Arrhythmias and home b. pressure machines

[Yvette BG]

Hi folks--I'm wondering for those of you that have palpitations, when you take your blood pressure using a home machine, does the irregular beat alert show very often? The last week or so, I've had a fair amount of palpitations and the monitor doesn't show them when it sure feels like something's going on. Yesterday I felt so washed out and slept like 12 hours.

Thanks,
Yvette

[Yvette BG]

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[TatiSD]

Hello, I also have the BP machine that gives you a symbol if it picks up an irregular pulse.  The funny thing is that I've had palps during the time that I was taking my BP and it did not give me the reading of being irregular.  And at other times, I wouldn't feel a thing (no palps) confirmed by my taking the pulse in the neck at the same time, yet the machine would register an irregular beat.  To me it sounds totally regular, yet the machine says something else.  This happens on and off, but there also have been times when I would feel the palps, and then the machine would also register an arrhythmia.  So who knows, it is a machine after all susceptible to error, so I don't invest too much in its interpretation.  I primarily use it as a BP machine and try not to read too much in the arrhythmia signal.

[Yvette BG]

Hi Cindy--

Thanks for your note. The machine I have is also supposed to flash a separate sign if it detects an irregular beat; maybe that's not a real sensitive or accurate feature. I've calibrated it against my doctor's for accuracy in actual blood pressure measurements, so I know it's right (provided I have it on my arm correctly, like you say--which may not always be the case when I'm stressed; need to watch that.)

My blood pressure and pulse generally tend to run low; anywhere from 92-118 systolic to 60 to 75 diastolic. Occasionally it runs lower, at which point I usually feel tired like I need a nap and can't concentrate on the things I need to do. My pulse runs usually 60-75, sometimes lower. (It was in the 65-75 range this weekend) I'm on a very low dosage of Lisinopril daily, 2.5 mgs. (can't tolerate higher dosages) and take vitamins and aspirin.    

My heart history is kind of long and over the years, diagnoses have changed, in part due to technological advances. (I'm 52 and I had a heart catherization on my 15th birthday, back in the Stone Ages for cardiology!) Current diagnoses include mild mitral insufficiency, mild pulmonic insufficiency, mild tricuspid insufficiency, left atrial size upper limits of normal, thickening of mitral valve anterior leaflet/nodule of unknown cause, elevated aortic velocities with no structural problems noted in aortic valve (they've never been able to explain why the elevated velocities); normal systolic function and normal diastolic function. This was according to my last echo which was June 2007; having another one next month and also am going to ask for another Holter monitor. My hormones are acting up so maybe some of these palps are related to that, but maybe not. Also, I've been hitting the sugar again (stressed about my parents being ill), which only makes things worse. I know better!

--Yvette

[cindy707]

Hi i read your post.....home b/p monitors are never intended to alert you if you have an irregular heart beat but only to give you a fairly accurate reading of your pulse rate and b/p and even with that there are errors.  The only thing that pops up in my mind is that if the equipment detects something that is not right it may show the word "error" and you would have to re take it...but also remember if the cuff isn't place properly on your arm it will also read error and if you are using a wrist cuff same thing.  You haven;t told us what the reading was for your pulse and b/p so i don't know that we can really give you our opinion in the dark here......