pacemakers and heart rate monitors

Hi:
Wonder if anyone has had any problems with the pacer caused by heart rate monitors?
i am male 72 had a medtronicl pacer installed 5-1-07 following syncope while cycling. For several mo. no problem but now I sometimes will have readings of up to 230 showine for as long as I cycle, up to 3 hrs.These reading show up on the pacemaker too when it is checked. I have disconnected the bicycle computer and still have the problem. If I manually take PR it will be within my normal rate ie 130-160 for that ride. My cardiologist (VA) does not seem concerned, says it is probably atrial fib. Yeah, but---I know fib that last that long is dangerous. If it really is fibulation. Has anyone ever heard of this?
Thanks
Mitch


8 Comments

pacemakers and heart rate monitors

by ridera - 2008-02-10 02:02:20

It's virtually impossible for a HR monitor to interfere with a PM.

I've worn a Holter monitor at the same time as my HR monitor and the data showed the HR monitor was reading high. Like you said, if taken manually, your rate was normal.

I've experienced the apparent high rates shown on my monitor. And, several of my friends without PMs experince the errant rates also.

Generally, it can be attributed to a poor contact between your monitor,s sensors and your skin. Make certain your put a good amount of saliva on the pads and keep the strap tight.

Incidentally, most likely the Medtonic PM is not pacing you while bike riding. Far as I know, all modern Medtonic PMs use an accelerometer for adjusting the rate up. It doesn't receive enough shock when bike riding to be activated. Call Medtronic and ask them about this to be certain.

Increased pulse rate

by joec - 2008-02-10 06:02:14

Mitch,
I too had a Medtronic duel chamber pace installed just over a year ago because of syncope. I am 46 i started having problems while kayaking in the ocean. At first it was light -headedness, shortness of breath, then thank god on land eventually blacking out. The last twenty years or more my resting pulse rate has be 40 to 45 bmp. In the last six months while working hard or excersicising sometimes i get short of breath. Checking my pulse manualy i am never over 160 bpm even when I use a bp cuff but my last ep visit showed that in the last month my heart rate was over 200 bpm 100 times. I was told that i now have IST Inappropriate sinus tachycardia. I now wonder if our problem could be false data by the pace maker. What model is yours i have an Adapta DR model ADDR0101ID. Just a thought the fix for IST does not sound to promising it would be encouraging if the data was not reliable in this case. Let me know your model.
Thanks Joe Correia



PMs and FMs

by elpannell - 2008-02-10 07:02:16

I have been told by an PM technician that the fitness monitors commonly get confused with PM patients. I wear a monitor everytime I run and I have seen some strange events in which I assume is from this confusion. I did not feel strange when my downloaded data showed I was at 200 bpm so I feel it is not true.

Heart Rate Monitor

by hotform - 2008-02-11 09:02:47

Mitch,
What type of heart rate monitor are you using?
Are you using a Polar type monitor with a chest strap? I have had some strange readings out of mine a few times; it was freaking me out for a while as it was happening every time I ran past or through the cemetery. It turned out that the watch was defective and I sent it in and had it fixed.
If however you are using riding a stationary bike and you are using a hand grip monitor, then that is causing your problem. This also applies to treadmills. This type of monitor sends a low voltage electric current up on arm, across your chest and down the other arm. The result is that the pacer speeds your heart up. With mine it jumped right up to 200 and stayed there for hours. It didn't take me very long to figure this out and when I talked to someone from Medtronic’s about it, they confirmed that this is what is happening.
I just disconnected the plug for the hand grips on mine and kept the computer hooked up for the rest of the functions on the bike. Rick

Pacers and monitors

by Dahlia - 2008-02-11 10:02:05

Mitch,
I heard that you are not supposed to wear a chest strap monitor if you have a pacer. When I asked my EP, he said you shouldn't wear one if it uses radio frequency. I couldn't find that information in the manual but the chest strap is called the "transmitter". I haven't worn the chest strap monitor since I got my PM a year and a half ago. My Polar monitor (with chest strap) manual says "Notice to Persons with pacemaker, defibrillator or other implanted electronic device- Persons who have a pacemaker use the Polar heart rate monitor at their own risk. Before starting use, we always recommend an exercise test under doctors supervision. The test is to ensure the saftey and reliability of the simultaneous use of the pacemaker and the heart rate monitor".
I understand that they sell monitors that are worn on the wrist and do not need a chest strap. Although they may be sightly less accurate, they maybe safer and worth a try.
Good luck,
Dahlia

Pacers and monitors

by Mitch - 2008-02-11 11:02:23

Hi:
Thanks for the comments. My pacer is medtronic Adapta DR ADDR0101ID . The monitor is Polar with chest strap F6.
I can feel a "fluttering" in the chest when the rate jumps up and look at the watch and it will be up to as high as 230. This only lasted a few seconds for the first few mo. but now can last as long as 3 hours on a long road ride. When the pacer is checked it does show that the heart was that high but the cardiologist says that it shows as atrial fibulation. I have removed the bike computer and it still happens. Obviously I cannot tell for sure if it happens when I am not wearing the monitor. I don't seem to get out of breath.
Lucky you did not ahve the syncope while on the water. I was riding at about 30mph and the next thing I knew I was being loaded in an ambulance, 4 days in hosp and 48 stitches, just lucky I did not fall in front of a car!
Really do not want to repeat that! Mitch

dahlia

by Mitch - 2008-02-12 09:02:54

Hi:
Thanks for the input. I talked to Medtronics and they said the chest strap was alright. Have also discussed this with 2 cardiologist and they seem to think it is ok. I have to wonder though. After the pacer was installed I did undergo a stress test and have biked appx 8000 miles since the pacer was installed. I would think that the problem would have shown up early but it did not start until the last 2 months or so, and does seem to be getting worse, ie last longer.
Well anyhow I go to see the cardiologist today so maybe I''ll find out.
Thanks to all for the good replies.
Mitch

PM and HRM

by terricrowe26 - 2020-05-21 13:03:23

I use the MyZone HRM with a chest strap. You don't need a watch with it just the app. Recently and I have been using it since Feb., I am in the middle of a workout and I believe my PM interferes with my HRM and boots me out, my HRM loses my heart rate and I can feel that I am pacing. Maybe I just start pacing and while that is happening my HRM doesn't work? I just need to know if it is a bad thing and I'm playing with fire. I rely on my HRM for a lot of info with my training and motivation so I would be so disappointed if I couldn't use it. I have used a wristwatch HRM and have not been happy with it.

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