What are the best methods to monitor atrial fibrillation?

[BillyDB]

I have recently been diagnosed with asymptomatic atrial flutter and intermittent atrial fibrillation. Consequently, after previously not paying much attention, I figured it has likely become worthwhile to watch my heart function more closely, so I bought and just started to use the Charge 5. I've quickly come to realize after trying to understand the data it presents, that one must understand how it is measured, collected, analyzed, and reported in order to understand what it actually means. Additionally, meaning can be enhanced by looking at combinations of metrics rather than just one and, to complicate matters even further, these might not even all come from the same device.

Time to step back and consider what it is more specifically that I and others in my situation ought to measure in this regard. I'm currently thinking that we have the following three objectives:

1. Monitor our resting heart rate over time to ensure it does not trend significantly upwards. If it does, inform one's cardiology team. The reason for doing this is based on the understanding that atrial arrhythmia will induce an faster ventricular beat over time. Despite posts in this community questioning the reliability of heart rate data generated by the Charge 5 for those with arrhythmias, I remain hopeful that heart rate data generated by the device will satisfy this need especially given its intermittent occurrence in my case.
2. Periodically spot check directly for high pulse rates and arrhythmias. Fitbit's atrial fibrillation app should come in handy as can other methods and devices available to a home user including palpation,  A-Core-Cardia(spelling!) home signal graphing, pulse oximeters, and blood pressure monitors. Contact one's cardiology team if findings are unexpected and positive.
3. It seems to me, for those of us into exercise that it would be useful to monitor our heart rate when exercising intensely so that we might notice and back off in the moment if we need to respond to a fibrillation event. Based on my reading of other posts in this community, I'm not as confident that I can rely on the Charge 5 for this. It may be that part of the reason is the averaging of data in the heart rate calculation. Users may have experienced problems for not following suggested use behavior. Some also seem to have concluded that arrhythmias distort an otherwise accurate heart rate reading. I would like to understand this better. Someone seemed to suggest that chest strap devices may be better for this purpose but I've yet to look into these. What do you think? What methods have you tried either successfully or not?

I've realized I am just a beginner at using and understanding the Charge 5 and fit bit app and other health management tools out there and therefore am interested in what you have learned and how you cope. I appreciate your reading this and look forward to reading of your experience and advice.

[Gabbee]

I understand your problem with the Charge 5, because I had a similar problem when I started, as have others in this forum. Fortunately the C5 works for me because all I really wanted was the HR monitor and to a lesser extent the ECG function. I can determine if I have AFIB from the HR alone coupled with my knowledge about what else I'm doing at the time. I also use the Exercise function because it gives me some measure of performance, albeit a bit flaky.

The real problem for some of us is that the watch-based fitness trackers really only measure heart rate and movement, then make educated guesses about a whole lot more. They're very useful for some things, but can be very misleading about others. Unfortunately in this world of hype, this leads us to infer much more than the device can actually do, encouraged by the wording of the 'results'. (Don't get me started about 'wellness' and 'sleep score'.) Reading this forum is a real eye-opener of just how misleading some of these readings - both measured and derived - can be.

A typical example is the SPO2 result which is not real-time and probably not very reliable for those with asthma, COPD or similar. OTOH, a reasonable pulse oximeter costs $10-20 and can even give you a visual reading of your heartbeat which can be useful for the arrhythmics among us.

However, I'm happy with my C5 now I know its limitations. Also I'm sure there are countless users who aren't using it for medical purposes and are delighted with what it gives them. Would I have bought something else with 20/20 hindsight? Maybe, but I don't know what. I'll be very interested in what answers you get. At least by going the fitbit route I get access to forums like this, which is a big plus.