Latest news with #KardiaMobile
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Are portable heart monitors worth it? I bought this $99 ECG for my elderly parents — here's what an expert says
My parents are two of my favourite people in the world, and if there's something I can do to help them live longer, I'm all for it. When this KardiaMobile portable ECG monitor was featured on Yahoo Canada a while back, I immediately ordered it for my very agile, elderly parents. While my folks weren't exactly jumping for joy to receive the mobile monitor, they appreciated that their daughter was looking out for them. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. The KardiaMobile portable ECG is a popular device on Amazon Canada (more than 1,000 people purchased it in the last month) and is clearly a big hit with customers — but how did it fare with my parents? I also spoke with a medical expert who provided insights on whether purchasing the portable ECG is a good investment for managing heart health. Keep scrolling to read what she had to say and get the scoop on this "peace of mind" device. Amazon reviewers say this portable ECG monitor is "convenient for travel" and provides "accurate" results. An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a quick test that records the electrical signals in the heart; in layman's terms, it checks your heartbeat. The results of an ECG can help diagnose heart attacks and irregular heartbeats. Measuring just 14.3 x 9.3 x 2.9 cm and weighing 100g, the KardiaMobile offers medical-grade ECGs at the touch of a finger. The compact tool has been approved to detect atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, tachycardia or normal heart rhythm in thirty seconds. It's important to note that it will not detect a heart attack. After downloading the free Kardia app, you are able to start using the wireless device, which only requires one mental lithium battery (included). To get started, open the app and tap "record EKG" on your phone. Make sure the KardiaMobile is near your phone, and gently place your fingers on each of the sensors. In thirty seconds, you will have your results, which you can save on the app to show your doctor at your next visit. You don't need a Kardia subscription to use the device; however, gaining access to all the features requires a paid subscription of either $12 monthly or $99 annually. Purchasing it will entitle you to more comprehensive monitoring, such as the detection of sinus rhythm with premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), sinus rhythm with supraventricular ectopy (SVE) and sinus rhythm with wide QRS. With the paid subscription, you also get additional benefits such as cloud storage, blood pressure monitoring, medication tracking and, four times a year, customized reports and remote reviews by a board-certified cardiologist. You can also email the ECGs to your doctor or family members, keeping them updated in real time on your heart health. The pocket-sized device doesn't come with a travel case, but you can easily order one online for $16 (though it's currently on sale for $12). The device is not recommended for those with pacemakers and ICDs. It's so easy to use: Within minutes, my almost 80-year-old dad had it set up and ready to go. "It's so simple to use; it's actually fun," he said. He uses it daily and then compares his stats over the course of a week. He appreciates that all of his information is stored in one spot and is easily accessible to show his family doctor. It's great for heart patients: My mom was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation a few years ago and is very mindful of her heart health. "When I feel a bit off, or my heart starts beating funny, I can take out this little tool and get a reading right on the spot. It makes me feel so much more in control of my health," she says. It's wireless: Both of my parents love that you don't need any cords to charge it. It doesn't look medical: They both appreciate that the gadget doesn't look like a medical device. "When I take my blood pressure it's very obvious it's a blood pressure machine, but this looks like a little toy which just seems less clinical. I like that," my mom said. One device, multiple users: I only had to get one KardiaMobile for both of them as they could each download the app on their phones and have their own accounts. "This is something we can do together a few times a day, and it's a simple way for us to keep track of each other's heart health," my mom said. Paid subscription, really?: Of course, I paid for my parents to have the year-long subscription, but they both felt the fee was a tad pricey. "It should be more affordable. Many older people might be turned off by the price and stick to the free plan, which could cost them their health," my dad said. They could throw in a case: My dad was not impressed it didn't come with a case. "They couldn't throw in a case for this little thing?" he mentioned more than once. Hannah Mitchell, a cardiology nurse practitioner and CEO of Heart Health Coaches, is a proponent of portable ECG devices and has seen firsthand how they can help patients. Mitchell told Yahoo Canada that when she sees patients in clinical practice who present their KardiaMobile reports, she is able to "easily identify rhythms that are potentially worrisome." If she sees something suspicious for an arrhythmia, she will then order additional testing to confirm. While a portable ECG monitor can't diagnose an arrhythmia, "it has been a great tool for early detection in some people and prompts cardiac evaluation," she says. Mitchell did mention that current data on some at-home ECG devices indicates a high likelihood of false positive results, which can lead to unnecessary medical appointments and patient anxiety. That said, she has seen the good they can do and recommends them to her patients. "There are several of my patients in particular that have been diagnosed with an arrhythmia and were able to receive aggressive treatment preventing fatal outcomes all because of the KardiaMobile." Given that AliveCor KardiaMobile ECG Monitor has been bought by more than 1,000 people in the last month, it's clear that people like the device. According to customers, it's "very easy to operate," is an "accurate heart beat monitor" and "works very well." "My cardiologist recommended this," writes one shoppers. "Needs to be on a flat surface with no movement. Readings can be saved to show my doctor." Others say that "everyone should have one," that it's "great quality for the price" and that it's "tiny and very portable." Most importantly, it gives "much peace of mind," notes one shopper. However, like my parents, many people find the extra subscription fee to be annoying. Spending $99 on a device that monitors my parents' heart health, is easy to use and provides peace of mind is a no-brainer. It is a bit annoying that you have to pay for a subscription to get all the features, especially since the yearly cost is more than the device itself. Also, keep in mind this monitor is approved for adults and won't provide an accurate reading for children.
