Accuracy of heart monitors during exercise

[Rainfern]

When I was recently diagnosed with AF I was told by a BHF nurse that the majority of HR monitors can't give an accurate reading due to the inconsistency of heartbeats. Yet I'm often reading concerns on this forum about HR readings on fitness monitors, fitbits etc. and wonder if there is a truly accurate device beyond those used by cardiologists such as monitoring bands that anyone here uses during exercise? I have a good home BP/HR reader that also picks up Afib, but that's only good for resting HR and heavy equipment to take travelling! Any suggestions?

[CDreamer]

I don’t - I’m way beyond exercising now for it to matter but when I was exercising I was told chest band monitor.

First question - why do you think you need such an accurate monitor as cardiologists use? Really you only need a good general average and I think that most of chest bands would be good enough. It’s what you do with your information and how you use it which I think is more important.

Second - are you trying to pick up AF or just monitor your HR?

The latest iWatch is pretty good in my experience but they do have the occasional flip, they tend to be peaks so you may get a sudden very low or very high spike but that happens usually at night or when good contact is lost. It also has an ECG function to definitely pick up and record AF - but you need to hold the crown so isn’t constantly functioning but as it does so many other things - including giving your recovery time which I think is more important - I’m more than happy with that.

Kardia is the only device I know that seems to produce a HR reading in AF that is anything like accurate with the added advantage you can carry in a pocket. That’s all I ever carry travelling apart from the watch on my wrist. Only takes a 30 sec trace and yo have to hold very still.

If I am in AF my BP drops and the machine just keeps giving me error messages 90% of the time - even the Omron.

That’s my summary - hope it helps.

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

Hi. My Kardia can be set to record up to 5 minutes.

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

Long time to keep still enough and the most I have ever done is 1 minute, 30 secs is I think the default setting.

[Rainfern in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you CDreamer. That's an interesting question! I'm not sure I do need something super-accurate, just something that's not too inaccurate, if that makes sense. I guess initially I need to know what the hell's going on in here and if, when I'm feeling a bit feint and heart racing with exertion, if that's going to settle fast or slow, and how much exercise I can do before it gets bad, and if the qigong has brought the heart rate up or down, and if it's OK to get back on my bike and cycle the estuary path etc. I know in the end I really need to gain experience of this Afib and listen more closely to my body, but another factor is wanting to be as informed as possible with doctors and cardiologists, if I ever get to see one!I slipped into persistent Afib very fast last November, one day very fit and well, the next getting all kinds of classic Afib sensations, had ECG and ecocardiogram and initially diagnosed Paroxysmal. However my BP monitor has since recorded Afib any time day or night. So I'm mainly looking for something portable to monitor HR.

Thank you for your suggestions. I shall look at the Kardia.😀

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Please download 'Understanding ECG Monitors' booklet from the AF Association webpage: api.heartrhythmalliance.org...

It is understandable to feel confused, there are many wearable devices available to monitor your heart rhythm. The Charity recommends x 2 devices that are recognised by NICE and welcomed by many Health Care Professionals due to their readings.

Apple watch

AliveCor Kardia Mobile: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

booklet

[Rainfern in reply to TracyAdmin]

Thank you Tracy. I hope to overcome a deep rooted fear of taking my own pulse. It is entirely irrational but even the thought of it sets my heart racing! So reading the information leaflet has set me back on track with my goal. I have already overcome fears relating to talking about afib, looking at explanations and diagrams etc. I shall use similar "desensitisation " techniques (relaxation, one small step at a time) for taking my pulse. It's a bit cheaper than the other equipment! 😅

[john-boy-92]

Your query relates to exercise, so I assume that you want to monitor during exercise. The nurse was right that most exercise HRMs don't read AF very well. Then there are those that either treat an irregularity as an error and drop that data, or those that apply smoothing by averaging the figures. I've used Polar since they were first on sale in the UK. A cardiac nurse subsequently told me that Polar are good for reading AF. I am lucky that I had a free Polar Vantage V HRM to review, and I use a Polar H10 chest strap and transmitter with it. That's an expensive combination.

[Rainfern in reply to john-boy-92]

Thank you john, yes, I was talking about monitoring during exercise, or lugging a suitcase across London and flying to Thailand if I'm ever so fit and lucky enough to do so! Meanwhile ... back to walking, cycling and the allotment .... that is an expensive combination you have there. You were lucky! I already splashed out on an expensive BP monitor, so shall wait to hear what exactly is up with my heart before being tempted with something pricey, but thanks that's really helpful.

[Afibflipper]

I have an Apple Watch 7 series - it matches whatever my BP machine records and also I have a pulse rate monitor for doing oxygen levels which gets same readings (no more than 2 or 3 digits difference

My BP machine picks up the irregular HR so usually do 3 readings and take the average

[Rainfern in reply to Afibflipper]

Thank you Flipper, that's useful to know about the Apple Watch matching the BP machine. My BP machine takes 3 readings and then gives an average, but it was never in my life plan to throw money at such expensive equipment!

[Afibflipper in reply to Rainfern]

I have been pleased with with what I got in that yes the expexpense was a shock but on the other hand things were so erratic I did become neurotic at times, I was convinced I’d fall while out alone and everyone was at work that I needed up getting it to begin with as it notifies both emergency services and NOK, then it became the step counter/HR monitor and so on - I’d have much preferred to have got it for my expert athletic skills training as an Olympian 😂 - maybe next year!!

[Rainfern in reply to Afibflipper]

The Apple Watch does sound like a good investment, and what price can be put on a heart? Do you know if it'll sync with an android phone?I'm just thinking, it's my 70th coming up...! (so that counts me out the Olympics before I ever begin!)

[AFCyclist]

I use a polar chest strap when exercising. This feeds into my Garmin and my mobile phone. I can see an instantaneous reading and also get a continuous trace that clearly shows when I change from AF (increased heart rate) to NSR (lower rate).

[Rainfern in reply to AFCyclist]

Thank you AFCyclist. That sounds a great system for PAF. I'm not sure how well it would work for persistent AF which mine is beginning to look like though a good way to measure the impact of different levels of exercise. I shall investigate this Garmin people keep mentioning.

[Afibflipper in reply to AFCyclist]

as it’s an Apple product not convinced it would sync, however, I bought my husband a Fitbit which has similar features and he uses Android. He’s fit healthwise but often goes hiking alone and it has a similar contact NOK & emergency contact/ track location features x

[Speed]

Similarly, I use a Garmin chest strap linked to Garmin watch (Fenix 2 - 2015). I am currently trying to exercise at a HR below that which triggers my P AF. I can set my watch to show instantaneous HR, thereby allowing me accurate real time monitoring. I also then have access to a graph of my rate during the monitored period. If I go into AF, I then stop exercising, get my Kardia to confirm AF and record a trace and then take PIP Flecainide. I then monitor my pulse and take further Kardia readings if I believe the rate has changed (at rest usually either 110 or 80) or returns to NSR. This gives me a good summary against which I can compare potential life style impacters (relative timing of meds / food / coffee / sleep / exercise intensity) so that hopefully I can further refine my lifestyle to maximise QOL and yet avoid AF episodes.

[Rainfern]

Thank you Speed, I'm impressed by your thoroughness and determination to maximise quality of life! I'm not sure I'd have the patience, but I also know it could really pay off to measure the impact of different life choices. To a great extent we're left to "get on with it" with Afib, and hopefully I'll find a way through the sense of loss I have at reduced energy and fear of triggering worse episodes. Nice to hear such a positive approach!