Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group
Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.
It's been so hot here it's unbearable. When i go ouside it takes my breath away. It's hard for me so I don't get my walk in. My partner has MS and gave me part of her cooling vest equip. Ice filled wrist and neck bands. This helps so much. The Tikosyn makes it hard to deal with the heat also and of course it raises my heart rate. I load up on water before I go out and take it with me. I stay in the shade as much as possible also. How do the rest of you deal with the heat and how does it affect you?
I have a low HR now that the beta blocker has kicked up....BP used to always be 120 to 130/80 but is now high on the top end and relatively normal on the bottom end.....I can't figure it all out!
'White Coat Effect' Linked to Hypertension Overtreatment
Study Shows Differences in Blood Pressure Readings Taken at Home and in Doctors' Offices
.By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD June 20, 2011 -- The so-called "white coat effect" is both real and common in the management of hypertension and it may be a significant cause of patient overtreatment, a new study finds.
Researchers from Duke University and the Durham VA Medical Center report that blood pressure readings taken in doctors' offices were consistently higher than those taken at home or in the research setting.
Doctors largely rely on one or two blood pressure readings taken in their offices to determine if patients need treatment for high blood pressure or if hypertension is adequately controlled in patients who are already on medication.
"...The researchers concluded that repeated measurements taken at home may help give a more accurate picture of blood pressure control than a single reading in a doctor's office.
Duke assistant professor of medicine Benjamin J. Powers, MD, who led the research team, says the finding lends credence to the notion that the stress of a medical exam can cause large elevations in blood pressure."
"Blood pressure normally fluctuates from hour to hour, and from day to day" he tells WebMD. "Even knowing this, we were surprised to see how big the differences were between clinic and home readings."
http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20110620/white-coat-effect-linked-to-hypertension-overtreatment
petey