NDTV
19-05-2025
- Health
- NDTV
How This Doctor And His Pocket-Sized Tool On Plane Saved A Man's Life
An Oklahoma cardiologist, aboard the same flight as a passenger who showed symptoms of a heart attack, saved him, thanks to quick thinking and a pocket-sized electrocardiogram, or ECG. Last month, Oklahoma cardiologist Dr TJ Trad was on his way from Uganda when a teammate informed him that a patient needed medical attention. As Mr Trad hurried to assist, he found a man sweating profusely and complaining of chest pain. He believed the man was experiencing a heart attack. Mr Trad, who survived a heart attack a year ago, was carrying a pocket-sized electrocardiogram, or ECG. The gadget is the size of a credit card. He was returning home from a medical trip in Uganda with 'Cura for the World', and also had the necessary equipment and drugs to save the man's life. According to the doctor, the patient said his chest pain was a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. Mr Trad then set up a temporary emergency room across a row of seats using airline pillows, placed the man down, and raised his feet to restore blood flow to his heart. Following the exclusion of blood clot and blood sugar issues, the doctor used a 12-lead electrocardiogram from the medical mission trip to determine whether the man was experiencing a heart attack. He immediately administered five drugs commonly used to treat heart attacks. Trad then monitored the man's heart for irregular beats, or arrhythmias, using his own KardiaMobile ECG, which analyses the electrical activity of the heart. Since his own heart attack last year, Trad has carried the KardiaMobile card in his wallet in case he experiences another cardiac incident. When the man placed his thumbs on the card, it used Bluetooth to send information about his heart activity to the doctor's app. The 12-lead ECG was essential in confirming that the man was experiencing heart attack symptoms. The card also enabled him to continuously check for arrhythmias for the next three hours. "A cardiac attack can subsequently show as an arrhythmia. That's how people die," Mr Trad explained to CNN. The doctor confirmed that 45 minutes after taking the medication, the man's chest pain and heart rate began to improve. The man's wife told CNN that Mr Trad and a nurse did an "unforgettable job" in keeping her husband's health from worsening. The man remained steady for the next two hours of the journey. As the plane was ready to land, his chest pain resurfaced, but Mr Trad said he was fine after taking more medication.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Worried about your heart health? This ECG machine is on sale during Amazon's Big Spring Sale — here's what an expert says
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or parents are two of my favourite people in the world, and if there's something I can do to help them live longer, I'm all for it. When this KardiaMobile portable ECG monitor was featured on Yahoo Canada a while back, I immediately ordered it for my very agile, elderly parents. While my folks weren't exactly jumping for joy to receive the mobile monitor, they appreciated that their daughter was looking out for them. The KardiaMobile portable ECG is a no. 1 bestseller on Amazon Canada and is clearly a big hit with customers — but how did it fare with my parents? I also spoke with a medical expert who provided insights on whether purchasing the portable ECG is a good investment for managing heart health. Keep scrolling to read what she had to say and get the scoop on this "peace of mind" device — which is currently on sale during Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Amazon reviewers say this portable ECG monitor is "convenient for travel" and provides "accurate" results. An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a quick test that records the electrical signals in the heart; in layman's terms, it checks your heartbeat. The results of an ECG can help diagnose heart attacks and irregular heartbeats. Measuring just 14.3 x 9.3 x 2.9 cm and weighing 100g, the KardiaMobile offers medical-grade ECGs at the touch of a finger. The compact tool has been approved to detect atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, tachycardia or normal heart rhythm in thirty seconds. It's important to note that it will not detect a heart attack. After downloading the free Kardia app, you are able to start using the wireless device, which only requires one mental lithium battery (included). To get started, open the app and tap "record EKG" on your phone. Make sure the KardiaMobile is near your phone, and gently place your fingers on each of the sensors. In thirty seconds, you will have your results, which you can save on the app to show your doctor at your next visit. I'm almost 50 and I swear by this 'game-changer' anti-aging serum — and it's on sale during Amazon's Big Spring Sale 254,000+ shoppers have given these 'fantastic' sheets a 5-star review — and they're the lowest price