Cardiac
monitoring

DEVICES TO DETECT
SLOW OR IRREGULAR
HEARTBEATS

Do you have an

irregular heartbeat?

It’s a more common question than you might think. Has something not been feeling right?
Have you experienced dizziness, unexplained fainting or shortness of breath?

If so, you may have an irregular heart rhythm (heartbeat) called arrhythmia. An Insertable
Cardiac Monitor (ICM) can help figure out what’s going on.

Use our list of questions to help guide a conversation with your doctor.

What is an irregular heartbeat?

A normal heartbeat (rhythm) is typically between 60 to 100 beats per minute. If your heart beats slower or faster, you may have an irregular rhythm (arrhythmia).

There are four common kinds of arrhythmia.

Bradycardia
Is a SLOW heartbeat of fewer than 60 beats per minute

Tachycardia
Is a FAST heartbeat of more than 100 beats per minute

Pause
A pause in your regular heartbeat, when your heart doesn’t beat for a few seconds

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)
Is a heartbeat that beats chaotically and/or irregularly.

 

How is an

Arrhythmia diagnosed?

Because an irregular heartbeat can come and go, diagnosis can be tricky. While other methods of heart monitoring only record your heartbeat for up to a month, an ICM can monitor continuously for years. Some ICMs connect wirelessly to your cell phone via bluetooth to send data to your doctor or clinic automatically.1

 

 

INSERTABLE CARDIAC MONITOR

An ICM—also sometimes referred to as loop
recorder—goes under the skin near your heart and can monitor for years.

HOLTER MONITOR

Small conducting patches (electrodes) stick to your chest and attach to a small monitor that records heartbeats for up to two days.

EVENT RECORDER

A recorder attaches to your skin for 30 days, allowing you to press a button when you feel symptoms.

WEARABLES

Fitness wearables and smartwatches may be able to display a short history of your heart rhythm.

Using a wearable may help determine if you should speak to your doctor about more detailed and consistent monitoring with a device such as an ICM, which may help with diagnosis.

YOU’RE NOT ALONE

Many people who have AFib may not experience the symptoms. It is important for your doctor to accurately diagnose your condition and understand how often and how long it occurs.

References

1. Sina Safabakhsh Bs, Darson Du M, Janet Liew Bs, et al. Bluetooth-Enabled Implantable Cardiac Monitors and Two-Way Smartphone Communication for Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. CJC Open. 2022;4(3):305-314. doi:10.1016/j.cjco.2021.10.010
2. Atrial Fibrillation_2020 CDC (v1.0) Chugh 2014 Worldwide Epidemiology of Atrial Fibrillation: A Global Burden of Disease 2010 Study
3. Atrial Fibrillation. cdc.gov. 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/atrial_fibrillation.htm. Accessed 28 May, 2021
4. What is Atrial Fibrillation (AFib or AF)? 2016. www.Heart.Org. https://www.heart. org/en/healthtopics/atrial-fibrillation/what-is-atrial-fibrillation-afib-or-af Accessed 28 May, 2021
™ Indicates a trademark of the Abbott group of companies.
‡ Indicates a third-party trademark, which is property of its respective owner.

MAT-2300135 v1.0