To monitor or not to monitor?

[Heartmum56]

Am now 12 weeks post HA and some semblance of normality is in sight with just a lingering worry about low HR but in discussion with gp about reducing bisoprolol to hopefully address that. Wrestling with how much to continue monitoring BP and HR going forward. I have been a bit obsessive about it and feel it is prolonging anxiety when things are now basically under control. Can't decide whether mentally I wd be best to drop it altogether with just occasional checks, or to go the whole hog and buy a wrist device of some sort so I am being constantly monitored but without actively doing it. Any wisdom?

[Captain_Birdseye]

Personally I ditched the fitbit as I was obsessing over every recording... but I was letting it get to me.

During cardiac rehab I mentioned it to the physio and she said it was best to leave the health trackers be if you were of an anxious disposition (which I am).

Some do find them useful though and keeping a track of BP on your home monitor can give a GP an idea of how you are when not in the doctor's office.

[Cruiser25]

Hi Heartmum56, I hope this'll help.... I'm now 17 months post major HA. I was off work for 5 months and another 7 weeks on phased return. Whilst attending cardiac rehab, we all needed to provide BP readings prior to taking part, every time (we could use the instructors BP monitor if we didn't have our own). So I got well used to taking BP and pulse (had my own monitor...£20 from the pharmacy!) What I've found was a natural drop off in looking at these reads, as my recovery has progressed, as I've felt better, more like me. The only other check I used (still sometimes) was blood sugar (again just a few £ from chemists) I wanted to try to tell the difference between sugar drop and BP drop, when I did feel off, still happens occasionally, out of the blue, no reasoning as far as I can make out? I've now got a watch which monitors sleep, heart rate, stress & exercise loads of them!!!, Only v occasionally do I check BP now, I can generally tell from how I'm feeling - how I'm doing.

What I'm rambling on to say is if it feels as though it helps fine but please try not to worry, ups and downs are normal, all part of our recovery and better is on the way. The docs will take good care of you, meds and lifestyle are key and remember to be patient and kind to yourself and smile, it's contagious and will help others to help you. Take care

[Lowerfield_no_more]

You effectively answered you own question. ....some semblance of normality is in sight.....I have been a bit obsessive about it and feel it is prolonging anxiety when things are now basically under control. I suggest you just forget about HR monitors and BP checks and get on with returning to normal and enjoying life 👍.

[Heartmum56 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

I know but I get anxious when I don't do it too! Just a nagging wondering at the back of my mind. I hope that will wear off

[thecatandus]

Sorry, but what is HA ?

[Zed1063 in reply to thecatandus]

Heart Attack

[thecatandus in reply to Zed1063]

Of course it is ! Sorry about that.

[richard_jw]

I had a heart attack some 3 years ago. For some time, I just worried about symptoms post STEMI. I ended up in A&E several times for no particularly good reason. Mainly I would ring either the GP or use 111 to get some reassurance. Of course, the result was that they sent me to A&E. A&E did an ECG and blood tests. A&E is there to deal with acute issues which need treatment, and possible admission. As such in cases which may relate to the heart, they do a battery of tests, and if you pass they send you home. Basically they don't do subtle, but they DO encourage you to go to them. Better safe than sorry.

So I got a BP monitor a Kardia mobile and a Fitbit. The Kardia mobile at the suggestion of the cardiologist. He thought that I may have some sort of arrhythmia not detected by wearing a Holter monitor for a week.

None of these devices will give you any sort of reassurance that you are not having a heart attack. In fact the Fitbit and Kardia mobile both provide a warning to that effect.

I found the Fitbit useful because it DID detect Atrial Fibrillation when a Holter did not.

I was sitting on an aircraft when I felt ill. I used the Kardia and it repeatedly showed AF. Interestingly the Fitbit did not, it said inconclusive.

