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.
Hi folks,
I'm new to A-fib and new to this forum. One of my docs told me that monitoring my heartrate will be "crucial." He suggested that I get a Polar watch with chest strap so I can see a constant readout. Sometimes I know I'm in A-fib and am quite affected. Apparently sometimes I don't know it's happening.
I read in a post on this forum that the ActiveCor sensor and app can be helpful. I bought it and taped the sensor to my iphone, and it definitely has been helpful. To the extent that it's accurate in flagging A-fib (and I suppose that is debateable?), it helps me learn what A-fib feels like compared to SVT, etc. I'm wondering if others who use it think it is accurate and helpful.
What else is out there?
Thanks. :)
I'm new to A-fib and new to this forum. One of my docs told me that monitoring my heartrate will be "crucial." He suggested that I get a Polar watch with chest strap so I can see a constant readout. Sometimes I know I'm in A-fib and am quite affected. Apparently sometimes I don't know it's happening.
I read in a post on this forum that the ActiveCor sensor and app can be helpful. I bought it and taped the sensor to my iphone, and it definitely has been helpful. To the extent that it's accurate in flagging A-fib (and I suppose that is debateable?), it helps me learn what A-fib feels like compared to SVT, etc. I'm wondering if others who use it think it is accurate and helpful.
What else is out there?
Thanks. :)
I have a Polar FT2 that measures my heart rate while Im walking or exercising. I can tell when Im in a-fib because it flips from high to low indiscriminately. This has no use to my doctor but it helped me find out what my normal was when I wasnt in a-fib. I do not wear it all the time.
I also have a med choice MD 100E which records 30 seconds of my heart rhythm (I hold it up to my heart and it records). I can save and print out the results. Its not as exact as the equipment the doc has but if something really weird happens I can record it and show it to my EP.
After awhile the novelty of these toys wears off. I use my Polar more than the MD 100E nowadays; not to check if Im in a-fib but to make sure my heart is reacting correctly when I exercise.
I hope this helps some,
carpe diem,
atp (across the pond)
You can make yourself crazy being that focused on your heart rate all the time.
But managing my anxiety is at least as hard as managing my very intermittent afib.