Aa
Automatic Blood Pressure Monitoring
Hi,
My Mom has irregular heartbeat. Sometimes (once in a week or so) she complains
about her heart pounding too fast.
She is hypertensive and usually her BP is in 150-170 range.
I want to monitor the BP using automated BP Monitoring machines.
Can you please suggest some good ones which checks BP accurately
even if it detects irregular heartbeat.
I looked at LifeSource UA-1020. But could not find any reviews.
Can you please tell if you used UA-1020.
My Mom has irregular heartbeat. Sometimes (once in a week or so) she complains
about her heart pounding too fast.
She is hypertensive and usually her BP is in 150-170 range.
I want to monitor the BP using automated BP Monitoring machines.
Can you please suggest some good ones which checks BP accurately
even if it detects irregular heartbeat.
I looked at LifeSource UA-1020. But could not find any reviews.
Can you please tell if you used UA-1020.
Best Answer
Did you ask the doctor specifically what she has, what type of irregular beat she has? Did you mention to the doctor that your mother senses that her heart quivers? Has she ever mentioned how long she feels that the quivering lasts? Was she ever fitted with a one or two day monitor or one that you wear for a month to record what she is feeling? If not I would push to get a monitor to truly catch this quiver feeling. That is the main concern in my opinion. If she has it every day then a holter monitor should do the trick. If it is less often but at least once a month then the 30 day monitor would be best but I think it wise to at least make sure all her symptoms have been evaluated more then just having an ekg done in the office. The bottom line is the main issue needs to be diagnosed so you know exactly what you are dealing with. If your mother does indeed only have ectopic beats they are generally not too much of a concern in a healthy heart unless one is having over 20,000 of the extra beats a day so having a workup of the overall health your mother's heart is also a wise move beyond just having the monitor to catch the irregular beats and quivers. So what sort of tests has she had so far? I would push for the monitor and maybe an echo if she hasn't had those already. If she has had them then I would question the doctor about the results and what they feel the quivering could be. And then by all means seek a second opinion. It is always better to be safe then sorry. It is just sometimes with doctors we need to be persistent. And simply ask straight out what does your mother have. Have them explain what it is and what it means in relation to the health of your mother because every one of us has different risk factors. An irregular beat and quivering doesn't necessarily mean your mother is at major risk but I think is wise to have all the facts so you know what you are dealing with and then you can decide what the best course of action for treating or managing the condition is. Take care and keep us posted on how she is doing.
Hello,
Please look into Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). It is a very unheard of nervous system disorder that prevents the body from being able to properly adjust to the pull of gravity. Therefore, symptoms arise, such as: rapid heart rate upon standing, low or high blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, fatigue, sweating, anxiety-like symptoms, headaches, shortness of breath, inability to exercise, digestion problems, etc. The symptoms are endless and vary person to person day to day. Very few doctors are familiar with this illness and often misdiagnose patients.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Best wishes,
Brandi
Please look into Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). It is a very unheard of nervous system disorder that prevents the body from being able to properly adjust to the pull of gravity. Therefore, symptoms arise, such as: rapid heart rate upon standing, low or high blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, fatigue, sweating, anxiety-like symptoms, headaches, shortness of breath, inability to exercise, digestion problems, etc. The symptoms are endless and vary person to person day to day. Very few doctors are familiar with this illness and often misdiagnose patients.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Best wishes,
Brandi
I agree with Michelle, it's important to examine what the quivering and irregular heart rhythm is.
As she said, most cases of irregular heart rhythm is fairly harmless extra/premature beats. But with hypertension, chance is higher that she can have runs of atrial fibrillation, which may need treatment.
A cardiologist will probably measure her heart rhythm during a long interval (for example 1 week) with a portable monitor. It's very important that she actually has symptoms like quivering or rapid heart rate while carrying the monitor. Afterwards, the doctor will analyze her heart rhythm and provide a diagnosis.
In my opinion, it's more important to examine this than monitoring her home blood pressure. If she has known hypertension, that condition needs treatment and is easily treatable. She already has that diagnosis, no need to examine it further. After a diagnosis, treatment is necessary, not confirming.
I hope she will find out what is causing her irregular heart rhythm. Good luck to both of you.
As she said, most cases of irregular heart rhythm is fairly harmless extra/premature beats. But with hypertension, chance is higher that she can have runs of atrial fibrillation, which may need treatment.
A cardiologist will probably measure her heart rhythm during a long interval (for example 1 week) with a portable monitor. It's very important that she actually has symptoms like quivering or rapid heart rate while carrying the monitor. Afterwards, the doctor will analyze her heart rhythm and provide a diagnosis.
In my opinion, it's more important to examine this than monitoring her home blood pressure. If she has known hypertension, that condition needs treatment and is easily treatable. She already has that diagnosis, no need to examine it further. After a diagnosis, treatment is necessary, not confirming.
I hope she will find out what is causing her irregular heart rhythm. Good luck to both of you.
I have consulted the doctor. They are giving some medicines. her BP is high above 160 usually. So i wanted to monitor BP at home using a Automatic BP Monitoring machine.
Also, I wanted to take second opinion: Since doctors dont say much saying she has irregular heart beat.
What questions i need to ask the cardiologist. How can i find out how serious is the problem
Also, I wanted to take second opinion: Since doctors dont say much saying she has irregular heart beat.
What questions i need to ask the cardiologist. How can i find out how serious is the problem
I would highly suggest taking your mother to see a cardiologist. They will be able to monitor her and find out what she exactly has. You personally can't do this. The fact that she senses that the heart quivers is something to be certain to tell the doctor. She may need to be on medications or could possibly be a candidate for a procedure that may correct the issue though she needs to be diagnosed first. Irregular beats can be persistent and all the time but more often than not they come and go but considering she gets episodes at least once a week it would be prudent to have her checked out by a cardiologist if she hasn't been already.
I dont know the answers to your questions.
When you say heart beat is irregular. Does it mean that it is irregular always.
Or once or twice a week.
Can you please explain how do i check which rhythm it is. And how do i check when her heartbeat is irregular.
She has palpitations and pounding and shivering of the heart once a week or so.
When you say heart beat is irregular. Does it mean that it is irregular always.
Or once or twice a week.
Can you please explain how do i check which rhythm it is. And how do i check when her heartbeat is irregular.
She has palpitations and pounding and shivering of the heart once a week or so.
First, automatic blood pressure monitors are unfortunately not quite accurate in the setting of an irregular heart rhythm. This has nothing to do with the quality of the monitor, but the fact that an irregular heart rhythm will cause a variable cardiac stroke volume. Blood pressure monitors work by analyzing the variations in the pulse wave while air is released from the cuff. If the pulse waves are variable due to an irregular heart rhythm, the measuring can be wrong, especially the diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is fairly easy to detect, and if you practice a bit, you can buy a stethoscope and listen for pulse sounds while looking at the pressure on the monitor. Of course, a doctor should teach you how, to make sure you have the right technique.
Do you know which rhythm your mom has when her heart rhythm is irregular, by the way? Does she suffer from atrial fibrillation?
Her doctor can measure her blood pressure even if the heart rhythm is irregular, by the way.
Do you know which rhythm your mom has when her heart rhythm is irregular, by the way? Does she suffer from atrial fibrillation?
Her doctor can measure her blood pressure even if the heart rhythm is irregular, by the way.
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