> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sonohealth.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # What an Irregular Heartbeat Reading on Your Monitor Means > Many home blood pressure monitors flag an irregular heartbeat. Learn what that symbol means, how it differs from an AFib diagnosis, and when to see a doctor. Many home blood pressure monitors display a small icon when they detect an irregular heartbeat during a reading. Seeing it can be alarming, so it helps to understand exactly what it does — and doesn't — mean. ## What does the irregular-heartbeat symbol mean? The indicator means the monitor detected an **uneven pulse rhythm** while measuring. That can be something harmless, like an occasional extra beat, or it can reflect an arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation (AFib). Importantly, the monitor is **screening**, not diagnosing — it flags irregularity for you to follow up on. ## Is an irregular reading the same as AFib? No. An irregular-heartbeat flag is not a diagnosis of [AFib](/ekg/atrial-fibrillation). Many people get an occasional flag with no underlying heart problem, while others may have an arrhythmia that needs evaluation. Only a clinician, usually with an EKG, can diagnose AFib or another rhythm disorder. ## Why might I see it occasionally? Movement, talking, crossing your legs, or a full bladder during measurement can all disturb the reading, and benign extra beats are common. Re-take the reading after sitting quietly for five minutes following [proper technique](/blood-pressure/how-to-measure-at-home). If the flag appears only rarely and you feel well, it is often not a cause for alarm. ## When should I see a doctor? See your clinician if the irregular-heartbeat symbol appears **frequently**, or if it comes with symptoms like palpitations, a racing or fluttering heart, dizziness, breathlessness, or chest discomfort. Bring your monitor and a log of readings to the appointment. For a closer look at rhythm, a [personal EKG monitor](/ekg/overview) can record a tracing to share with your doctor. ## Will an irregular pulse affect my blood pressure reading's accuracy? It can. Home monitors rely on a steady pulse to calculate blood pressure, so a very irregular rhythm may make individual readings less reliable. Taking several readings and averaging them helps, but discuss the best monitoring approach with your doctor if you have a known arrhythmia. Seek urgent care for a fast or irregular heartbeat with chest pain, fainting, severe shortness of breath, or weakness on one side. A home monitor and a personal EKG are screening tools that support — but never replace — medical diagnosis and care. **Related:** [Atrial Fibrillation](/ekg/atrial-fibrillation) · [Heart Palpitations](/ekg/heart-palpitations) · [EKG Monitor Overview](/ekg/overview) · [How to Measure at Home](/blood-pressure/how-to-measure-at-home)