Event monitors false?

Question

Can a cardiac event monitor show false bradycardia? It shows the pulse rate on the machine, and everytime id look, it would be like 40s-50's and even 30s upon waking. Can those machines show false bradycardia?

It may be true, however I was admitted to the hospital and had no bradycardia for seven days. It went to 54 once, and I was half asleep.

Answer 1

Event monitors can give false reports secondary to artifact or malfunction of the monitor, your doctor should determine if they need to repeat the test.

Being in the hospital for 7 days and not having any significant bradycardia there is a pretty good test, I'd think.

If you have concerns about the monitor readings, follow up with your doc about the findings.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Did you actually take the pulse by hand. Hold two fingers over your wrist on the same side as your thumb. Don't use your thumb, because it has it's own pulse. Count it for a minute. Monitors sometimes show a number that is not the same as if you actually ran a 6 second strip and counted the rate and multiplied it by 10. Take the pulse and see if your pulse is the same as the number of high spikes on the monitor--if so, then it is giving an accurate reading.(Also remeber that a monitor shows electrical activity of the heart, which may or may not be the same as the mechanical, so sometimes the pulse can be lower than what the monitor is saying).

Answer 3

The leads can be jiggled as you move and upset the pattern so that the numerical readout is briefly inaccurate (high or low). If you are wearing a Holter monitor with many chest leads, it is also taking a continuous EKG. The temporary artifact would be recognized by the person examining the EKG. If you were not dizzy or lightheaded it is probably OK. Call your doctor if you have more concerns.

Answer 4

Event monitors are usually pretty darn accurate. Sounds to me like you're definitely bradycardic.