Re: Monitoring BP in AF

[Guest guest]

Gerald

I don't know why a decent wrist cuff wouldn't give you pretty accurate readings,

regardless of AF.

I'm one of those who has " white coat syndrome " (BP always 10 to 20 points higher

in a clinical setting) My cardiologist acknowledged that about a year ago. (I

was 24/7 AF at that time) We did several reading in her office taken by a nurse

& compared them to my wrist cuff. They were almost identical, although my cuff

actually read a little higher. The funny thing is, after that comparison, my BP

in a clinical setting has come down. It's like I'm confident my wrist cuff is

giving me valid readings so no matter what happens at the Drs. office, it

doesn't concern me.

You might consider having a wrist cuff compared to the conventual method the

next time you see your Dr.. It certainly is a no brainier to use a wrist cuff.

Monitoring BP in AF

Does anyone know of a BP machine for home use that I can use to measure my

BP. I am in AF all the time. So far all the simple machines and methods do

not seem to work with AF. The only way I have found so far is the

conventional method which requires another person. This person needs some

skill with the conventional method to properly get a BP score when someone

is in AF. I would like to be more independent in monitoring my BP.

Thanks

Gerald

[Guest guest]

> Does anyone know of a BP machine for home use that I can use to measure my

> BP. I am in AF all the time. So far all the simple machines and methods do

> not seem to work with AF. The only way I have found so far is the

> conventional method which requires another person. This person needs some

> skill with the conventional method to properly get a BP score when someone

> is in AF. I would like to be more independent in monitoring my BP.

>

> Thanks

> Gerald

Hi Gerald, I think you may struggle. There have been times I've been in AF

and the top of the range blood pressure machines have been unable to get a

reading (they give up after deciding they've crushed your arm for long enough

and it's looking like the incredible hulk's arm!), they sometimes even provided

false readings. I also have a strong suspicion that the very act of measuring

the pressure the conventional way actually changes the pressure whilst the

measurement is being made. (and would love to see some research in this area

if anyone knows of any).

The only thing I can think of is becoming skilled yourself in the old fashion

method but, as you say, considerable skill is required.

I've just done a quick pubmed search...

Measuring blood pressure in the elderly: does atrial fibrillation increase

observer variability?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=2\

105795 & dopt=Abstract

Automated blood pressure measurement in special situations: patients with

chronic atrial fibrillation or chronic aortic regurgitation.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Abstra\

ct & list_uids=8896307

The accuracy of automated blood pressure measuring devices in patients with

controlled atrial fibrillation.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Abstra\

ct & list_uids=7622850

Ambulatory blood pressure measuring devices.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Abstra\

ct & list_uids=8896297

good luck!

--

D

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/14/04 7:33:56 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

g83daly@... writes:

> Does anyone know of a BP machine for home use that I can use to measure my

> BP. I am in AF all the time. So far all the simple machines and methods do

> not seem to work with AF.

I have two different things to use. I have a very good wrist cuff which

calibrates exactly to the arm reading at the cardiologists office. It's by

Omron

and cost about $90 ... the cheaper ones don't seem to work as well. I also

have a heart-rate monitor which is a wrist-watch and which someone on this list

turned me on to. I got it at Radio Shack for for $15 ... it has a timer and

an actual watch and a stopwatch ... then on the right side, there is a button

you push and you put your index finger on this little sensor and suddenly you

can hear the " beep beep beep " of your heartbeat. This is actually the easiest

for me. The blood pressure cuff gives you whatever rate held for 3 seconds

while it was pumped up. The little wrist thing actually lets me hear my heart

rate ... it's a steady beat when I'm in NSR and it's all over the map when I'm

not. It also usually won't give an actual reading of rate, but hearing it is

enough to confirm if I'm in a-fib or not. For $15, you can't go wrong with

it. I carry it with me and it's much easier to " check on things " than using the

wrist cuff. Good luck.

Toni

CA

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/16/04 11:53:53 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

g83daly@... writes:

> Do you know if the average BP after 3 measurements with Omron correlates

> with the Doctor's measurement?

>

When I'm in a-fib in the doctor's office, they don't even try to get a

reading with a machine at all .... they do it for a whole minute manually and

estimate from there, so I don't know how to answer your question.

Also, the newer of the two Omron ones I have is ... Omron HEM-637 with

IntelliSense ... and IntelliSense is kinda cool (and the reason I picked this

model

when I knew I wanted to just keep the old one in my purse) is a feature that

won't start reading until your arm is in exactly the right position. I always

do mine on my left wrist, so you pick that (I believe it's the default setting

cuz I never set it to left arm, yet that's what comes up ... you can also set

it ro right arm if you want to) ... then, you put it on and hit " go " and

nothing happens (like it blowing up) until you have your arm in the right

position. There's a little heart in the center of the screen and an arrow you

can

watch until you see it moving toward the heart (meaning you arm is moving closer

to the " correct " position) ... it also beeps when you hit " perfect position "

so you stop moving. After using it a few times, you'll automatically put your

arm in exactly the right position ... at least I did. I'm very pleased with

it. I also like the molded plastic case both of the Omron cuffs I have come

with ... keeps it clean in my purse and easy to find. Let me know if you get

one and how it works for you.

Toni

CA

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much Toni ..... Hmmmmm Omron has a lot of BP monitors....even more

expensive than yours. Would you send me the name and number of the one you

are using?

Do you know if the average BP after 3 measurements with Omron correlates

with the Doctor's measurement?

Thanks

Gerald

Message: 23

Date: Fri, 15 Oct 2004 22:16:52 EDT

From: indiaink99@...

Subject: Re: Rd: Monitoring BP in AF

In a message dated 10/15/04 12:02:05 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

g83daly@... writes:

> So when you are in AF, the blood pressure tends to be all over the place.

> Does that mean you take it 3 times and average it? The average then

matches

> the Doctors score? Or were you meaning that when you were not in AF the

BP

> score matched the doctors.....in other words can you rely on the blood

> pressure score from the Omron when you are in AF?

Well, both are right actually. Sorry for being so confusing. Yes, when I'm

in a-fib I take it 3 times and average it. And, yes, when I'm NOT in a-fib,

it matches the doctor's office so I trust the reading. And by the way, I

checked BOTH of the Omron cuffs I have and both are really calibrated well.

I've

seen cheap-o Omron's too and I don't think I'd trust those. Is the mud

clearing? It's been a long week! ha ha

Toni

CA

Message: 24

Date: Fri, 15 Oct 2004 22:17:11 EDT

From: indiaink99@...

Subject: Re: Rd: Monitoring BP in AF

In a message dated 10/15/04 12:02:05 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

g83daly@... writes:

> Thanks for being patient with me :-)

Patient with you? I'm the one confusing YOU silly!

Toni

CA