Oximeters

[Corazon17]

I have just been diagnosed with a fib, after years of suspecting something was amiss, but never having episodes when a doctor, and even a cardiologist, was seeing me.

I bought a Kardia6L, which showed many afib episodes.

I took that to my GP of 13 years, and he immediately swung into impressive action. I even got afib readings on his machine.

I am literally on my first day with this.

But my question is, I hope, simple: Are oximeters of any use? I can get a BPM of 140 on the Kardia, and a reading of 68 on the oximeter. Are the pulses too fast and subtle for an oximeter? I inherited mine from a aunt, so I don't have original manual.

[baba]

Oximeters are not accurate for measuring heart rate when in AFib.

[CDreamer]

Oximeters are great for testing O2 sats which if you have COVID are essential to monitor, good also for checking your sats if you have AF as they can drop and if sustained you will feel very tired. Absolutely useless for checking heart rate though when in AF.

The only devices which will give you a good average is a mobile ECG device such as the Kardia or a smart watch on which you will see your HR peak and trough as the AF does.

[mjames1]

If you're in afib, you most probably will not get an accurate reading on an oximeter although great for checking blood oxygen levels. Best for that would be your Kardia for an accurate pulse reading.

Jim

[jeanjeannie50]

Buy a good quality Oximeter with a pulse indicator at the side, that will at least let you see if your heart is beating in it's correct rhythm.

Of course something like a Kardia will give more accurate results and a lot more information.

[marcyh]

I have used mine a lot, partly because it's so convenient. It's a quick way to see my heart pattern and get a sense of my heart rate. Based on that, I may get out my Kardia.