The human heart is amazing. Beating, on average, over 100,000 times a day…for an entire lifetime. Like many things in life, we often forget about our heart’s function until there is a problem.
The importance of monitoring your heart rate is not usually a daily necessity; unless you have symptoms or have been diagnosed with heart disease. It is important to know your resting heart rate and heart rate during exercise and activity.
Heart rates that are higher and lower, out of your normal baseline measurements and symptomatic, should be brought to a medical professional’s attention. Your physician may choose to employ one or more diagnostic monitoring tests such as ECG and mobile cardiac telemetry monitors to find out if an arrhythmia is present or causing symptoms. Many home care services provide Holter monitors and other wrist-worn and portable heart monitors for rent and purchase that are pretty accurate and affordable to monitor your heart rate.
Common Symptoms of Abnormal Heart Function:
Not everyone has or notices symptoms, but some common symptoms might include:
- Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- Shortness of breath
- Palpitations
- Unexplained fainting spells
- Chest pain, discomfort, or pressure
- Being overly tired.
Types of Heart Monitors
The types of heart devices that your care team might prescribe are as follows:
Holter monitor
Holter monitor is the size of a deck of cards. It is worn around the neck with a strap to make sure it rests near the middle of the chest. The device can be worn for 1-3 days or up to 2 weeks in newer models.
Things to keep in mind:
- It is a short-term monitor and is the best option if symptoms happen very often.
- Should avoid getting the device wet or showering unless a waterproof cover protects it.
External event or patch recorders
Patch recorders are similar to event monitors but do not have visible wires. These wires are usually in-built. Depending on the device selected, they can be worn for 2-6 weeks. Most of these devices need the user to press a button. When symptoms occur to record and store the heart’s activity around that time. Other devices send the information to the company, then sort through the data and report to the doctor.
Things to keep in mind:
- It is a long-term monitor and is best suited if symptoms happen only every once in a while are not felt.
- Patch recorders are small in size and easier to manage. The user can shower, exercise, and sleep comfortably wearing the device.
- These devices may only record activity for up to 2 weeks or 14 days.
Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry (MCOT)
This device comes as a patch that can be applied firmly to the chest. It can be usually worn for up to 30 days and is often considered to monitor symptoms. It automatically records and sends data to a base monitor, which is then sent to technicians who monitor ECG.
Things to keep in mind:
- The user can record a symptom by pressing a button on the monitor.
- A good internet connection is very important to transmit the data to the technicians.
- The base monitor should be kept within 30 feet of the sensor
- The patches need to be replaced once every 5 days.
Implantable loop recorder
This device is about the size of a large paperclip and is inserted just under the skin, close to the heart, through a small incision. It can be worn for up to 4 years. This device sends data from a home monitoring system to a central monitoring station through a secure website.
Things to keep in mind:
- It is very simple to place and can be done without sedation.
- It records heart rate 24/7.
- Can be easily removed if required. Patients can even drive themselves home after the insertion.
Conclusion:
No matter which device is used, it is important to write down any symptoms the user is facing so that the caregiver can see and assess if your heartbeat or rhythm is normal. For patients who have undergone heart surgeries, home care services in Chennai provide remote monitoring devices that help the caregivers monitor the symptoms and report the patients’ progress to the doctors.
