The Coronavirus disease emerged in the year 2019 and has spread like wildfire across the world. India is currently undergoing a second wave in which people are contracting the virus more rapidly and also suffering from an increased rate of oxygen shortage. ¹  To add to the distress, this disease has led to infinite deaths in our country. 

Speaking about fatalities, growing data and studies have pointed towards a relation between hypertension and COVID-19. In fact, reports cite hypertension as one of the leading comorbidities in the patients of COVID-19.² People with hypertension already suffer from a compromised immune system and their hearts are relatively weaker from pumping extra blood.³ Owing to this reason, the chances of morbidity increases in hypertensive people who contract the Coronavirus disease. Hence, hypertensive people should be precautious of constantly monitoring their blood pressure levels and keep it under control. 

The prevalence of hypertension is the highest in people aged 60 or above (around 63 percent) and considerably high in people aged between 40-59 (around 33 percent) .⁴ Since the chances of people belonging to these age groups with respect to catching the COVID-19 disease are already compromised, it is all the more imperative to maintain social distancing. But, even social distancing comes with its own set of challenges. 

In order to control high blood pressure, regular consultation with doctors and constant monitoring is of prime importance. However, due to social distancing and an even greater stress on healthcare facilities to deal with COVID-19 patients, one-to-one consultation with medical experts has become a far-fetched possibility. Due to this patients of hypertension are having to cope with deteriorating health conditions.

Hypertension and AFib – The Link

Do You Know? 

Hypertension is found in 60% of AFib Patients ⁹

Unregulated blood pressure levels can incentivise the development of other health conditions. Comorbidities in hypertensive patients represent the need for intensified efforts with regards to healthcare. The risk of mortality is also high in such patients. 

Arrhythmia are one of the commonly known comorbidities associated with hypertension.⁵ It can be broadly divided into 5 different categories.⁶ However, the most common variant to sustain is Atrial Fibrillation of AFib. ⁷

As per the American Heart Association, AFib is characterized by ‘irregular or quivering heartbeat that can further result in blood clots, strokes, heart failure, or other cardiovascular disorders.’⁸ The upper chambers of the heart known as atria doesn’t beat in coordination with the lower chambers knows as the ventricles. This disorder may advance with age. 

As far as normal heartbeat in humans are concerned, the range lies between 60-80 contractions per minute. However, in a patient with AFib it can range between 300-600 contractions. 

To understand more about the disorder, please watch this presentation by the American Heart Association. 

How AFib Impacts Hypertensive Patients

Do You Know?

AFib increases the risk of stroke by 5X ^10,11

Atrial Fibrillation leads to irregular heart rhythm and improper pumping of blood can be responsible for numerous health related complications. Although not critical in itself, AFib can lead to severe challenges in patients with blood pressure. 

Shared below are a few commonly experienced health-related challenges of AFib: ¹³

1. Stroke

The improper pumping of blood from atria to ventricles can lead to the formation of blood clots. These blood clots can travel from atria to the brain that will eventually lead to a stroke.

2. Cardiomyopathy

AFib causes the ventricles to beat faster than normal in order to push out blood from the heart. This phenomenon leads to Cardiomyopathy in which the walls of the ventricles become weak and incapable of pumping blood. 

3. Heart Failure 

AFib prevents our heart from pumping out blood as well as it should. The heart needs to make intensive efforts in order to pump blood to the body. Hence, it becomes weak and results and results in heart failure. 

4. Memory Loss

The supply of blood to the brain in AFib patients becomes limited. The probability that an AFib patient can suffer a stroke is also significant. Both situations can lead to damage in the brain resulting in memory loss.

We recommend that you try to regulate your hypertension levels in order to tackle the above mentioned complications. You must also be watchful of any symptoms that can potentially signal the onset of AFib. Regular consultation with doctors and BP monitoring can help in the early diagnosis of AFib and balance BP levels. 

AFib Symptoms You Must Not Ignore

Do You Know?

Early detection of AFib reduces the chances of stroke by 68% ⁶

It is believed that prevention is better than any cure. The same fact holds true in the case of AFib. Early diagnosis of AFib can not only help prevent its onset but also keep other health-related complications at bay which may turn severe with increasing age. 

Following are the 4 most significant symptoms that are commonly experienced and should never be ignored if you wish to prevent AFib:

1. Fatigue

Proper supply of oxygen rich blood throughout the body is essential to stay active. In the case of AFib, this supply becomes hampered leading to tiredness or exhaustion. You may feel weak or exhausted even while going about your routine activities. 

2. Dizziness 

The irregular contraction of heart chambers leads to insufficient supply of oxygen rich blood in the body resulting in light-headedness. You may experience a black out or feel as if the room around you is spinning. 

