Blood pressure whilst in Afib...

[Hanibal]

Hi, All,

Has anyone noticed a change in blood pressure whilst in Afib?

Thanks

Mike

[mav7]

drsvenkatesan.com/2021/10/0....

Blood pressure, like the heart rate, varies when in afib.

Have read it best to take it 3 times in a row. On my doctor visits, the nurse takes it with the machine and also manually.

[Cavalierrubie in reply to mav7]

My machine will not register when I am in AF. I did manage a couple of times to get a reading but it was always high. Probably because I get scared. As much as I try, it never fails to give me high anxiety. It is all part of this monster's mood and unavoidable as AF and anxiety go hand in hand.

[Tommyboy21]

All the time causes my lightheadedness

[BobD Volunteer]

Unless using manual system it is very difficult to get a good reading if you are in AF. We are all different. Mine always went UP!

[CDreamer]

and mine dropped like stone.

[Dollcollector in reply to CDreamer]

Mine too.

[Gumbie_Cat]

Mine goes quite low, if the reading is correct. I had better try it three times to check.

[Tilly1957]

mine goes all over the place when in af, but we are all different x

[Singwell]

Yup! Mostly up during then dropped like a stone afterwards.

[Speed]

Have been advised that consumer BP machines cannot be relied upon to give an accurate reading whilst in AF. When symptomatic with AF, a reliable BP reading can only really be achieved via the old manual method with mercury sphygmomanometer.

Following Hanibal’s reply below, I should qualify / modify my “When symptomatic with AF” above to say “when in AF” as of course some times we may be in AF and not realise / not be symptomatic and these readings too cannot be relied on.

[Hanibal in reply to Speed]

The ones I've used that claim to pick up AF have all said in the instructions that the readings where AF is indicated can' t be trusted. So, depending on the sensitivity, you can still get false readings and not be aware...!

[Speed in reply to Hanibal]

Good point Hanibal - I’ve updated my response to reflect.

[Sewnknit]

When I worked with organising medical equipment in a hospital, my line manager warned me that electronic BP machines were no good if a patient was in AF. it needs to be done manually.

I had to remind a member of staff when I had my hernia op last year, they don't all know that.

[Afibflipper in reply to Sewnknit]

It’s strange isn’t it that, the GP, even the hospital wards post ablation all use the electronic portable monitors (I was told the take it 3 times info)

[Sewnknit in reply to Afibflipper]

Yes, back then it was all abstract. Then I was diagnosed, in A&E, while at work.

I think part of the issue is that they/we all rely on gadgets rather then the old school skills.

[pusillanimous in reply to Afibflipper]

My GP always uses the mercury sphygmomanometer - if ever she has placed me on a new PB med and she wants me to come in for one of the practice nurses to take my PB, to see how it is working, she always instructs her to use the mercury one and not the electronic model. At home, I have three different makes of wrist monitors - I battle with the upper arm cuff because I have thin arms, They all give a different reading, so I just take an average LOL!

[Afibflipper in reply to pusillanimous]

more than just a postcode lottery (machines too😊) I was told wrist ones shouldn’t be used at all 😬

[pusillanimous in reply to Afibflipper]

I'm sure that its true, but they are very good with HR, all three of mine agree with that! I don't live in the UK , but have frequently read of doctors in the UK telling their patients to take their own BP and accepting the reading without double checking in the surgery. In the opinion of my GP that is totally unsatisfactory, so for me , if wrist BP monitors are unreliable, what about devices (sports watches etc. do they register BP) In defence of wrist monitors, a friend of mine had hers checked at the Dr's office against the one he was usi (also a digital one, and the reading was the same). Personally, I don't trust any home readings from any digital device- if I'm concerned , I pop down to the surgery and get one of the nurses to take it!

[Afibflipper in reply to pusillanimous]

Hi - to my understanding none of the watches take BP at all. I check my Apple Watch against the Oximeter pulses and sometimes against the electronic BP machine - I got the watch for other things too for which it’s quite useful but totally agree -

“If in doubt get checked out” (motto 😂)

[Teresa156 in reply to Sewnknit]

That is really interesting. Like ABFlipper says, hospitals don’t seem to know that. When I was in A&E to get diagnosed AFIB, I was on a computerised BP monitor all through the night. It kept saying my BP was too low, so they didn’t administer anything to bring down my HR for about 6 hrs…

[Hanibal]

I wonder if that's not part of the training. My young GP who took my BP via a machine didn't reach for the manual machine when knew I was in AF and recorded the somewhat whacky result on my notes...

[Tomred]

Hard to get an accurate reading, but i do know when it has dropped , feel completely out of sorts , a horrible feeling.

[Hanibal in reply to Tomred]

Spot on. You know your heart and how finnicky it can be.

I've started to follow the BHF cardio nurse's advice and rely on how I feel say, in exercising rather than expect to find accurate measurements from a device. Yesterday I faced quite a walk from a carpark to a football stadium.... and was fibrillating (wouldn't you just know it!).

Got all the usual symptoms, but felt strangely sanguine, almost liberated, knowing that I wasn't going to look at a device as I went along. I kept up with the crowd and remembering the Afibbers mantra of 'this won't kill me!'

[Samazeuilh2]

AF reduces the heart's performance. This can result in low blood pressure. As others have noted a home blood pressure monitor may not be reliable when you are in AF.

[javo123j]

I must admit that my blood pressure definitely reduces during afib and is almost normal as I usually have high blood pressure. I use the same electronic measure as my doctor be and his nurse use. It is spot on with afib testing although I don't need it though as I always know when I'm in afib

[MarthaJ]

If I can get a stable reading mine (normally high) also drops right down

[Bee-Honest]

I was told by my Cardiologist that BP drops when you are in AF, he explained why but it seemed complicated. This showed up when I was asked to keep a diary of my BP and AF, worth doing.

[Hanibal in reply to Bee-Honest]

I keep a monitor too as for the main part I am asymptomatic....

[BlueINR]

When I was in afib heart rate would be 100+, and bp would lower than usual.

[Jajarunner]

Anything that increases your heart rate will increase your BP as the two are linked.

[bonnie54]

hi, no but I did realise I was likely to have a bad day with PAF if I let myself get dehydrated. I made sure always to carry a bottle of water with me, especially a litre bottle in the car.

[fibnum]

My BP and heart rate are usually elevated for an hour or so after the onset of afib. After taking some medication (metoprolol) and calming down from my initial anxiety, I find that the BP is in normal range, but erratic. The HR slows but stay in arrhythmia for hours.

Try your own version of biofeedback and breathing to help lower the BP. It can often help.

Do something to occupy your mind and distract you from your arrhythmia during Afib.