When I got home, I sent the Kardia Mobile output to the GP. The result is that I am now on anticoagulants to help prevent a stroke. Without the Kardia mobile I would not have had any idea about AF.

Certainly it's no bad thing to check your BP from time to time. But BP can vary on an hourly basis. Do it at the same TOD under the same circumstances (e.g. after taking meds).

[cocobearbhf]

Interesting.

I have an Apple Watch with basic heart rate, and I am also about 12 weeks post NSTEMI.

I have looked at wearable kit for blood pressure and even went to the Apple Store to upgrade the watch to one that supported ECG.

But while at the Apple Store I decided not to buy anything for the reason you state. I decided I would just end up obsessing about the measurements and actually cause more anxiety.

[MWIC]

Think it very much depends on how you deal with what they say - year and a half post my HA - bought a Kardia device as also have AFib and find it really useful to keep an eye on Ruth’s and Heart rate - do it once a day and if all ok and feel ok that’s it (really to keep track of how often I’m in AFib or aware of it) doesn’t stress me and not obsessed with it so find it really useful for me

[Smitty1956]

Hi, Heartmum56,

First, I am sorry that you had a HA, but I am pleased that you feel that normalcy is within your grasp. It takes a long time to begin to feel better, or more normal, after a HA.

I had purchased an Apple Watch a few months before my HA in March 2022. I became somewhat obsessed with checking my heart rate and health data during the HA and afterward during my recovery. I have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder, and after my HA, I checked my heart rate a lot.

Now, it has been over one year, and I only check my heart rate once in awhile as needed. I am not obsessive about it at this point. Interestingly, I use the word “obsessively” because of the reaction of others. It bothers some people if they see you check any health aspect on your watch. I have actually been told by some people that I should throw away that watch, but I disagree.

For example, I have had problems sleeping for some time. About 3 months ago (finally), I began using the sleep tracker app on my watch. I use it to set a goal time for turning into sleep and turning everything off for the night. My watch reminds me to start winding down one hour before my bedtime. The app lets me see my respiration rate during the hours that I sleep. I can see my heart rate while sleeping, and I can see a bar graph each morning that tells me the hours that I was in bed trying to sleep and the hours that I actually slept. This is all useful data for me to check each day so that I can track over time whether I am making any progress in improving my sleep.

I also use an app on my watch that involves breathing exercises and mindfulness activities. I don’t use this app as regularly as I should, but it is all a work in progress.

I do use the exercise app to monitor data during indoor and/or outdoor walking. I do keep an eye on my heart rate during walking so that I am not way over my upper threshold during exercise. That app also tracks my pace during walking, calories burned, heart rate, etc.

in other words, I would highly recommend that you buy an Apple Watch, or similar device. The health data that you can collect and see is well worth the cost. I am still a work in progress in terms of diet, exercise, and overall heart health, and I use the data collected by my watch to track my progress.

At this point, I don’t feel that I check my heart rate too much. However, if I have been working in my yard, or sweeping my front steps and sidewalk and my heart seems to be beating fast, I will check my heart rate to reassure myself that the rate is okay and that it is going down appropriately as I rest. I see this type of checking as an anti-anxiety device for me.

Your concern regarding your heart rate seems normal to me since it has only been 12 weeks. While I feel that a device like an Apple Watch can be another tool to monitor your health, you should decide what is right for you.

I wish you a continued great recovery! Best wishes! 😃

[MountainGoat52]

Hi Heartmum56,

It's now 6 years since my HA and 5 years since my bypass op and I still have the odd day of BP taking and recording... morning and evening and work out the average. Initially I was taking it two or three times every day, but it got to be too much. Life has intervened.

If the results are stable over a period of a few months, then really once a week is sufficient in my opinion, but others may think otherwise. Certainly changes in medication should be monitored and if you feel unwell or different to normal.

I had similar issues with Bisoprolol. I got it reduced to 1.25mg which is fine for me and my pulse rate averages the mid 50s.

Gerald