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DO I HAVE AF ?
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Atrial fibrillation often has no strong outward symptoms. Some people with AF will experience heart palpitations – often described as a "pounding", "racing", or "fluttering" heartbeat. Many people mistake an AF attack as a "Panic attack". Many athletes have AF after strenuous exercise or competition. In other people, the only symptoms of AF may be dizziness, faintness or light-headedness. Others may have chest pain ranging from mild discomfort to severe pain. And for yet another group, AF has no symptoms at all. There is a BIG difference between AF and atrial flutter. AF is - skipped, missing, or premature heart beats, referred to as Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVC's). Atrial Flutter is - when the atrial chambers actually go into spasms, as shown in the graphic display below. The only way to know for sure if you have AF is to have your doctor perform a painless test called an electrocardiogram (ECG). During and ECG, sensitive electrodes are placed on your chest. These electrodes pick up the electrical impulses generated within your heart, impulses that cause your heart to beat. The impulses are sent to a television screen or a piece of paper called an ECG strip. By examining the specific pattern of electrical impulses, your doctor can tell for certain whether you have AF. |
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SINUS (NORMAL) Even steady beat |
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION Uneven- skips beats |
ATRIAL FLUTTER Extremely Rapid uneven beats |
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The American Heart Association urges home blood pressure monitoring December 21 (Reuters Health) - The American Heart Association has updated its 1993 guidelines on blood pressure (BP) measurement, putting more emphasis on home monitoring. The update was needed, Dr. Thomas G. Pickering told Reuters Health, because it has become clear that traditional office measurement is enhanced "by having patients record their blood pressure at home." "In my own practice," he noted, "just about all my patients who have high blood pressure are now encouraged to monitor themselves at home." Automated electronic devices are now widely available, he said, and cost from $50 to $100. The guideline authors note that home monitoring is a convenient way for tracking blood pressure over long periods of time, and there is some evidence that it may encourage people to maintain better blood pressure control by sticking to their medications. Pickering recommends that patients bring their monitor to their doctor's office to ensure that the device is giving proper readings and that the patient is correctly using it. Home monitoring may be particular valuable for people whose blood pressure jumps as soon as they're in the doctor's office - so-called "white-coat hypertension." It's also useful for those with the opposite condition, masked hypertension - blood pressure that is normal in the doctor's office, but high in daily life. "So if patients come in and say they've checked their blood pressure at home and it's high, while the doctor gets low readings," Pickering cautioned, "the physician should not laugh it off and say, 'you don't have a problem'." -Publish Date: December 21, 2004 |
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There are a number of companies that manufacture automatic "digital read out" blood pressure and heart rate monitors. Some of them have an "irregular heart beat" indicator. There are many to choose from. Some of them go around your wrist, others have a cuff for the upper arm. Some are manually inflated, (you pump them up with a small hand held bulb, like your doctor uses), others are automatically inflated by a self contained battery operated pump. Some are rather inexpensive, prices range from $35.00 to $100.00. The wrist type is NOT as accurate as the arm cuff type and NONE of them are as accurate as the aneroid type that your doctor uses in his office, but THE ARM CUFF TYPE IS THE MOST ACCURATE. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS, TO BUY ONE THAT HAS AN IRREGULAR HEART RATE INDICATOR. |
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Display symbol |
Condition/Cause |
Recommended Action |
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An irregular heartbeat or body movement may have occurred. | Take measurement again and consult with your physician if this indicator shows frequently. |
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What is an irregular heartbeat? Some blood pressure monitors provide blood pressure and heart rate measurement even when and irregular heartbeat occurs. An irregular heartbeat is defined as a heartbeat that varies by 25% from the average of all of the heartbeats during the blood pressure measurement. It is important that you be relaxed, remain still and do not talk during measurements. NOTE: It is recommended to contact your physician if you see this |
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The Center for Surgical Innovation ( 513) 584-3279 - email minimaze@uc.edu. (The 800 number is 1-86-MINI MAZE or 1-866-464-6293) |
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indicator frequently.