AF and digital monitors

[KatKit21]

A nurse has just told me that the digital Blood pressure monitor that I use is not suitable for anyone with AF. I would be pleased to know if this is true,and if so how do people with AF monitor themselves.

[mjames1]

Go to the Omron web site. I believe one or two of their models are accurate if you are an atrial fibrillation, but why don't you contact customer service and make sure you're buying the right model. I assume you're talking about taking your blood pressure during an episode because if you're not having an episode, there should not be a problem.

Jim

[Wonky_heart]

As mjames1 said, your blood pressure monitor should be fine when you're not having an episode, but because of the way the blood pressure monitors work, they're not always accurate during an episode. My usual BP is around 110/60 but when I took it during an episode it fluctuated from 210.150 to 60/30. Just a bit of a difference! When I asked my cardiologist about this he said it was due to the fluctuating pulse pressures and it was best to ignore these readings as they didn't truly reflect what was going on. I do have an Omron machine which will tell me when I'm having AF so I know to take the resulting reading with a pinch of salt and wait until the episode is over. Even the monitors that the paramedics use in the ambulance detect these wide variations during an episode so I reassure myself that it's ok to wait it through until all settles.

[scentedgardener]

I'm on my second BP monitor now, both of which show an icon if an arrthymia is detected. Neither can tell you what the arrthymia is, just that it's there.My current model is an Omron, which I bought from the BHF online shop.

I've had AF for 4 years, I also have white coat syndrome so have to monitor BP at home as it's the only place an accurate reading can be obtained.

On a couple of occasions it has been necessary for paramedics to come to my home, I gave them my latest BP reading which was very similar to the reading when they took it.

Last month I had a cardiology appointment. As expected my BP was really high, I gave the cardiologist my book of routine readings which he looked at and said that my BP was well controlled at home, and was quite happy to accept that.

I've never had a doctor tell me my BP monitor was not accurate, even during AF.

[JGBH]

Hi, may i ask you which digital blood pressure monitor you are using? Thanks.

[KatKit21]

Thank you everyone for your replies. JGBH...My monitor is a VitalTrack one.It does show the AF icon so it must be picking up something but as the rest of you have said perhaps it's not to be relied on when I have an episode.

[fishonabike in reply to KatKit21]

If you are relying on you monitor for pulse rate readings and you have AF the reading will not really be accurate due to the way it measures pulse rate

You will get more accurate info on your pulse rate if you take your pulse manually, the old fashioned way - with a little practice you will be able to count your rate accurately and notice how regular it is and how often beats are missed as well as how strong your pulse is

The BHF website has guidance on how best to do this, it is easy and you can do it anywhere, anytime

[KatKit21 in reply to fishonabike]

Thank you Fishonabike

[GoodTea]

If you are able to, ask that nurse why your particular BP monitor is not suitable for AF patients. If you can't contact that nurse, contact a BHF cardiac nurse and ask them for clarification and, if you need a different monitor, ask for advice. That's probably the most straightforward way to sort out the issue.

Alternately, you could check out the monitors that the British and Irish Hypertension Society has validated for home use:

bihs.org.uk/bp-monitors/for...

BIHS validated monitors are accepted for clinical purposes.

I don't have AF but - following a triple heart bypass - I needed a BP monitor that would provide clinically acceptable readings (that is, readings which my GP and cardiologist would regard as valid).

I got a monitor via the BHF site as I assumed they would only sell monitors that had been validated for clinical purposes. Later, I found out that the BIHS was the body that validated BP monitors in UK and Ireland and saw my assumption was correct re the BHF site.

I've done a quick check on the BIHS list re Vital Track but couldn't see that name. You might like to double check. ('Vital Signs' products were on the list).

BIHS also put out a statement regarding the measurement of blood pressure in people with atrial fibrillation. However, the statement dates from October 2019. Technology has moved on since then so more recent BP measuring devices won't be covered by it. Plus, if you are like me, you will need a good online dictionary to make sense of the statement.

As I said above, talking to your nurse again or a BHF nurse will probably be the most straightforward way to clear things up.

Best wishes

[KatKit21 in reply to GoodTea]

Thank you Good Tea,

[PadThaiNoodles]

An automated BP monitor inflates the cuff until it can no longer sense your pulse. This means that the cuff pressure is higher than your blood pressure, and is therefore preventing your pulse from getting through.

It then gradually reduces the cuff pressure. When it can sense your pulse again, your blood pressure is slightly higher than the cuff pressure. It then estimates your blood pressure at halfway between the current cuff pressure and the cuff pressure from immediately before sensing your pulse again.

So if your afib confuses the pulse reader, then the whole algorithm falls on its face. In my cardiac rehab room they also have an "old school" pressure gauge and stethoscope because in some cases even the hospital-grade automated machine won't get a reading.

[KatKit21 in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

Ah thank youPadThaiNoodles