pulse reading

[Gillybean123]

have had three new blood pressure monitors. One expensive and one cheap. Bought another one this week just to keep an eye on my blood pressure. Why is my pulse reading a lot higher on monitor than when I do it on my wrist by the clock. It is saying irregular. Which of course I know. Thanks.

[BobD Volunteer]

BP machines are notoriously inaccurate if you have AF especially regarding pulse. Wrist check only real way. .

[Gillybean123 in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob, that’s all I needed to know. I new in my mind that was the reason but it is nice to have it confirmed. Stupid machines.😀

[mav7 in reply to Gillybean123]

You may want to take the monitors to your doctor's office and compare them to the official medical monitors.

But as stated, with AF it is difficult to get an accurate reading on heart rate and blood pressure. I have read taking it 3 times in a row with short intervals is one method.

I have an Omron cuff monitor that has served me well but realize the difficulty with an accurate reading. Not familiar with Kardia and other devices, but others seem well satisfied with their heart ratings.

[Gillybean123 in reply to mav7]

hi, I tried an o Ron one the other week. I can’t seem to get the cuff on with that metal bar. My old one was just a band that wrapped around your arm and you tightened it up. This one from Lloyd’s. Ow has the metal bar as well it is either too loose at the bottom and too tight at the top. Thanks

[Morzine in reply to Gillybean123]

I agree with Bob, my doctor told me exactly that

Sue

[ozziebob in reply to BobD]

Now I'm confused.

I have read here on the Forum that some important (for identifying particular arrhythmias) electrical impulses in the heart are too weak to feel in the wrist pulse, and are missed from the wrist count? And the conclusion from that information was that a Kardia was more accurate.

Is this correct or false?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to ozziebob]

The discussion was about blood pressure machines not Kardia.

[ozziebob in reply to BobD]

But your words were "Wrist check only real way", which is not true.

My query was whether it might be true BP machine and wrist pulse could both be misleading in the instance I asked about.

[Ppiman]

Good morning Gill. Your BP machines, if they are like the ones I have tested over the years (lucky me, I get them sent to review for free...) does measure the pulse rather similarly to you using your finger. I have never found one to be inaccurate, myself, form cheapest to most expensive except if you have AF at the time (or ectopic beats like PVCs). It's possible, then, that your pulse is too irregular for the machine to register it correctly. In those cases it should give some kind of a warning of an irregular pulse and give an average figure - but that shouldn't be very far from the one you count on your wrist.

Some people have a faster ventricular rate than their pulse rate, too, when in AF. This is because the valves close very much more gently during their AF (this is what makes the pulse felt) and this doesn't always transmit well to the wrist.

Steve

[momist]

Reading the answers here, people do seem confused about what is the difference between pulse and heart rate. The pulse is a measure of the high pressure pulse that the pumping of the heart has caused through your blood vessels, and no, it does not indicate reliably what the heart's activity is when in AF. Blood pressure machines can detect the pulse, but as with any electronics it will have some programming to exclude erroneous readings and these may well give a false rate during the random output of the heart during AF.

In AF, the only way to measure the heart's activity directly is through measuring the electrical activity, usually down both arms, but sometimes elsewhere on the body, as in an ECG (EKG). My Omron M3 seems happy to give me readings during AF, but does indicate arrhythmia, to warn you it may not be accurate. Of course, measuring yourself at your wrist will give a different reading, depending on how sensitive your touch is, as you too will not feel heart beats that don't produce enough pressure in the blood vessels to measure that way (during AF!!!)

Does it matter though? Dr Sanjay Gupta of York cardiology is of the opinion that it's just 'numbers' and what matters is what is high for you, and when it is measured.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

My Omron BP was sent back to factory after 2 years.

I bought a Microlife one. smaller and takes 4 x AA batteries. Nice.

Always have your BP monitor checked by Dr/Clinic.

cheri JOY

[kocoach]

Hello Gillybean123, I was told by my EP and cardiologist and several internet testimonies that wrist BP monitors are not very accurate compared to the upper arm machines. I find out all they do anyway is STRESS me out and like so many wonderful people on this forum say, including my Dr's. and neighbor who was a fireman, take your BP only twice a day, first thing in the morning sitting upright with feet flat on the ground and just before bed at night. Best to You!

[Gillybean123 in reply to kocoach]

hint here, they stress me out as well. I have given up on them.