Can A Blood Pressure Monitor Detect Irregular Heartbeat?

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Blood pressure is a key indicator of general health and can be determined using blood pressure monitors. High blood pressure raises the risk of various health problems, including heart disease and stroke, whereas low blood pressure can result in shock, fainting, or dizziness because the brain does not receive enough blood and oxygen. However, can blood pressure monitors also help detect an irregular heartbeat, also known as arrhythmia?

This article will examine how a blood pressure monitor works, the effectiveness of blood pressure monitors in detecting irregular heartbeats, and the health risks of irregular heartbeat.

How Blood Pressure Monitors Work

Blood pressure monitors use sensors to measure blood flow via the body’s arteries. This aids them in determining the heart rate, beat frequency, and pressure.

A blood pressure monitor typically consists of a cuff that can be inflated with air and is wrapped around the upper arm during the examination; a pressure meter, also known as a manometer, that is used to measure the air pressure in the cuff; and a stethoscope that is used to hear the sound the blood makes as it flows through the upper arm’s major artery. The monitor measures both the systolic and diastolic pressures.

The cuff contains the sensors. When inflated, it compresses the artery in the upper arm, obstructing blood flow. This enables the sensors to calculate blood pressure. Some blood pressure monitors have an extra sensor built into the cuff that provides an alert you can use to quickly identify irregular heartbeats.

Note that the cuff must be the proper size, securely fastened, and placed on the upper arm at the same level as the heart to obtain accurate readings. Additionally, it’s best to take the reading while resting since exercise briefly boosts your blood pressure.

Can a Blood Pressure Monitor Detect Irregular Heartbeat?

An irregular heartbeat occurs when the heart beats irregularly or abnormally – an irregular rhythm might be too fast or too slow. Some blood pressure monitors have extra functions that can detect irregular heartbeats by using sensors that detect changes in blood flow and pulse.

When discovered, these monitors display an irregular heartbeat symbol, indicating that your heart rate is not within the usual range. They employ an algorithm to analyze the heart rate, find anomalies, and highlight them. It is vital to emphasize that while blood pressure monitors can detect it, they are not built for this purpose.

Irregular heartbeats appear in several forms, and a blood pressure monitor can only identify a subset. Moreover, it cannot aid with treatment. Medical guidance from a healthcare professional is required for further diagnosis and treatment solutions.

The irregular heartbeat detectors included as features on some blood pressure monitors are unreliable for irregular heartbeat detection. And they do not outperform ECG devices specifically designed to detect an irregular heartbeat. These devices have high accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity, allowing them to diagnose and detect the affected cardiac muscle.

Close up of monitor with black screen showing Intraventricular Conduction Delay on ECG

What Are the Health Risks of Irregular Heartbeat?

To address the health risks, it is necessary first to identify the many types of arrhythmia, what they mean, and the health risk they pose. Arrhythmias range in severity from minor to life-threatening. Genetics, drugs, and underlying health concerns can all contribute to an irregular heartbeat. There are instances where the cause is unknown.

The following are the types of irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias).

Atrial Fibrillation

This kind of irregular heartbeat happens when the atria, the heart’s upper chamber, contracts rapidly and irregularly, causing the heart to beat excessively quickly and erratically. High blood pressure, smoking, alcohol intake, and certain drugs can all induce atrial fibrillation. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, chest aches, heart palpitations, and weariness. The risk of stroke is increased due to the creation of blood clots in the heart that can travel to the brain, and heart failure is possible if the heart cannot pump blood adequately.

Atrial fibrillation is treated with medication and blood thinners that moderate the heart rate while also thinning the blood to prevent clots. Acute cases require a device called a pacemaker or a defibrillator implanted in the chest to control the heartbeat, which gives electric shocks to the heart in case of cardiac arrest.

Ventricular Tachycardia

This form of irregular heartbeat affects the lower chambers of the heart, the ventricles, causing quicker and irregular contractions, with an average of three abnormal heartbeats per minute for more than 100 beats per minute. It is often life-threatening, possibly resulting in loss of consciousness, cardiac arrest, and even death.

Heart problems, electrolyte abnormalities, and certain drugs all contribute to it. It can be treated with drugs or by implanting a specific-purpose defibrillator with the help of a specialist.

Supraventricular Tachycardia

It is characterized by fast and irregular contractions of the heart’s upper chambers, resulting in a heart rate higher than a hundred beats per minute. This occurs when the heart’s normal electrical impulses are disrupted, causing heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and dizziness.

At its most severe, it can result in a stroke or heart failure, but it’s not always life-threatening. You can treat supraventricular tachycardia with drugs and treatments aimed at restoring a normal heart rhythm. Reducing stress and ensuring the heart is not aggravated also go a long way in helping.

Bradycardia

In contrast to the other types of irregular heartbeat, this type involves a slower-than-usual heart rate. It is less obvious to spot than other varieties when the heartbeat is less than 60 beats per minute, which is the normal heartbeat.

However, it can also be fatal by triggering cardiac arrest. Dizziness, shortness of breath, weariness, and other symptoms are among them. Medications, heart rate control techniques, and lifestyle modifications to avoid triggers and manage stress can all be used to treat it.

Conclusion

Although blood pressure monitors may be able to identify abnormal heartbeats and provide useful information, they are not specially designed for this purpose; medical-grade ECG devices are. Blood pressure monitors only provide patterns and trends that assist in diagnosing.

People with irregular heartbeats are recommended to seek medical specialists who can help them ensure fewer dangers of succumbing to negative health effects. You can properly treat an irregular heartbeat by using prescribed medication, dietary adjustments, or the implantation of a pacemaker or a defibrillator.

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