PVCs and HRMs

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Stuart & Lisa M

I have Preliminary Ventricular Contractions. Since they are "extra" heartbeats, I'm curious if
anyone has studied their impact on heart rate monitor users. Do PVCs in fact cause erroneous
readings on the HRM?

If so, I assume that I should I be subtracting a set number of beats (established during a stress
test?) for a given heart rate in order to get a more accurate count.

Any comments/thoughts would be appreciated.

Stu

Sam

I would say the HRM would not be that accurate and the number of PVCs can vary so there is no way to
assume the number will always be the same.

"Sam, who throws PVCs regularly between 120 and 130 bpm for some strange reason."

--
Sam, glad to be back after a bit of a hiatus. "Stuart & Lisa McKenna" <mckennas@knology.net> wrote
in message news:100h56tb7nhu727@corp.supernews.com...
> I have Preliminary Ventricular Contractions. Since they are "extra" heartbeats, I'm curious if
> anyone has studied their impact on heart rate monitor users. Do PVCs in fact cause erroneous
> readings on the HRM?
>
> If so, I assume that I should I be subtracting a set number of beats (established during a stress
> test?) for a given heart rate in order to get a more accurate count.
>
> Any comments/thoughts would be appreciated.
>
> Stu

Xenman

On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 20:50:10 -0500, "Stuart & Lisa McKenna"
<mckennas@knology.net> wrote:

>I have Preliminary Ventricular Contractions. Since they are "extra" heartbeats, I'm curious if
>anyone has studied their impact on heart rate monitor users. Do PVCs in fact cause erroneous
>readings on the HRM?
>
>If so, I assume that I should I be subtracting a set number of beats (established during a stress
>test?) for a given heart rate in order to get a more accurate count.
>
>Any comments/thoughts would be appreciated.
>
>Stu
>

I sometimes have PVCs (premature vetricular contractions) and they feel like skipped heart beats.
They clearly show up on an EKG. In fact they spike much higher. But they pump less blood, so it has
a very significant impact upon performance if there are more than a few in a minute of time.

I dont' know how HRMs work, but if they attempt to measure the electrical impulse of your heart,
then looking at your EKG should give you the answer. I have never used and HRM so I don't have an
answer to your question.

Josh Steinberg

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Stuart & Lisa McKenna wrote:

> I have Preliminary Ventricular Contractions. Since they are "extra" heartbeats, I'm curious if
> anyone has studied their impact on heart rate monitor users. Do PVCs in fact cause erroneous
> readings on the HRM?
>
> If so, I assume that I should I be subtracting a set number of beats (established during a stress
> test?) for a given heart rate in order to get a more accurate count.
>
> Any comments/thoughts would be appreciated.
>
> Stu

1) For the record, PVC is Premature Ventricular Contraction, almost always a benign condition of
occasional extra heartbeats which minimally upset the regular rhythmic beating of the heart.
2) A PVC is a real heartbeat, so why try to subtract it from your HRM reading? If your HRM records
your PVC's, then it is being perfectly accurate.

Best regards, -- Josh Steinberg MD, Syracuse

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<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"> <html> Stuart & Lisa McKenna
wrote: <blockquote TYPE=CITE>I have Preliminary Ventricular Contractions.  Since they are
"extra" heartbeats, I'm curious if anyone has studied their impact on heart rate monitor
users.  Do PVCs in fact cause erroneous readings on the HRM?
If so, I assume that I should I be subtracting a set number of beats (established during a
stress test?) for a given heart rate in order to get a more accurate count.
<q>Any comments/thoughts would be appreciated.
<r>Stu</blockquote>

<s> 1)  For the record, PVC is Premature Ventricular Contraction,
<t>almost always a benign condition of occasional extra heartbeats which minimally upset the
regular rhythmic beating of the heart. 2)  A PVC is a real heartbeat, so why try to
subtract it from your HRM reading?  If your HRM records your PVC's, then it is being
perfectly accurate.
Best regards, -- Josh Steinberg MD, Syracuse  </html>

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