and it was always accurate .
I got bought an Apple Watch which I much prefer as I can use more functions and when I was recently in persistent AF it kept telling me I was in AF , so pretty good . I can’t say for sure that it would pick up on paroxysmal AF as when I go I go and stay !!!
Just a question to all those on beta-blocker s like me. If you are comparing your HR numbers during various activities isnt it correct to say you are not getting the true picture bc of the beta blockers? I really like using my Kardia to have a baseline resting HR reading before bed each evening and once or twice through out the day depending on how I am feeling. I always thought the reading wouldn't be meaningful when I go on my daily walk bc the beta blockers are skewing the numbers?
I have e the Apple Watch it tells me everything I need to know and checks on you while you sleep. It goes into sleep mode so that it doesn’t wake you up while sleeping but in the morning you can see all the statistics including heart rate, breathing rate, so you will know if you have sleep apnea or not, and a host of others things. I think we all need to keep a check on heart rate while excercising, I love to ride my outside bike but sometimes some of the hills are just to much. Taking my heart rate way too high. that said it even shows how well you recover from exertion. How long it takes to come down, etc. Last time I was in the ER and on monitors my watch was just as accurate.
That’s really good. I’ve often wondered what his heart rate does at night especially as he’s often up 3 times to go to wee. Which didn’t happen before he had a fib
In my reading and studying I am learning it is the vagus nerve that controls it all. I wonder as we age if that nerve weakens also or just wears out and doesn’t control our bodily functions anymore.
I’m also interested in that. I have SVT had it for over 30 years (get it very rarely thank goodness). The way to convert it back is vagal manoeuvres (ice on the face works for me) but it seems this doesn’t work for a fib. It’s a shame. But yes very interesting
I use an Apple Watch with my cardiologist’s blessing! It tells you each time you are experiencing AFib and if you also have an iPhone it registers the results on that, together with any ECG you take on your Apple Watch and heart rates (resting, walking etc). I was able to do away with the Kardia which was handy. Every episode the watch notifies me and my iPhone. Before I had my pacemaker I had so much AFib that I needed to recharge my watch twice a day but my episodes are now much reduced so I recharge less often. I thoroughly recommend the Apple Watch. You can even forward the ECG to your doctor.
have also PAfib and use an Iwatch for a long time. Versions 6 and later can also measure and store your ECG. You can display the ECG on your Iphone and then also print it out to show others eg. your gp. As mentioned by others the Iwatch will also warn you when you have a suspected Afib. The most usefull function is the measurement of the HRV, the heart rate variation. The watch measures continuously and stores the time between 2 heart beats and calculates and displays on your Iphone the variation in milliseconds. In SR that value is in my case between 20 and 50 msec while in Afib a lot higher, 100-250 msec. With the Health app on your Iphone it displays those values in a graph per day, week, month and year. So you can see when the afib started and went back to SR again. I am 74, on thyroxine, bisoprolol and of course rivaroxaban (Xarelto).
that is so useful thank you! My husband is 76 and also on rivaoxaban along with digoxin. That’s great if we can pinpoint when the a fib actually starts! I’m always telling him off as I say he’s either walking too fast or uphill or such and I wonder if this is what sets him off. The odd thing is he can do the same walk for say 10 days and be fine . The 11th day it sets off his a fib. So odd!
I’ve had the inspire hr Fitbit for a while now. Have had other Fitbits in the past. It works well for me. Gives me a quick check of my heart rate without having to find my phone and stop to use the Kardia. Handy when I’m on the treadmill or outside walking or running. Of course, I can also just put my fingers to my throat and know whether it’s going too fast too.
I have paroxysmal afib as well and I have a Fitbit and it helps me greatly. It tells me when my heart rate goes higher than normal and when it goes back to normal sinus rythum. It helps me with my walks. Just love my Fitbit.
I have a fitbit, it does not give a true reading for a fibbers. I have permanent a fib and take digoxin and bisoprolol which controls it exceptionally well. I use my Kardia to take readings but very seldom feel the need these days. Xx
Every time I go to the Docs I get him to check that his readings are the same as my fit bit and they continue to be so - of course it doesn't tell me if I am in AF I have an Omron BP machine that shows that which I try and remember to use once a week or so - probably more like once a month now as I am getting a bit lax in my old age! Then of course there's also my 6 lead Kardia which I also try and check once a week but rarely do. I have been told by my EP to keep checking incase any changes occur. So far so good.
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