we've ever seen Jennifer Garner's favourite face moisturizer is on sale for $17 — plus 19 more of the best beauty deals to shop You don't need a Kardia subscription to use the device; however, gaining access to all the features requires a paid subscription of either $12 monthly or $99 annually. Purchasing it will entitle you to more comprehensive monitoring, such as the detection of sinus rhythm with premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), sinus rhythm with supraventricular ectopy (SVE) and sinus rhythm with wide QRS. With the paid subscription, you also get additional benefits such as cloud storage, blood pressure monitoring, medication tracking and, four times a year, customized reports and remote reviews by a board-certified cardiologist. You can also email the ECGs to your doctor or family members, keeping them updated in real time on your heart health. The pocket-sized device doesn't come with a travel case, but you can easily order one online for $16. The device is not recommended for those with pacemakers and ICDs. It's so easy to use: Within minutes, my almost 80-year-old dad had it set up and ready to go. "It's so simple to use; it's actually fun," he said. He uses it daily and then compares his stats over the course of a week. He appreciates that all of his information is stored in one spot and is easily accessible to show his family doctor. It's great for heart patients: My mom was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation a few years ago and is very mindful of her heart health. "When I feel a bit off, or my heart starts beating funny, I can take out this little tool and get a reading right on the spot. It makes me feel so much more in control of my health," she says. It's wireless: Both of my parents love that you don't need any cords to charge it. It doesn't look medical: They both appreciate that the gadget doesn't look like a medical device. "When I take my blood pressure it's very obvious it's a blood pressure machine, but this looks like a little toy which just seems less clinical. I like that," my mom said. One device, multiple users: I only had to get one KardiaMobile for both of them as they could each download the app on their phones and have their own accounts. "This is something we can do together a few times a day, and it's a simple way for us to keep track of each other's heart health," my mom said. Paid subscription, really?: Of course, I paid for my parents to have the year-long subscription, but they both felt the fee was a tad pricey. "It should be more affordable. Many older people might be turned off by the price and stick to the free plan, which could cost them their health," my dad said. They could throw in a case: My dad was not impressed it didn't come with a case. "They couldn't throw in a case for this little thing?" he mentioned more than once. Hannah Mitchell, a cardiology nurse practitioner and CEO of Heart Health Coaches, is a proponent of portable ECG devices and has seen firsthand how they can help patients. Mitchell told Yahoo Canada that when she sees patients in clinical practice who present their KardiaMobile reports, she is able to "easily identify rhythms that are potentially worrisome." If she sees something suspicious for an arrhythmia, she will then order additional testing to confirm. While a portable ECG monitor can't diagnose an arrhythmia, "it has been a great tool for early detection in some people and prompts cardiac evaluation," she says. Mitchell did mention that current data on some at-home ECG devices indicates a high likelihood of false positive results, which can lead to unnecessary medical appointments and patient anxiety. That said, she has seen the good they can do and recommends them to her patients. "There are several of my patients in particular that have been diagnosed with an arrhythmia and were able to receive aggressive treatment preventing fatal outcomes all because of the KardiaMobile." Given that this device is a no. 1 bestseller and has been bought by more than 1,000 people in the last month, it's clear that people like the device. According to customers, it's "very easy to operate," is an "accurate heart beat monitor" and "works very well." "My cardiologist recommended this," writes one shoppers. "Needs to be on a flat surface with no movement. Readings can be saved to show my doctor." Others say that "everyone should have one," that it's "great quality for the price" and that it's "tiny and very portable." Most importantly, it gives "much peace of mind," notes one shopper. However, like my parents, many people find the extra subscription fee to be annoying. Spending $89 on a device that monitors my parents' heart health, is easy to use and provides peace of mind is a no-brainer. It is a bit annoying that you have to pay for a subscription to get all the features, especially since the yearly cost is more than the device itself. Also, keep in mind this monitor is approved for adults and won't provide an accurate reading for children.