3. Angina (Chest Pain) 

Rapid heart beats combined with the improper supply of blood to the heart muscles can result in chest pain or related discomforts in patients of AFib. You may feel pressure or pain in the chest when you experience this symptom. 

4. Palpitations 

The abnormal contractions of the upper and lower chamber of the hearts in AFib can lead to palpitations. Patients may experience irregular heartbeats, sudden pounding, or fluttering. 

In case you experience any of these symptoms we advise you to immediately consult a doctor. However, it may so happen that the above mentioned symptoms may be too subtle to notice or may not occur at all. Thankfully, Omron BPM Monitors can help in detecting blood pressure as well as AFib in such cases. Let us see how. 

Regulate Hypertension With Omron To Prevent AFib

We have already established the fact that AFib and Hypertension are linked. Hypertension is found in 60 percent of AFib patients. Hence, regulating  blood pressure levels can reduce the chances of AFib significantly. 

Omron has been the global leader of Blood Pressure Innovation since 1973. Our automatic blood pressure monitors help patients in measuring their blood pressure levels accurately from the comfort of their homes and share the readings with their physicians regularly with the help of the Omron Connect App. To know more about hypertension management and consulting your doctor using the Omron Connect App, please read the following article:

Get Empowered With The Omron Connect App

Regulating hypertension alone cannot help in the diagnosis of AFib. Thankfully, our blood pressure monitors come equipped with the AFib indicator. 

Detecting AFib at Home With HEM 7136 T

The Omron HEM – 7361 T Blood Pressure monitor not only helps you in measuring your blood pressure level but also in diagnosing AFib at the same time. Early diagnosis of AFib can help in its prevention as well as management. If the diagnosis is positive you can also consult your doctor well in advance and he/she can prescribe you procedure and drugs for its regulation. 

Ideal for use by families, the HEM – 7136 T BP monitor allows you to measure BP, diagnose AFib, store and transmit data to smartphones for upto 2 users. Start the prep with wrapping the cuff around your arms in compliance with the instructions of the cuff wrapping guide. Once you are seated in a comfortable position with the cuff wrapped around your arms, select the user ID (1 or 2) for measurement. 

Start the process by pressing the start/stop button for 3 seconds or until AF (AFib) shows up on the screen. The BP monitor will take 3 consecutive readings at 30 seconds intervals and display the average eventually. 

Comparing AFib Readings With HEM 7136 T

The Omron HEM 7136 T also makes it possible for users to compare their blood pressure readings. Simply select the desired user ID and press the memory button. You will be able to access upto 100 readings. 

For a visual demonstration of using the AFib feature, we recommend that you watch the following video:

How to Use Omron HEM 7361 T

Conclusion

Both BP and AFib are lifestyle diseases. It is worth reiterating that they can be managed with regular monitoring, balanced diet, exercising, prescribed medication, and healthy lifestyle. 

Omron BP monitors are ideal for home use as they are clinically validated. Their compact design makes handling extremely convenient. User-friendly features of our BP monitor and the Omron Connect App make it suitable for use by people of all ages. 

Besides regular home monitoring we also strongly recommend regularly consulting your physician. A combination of home monitoring and expert consultation  will allow you to lead your life to the optimum potential. 

Reference: 

1. India Covid second wave: How and why India’s Covid situation turned grimmer than ever before | India News
2. Hypertension and COVID-19: Ongoing Controversies | Cardiovascular Medicine
3. The impact of COVID-19 on high blood pressure
4. Products – Data Briefs – Number 289 – October 2017
5. European Society of Hypertension Scientific Newsletter
6. Types of Arrhythmia
7. Atrial fibrillation: the most common arrhythmia
8. What is Atrial Fibrillation (AFib or AF)?
9. Camm AJ, Savelieva I, Bharati S et al. Atrial Tachycardia flutter, and, fibrillation. In: Sakesen S, Camm AJ, eds. Electrophysiological Disorders Of The Heart. Elsevier Churchill – Livingstone, 2005: 283-363. 
10. Morillo, Carlos A et al. “Atrial Fibrillation: The Current Epidemic.” Journal of geriatric cardiology : JGC Vol. 14,3 (2017): 195-203. Doi 10.110909. J.issn. 1671-5411.2017.03.011
11. NHS, Atrial Fibrillation, 2018. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/atrial-fibrillation/complications/ . last accessed May 2019. 
12. 10 Effects of Atrial Fibrillation on the Body
13. Complications of Atrial Fibrillation
14. Odutayo A, Wang CX, Hsiao AJ, Hopewell S, Altman DG et al. (2016) atrial fibrillation and risks of cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and death: systematic review and meta-analysis.