I have written very few reviews for products, but I believe strongly that Kardia is an excellent tool for people with Afib. I have been using Kardia for a year and it is essential to my heart health. I can only speak to using Kardia with my Afib. For most of the year, I was in AFib and refused to get cardioconverted — Kardia confirmed my Afib consistently and even with my 82 year old mother. Then, once I was converted I saw through Kardia how my heart rhythm would change. My doctor did not think I would stay in sinus rhythm after my conversion because my heart had been out of rhythm for so long. He said I had a 40%chance that the conversion would work and keep me in rhythm. He said that over time, sinus rhythm begets sinus rhythm, and Afib begets Afib— so chances my heart would continue to beat properly we’re slim. I believe that by using kardia consistently, I have figured out several of my Afib triggers and I have avoided cardio conversion every time, as well as avoiding having an ablation. I alwAys have the Kardia unit with me and check my heart rhythm twice a day. And, if I feel “off” I check it immediately. I have learned several of my Afib triggers — such as not using my C-pap machine, what stressful situations precipitate Afib, excess sugar, too much alcohol - and specifically what alcohol, too much red meat, being dehydrated, and over eating. I also learned that drinking lots of camomile tea has seemed to help me self-convert back in rhythm. Over the past six months since my heart was converted, I have been in Afib for no more than 48 hours at a time — six or seven times. I believe that by knowing when my heart rhythm is off, I can be proactive with camomile tea and de stressing which together have gotten me back in sinus rhythm. Once, when I almost exceeded the 48 hour limit in Afib my doctor had put on me for a conversion, i sent his office an email of the Kardia reading. They were amazed at the accuracy and found it very helpful. I think it also helps when Readings are taken properly according to the directions.
For $99 this led me to a diagnosis and a plan. Cheaper than an ER visit for sure!
Addition: I have read a lot of comments below giving very low ratings and stating the device is inaccurate and it worried them for a week or more until the GP said they didn't have AFib...
First: This is a tool. It can do nothing more than look at the data and look for a pattern and report what it sees. You can mess it up. If you move you can cause false readings. It cannot give you a 100% accurate diagnosis. For that you will need a specialist.
Second: If you get one of these devices, REMEMBER THE FIRST POINT. You bought the device for a reason. Clearly you were concerned about something. If the device is telling you that you have AFib then at least do yourself the favor of going to a specialist. DO NOT go to your GP except for a referral. My GP told me all the wrong things to do. She is a great doc, but certainly was not trained in how to handle AFib.
Third: About the business model. I see comments complaining about the business model. Have any of you been to the ER lately? If you were to follow my GPs advice I'd be more than $5000 in the hole for an ER visit where I would know nothing more than I did before the visit and would have no treatment plan. The device, for its price plus a subscription which I gladly paid for are a fraction of the cost of an ER visit.
This is a tool people. It can help you give a specialist more information. That is it.
Here are the facts on AFib:
People generally don't die from AFib unless they have other pulmonary issues. The biggest problem from AFib is stroke. The recovery from even a MINOR stroke is VERY EXPENSIVE. This $99 tool, plus the subscription probably prevented a stroke in my case. I'm no on a blood thinner and I have a plan for what to do if I have AFib events.
I also learned that there are many things that can contribute to AFib. Sleep Apnea. Diabetes, Excessive weight, diet. Etc. For $99 I think I've made some healthy changes in my life.
[FLASH]
The FDA this week (late November 2017) has approved the use of the sister product AliveCor "Kardia Band" for Apple Watch (likely version 1 or greater). It is a replacement for your Apple Watch wrist band and does the exact same thing as this "Kardia Mobile" device.
It also has software they claim will constantly monitor for AFib. Requires the monthly AliveCor subscription.
Review.. of Kardia Band
I had atrial fibrillation (AFib/AF) a few years ago and bought the Kardia to monitor myself occasionally. The device sat in my drawer for 4 months since nothing was ever wrong.
Two days ago I noticed I was "winded" (out of breath) much more easily than usual. So.. I read that shortness of breath is a warning sign of heart failure. I was on the fence as to whether i should call a doctor or just ignore. I got comfortable in my recliner and used my AliveCor Kardia device.
After 30 seconds, I see "Possible Atrial Fibrillation" and a resting heart beat of 150bpm (normal for me is 55bpm). Wow! I called my cardiologist and went in for a checkup.
Sure enough, I was in A-Fib. The doctor said, "How did you know to come in today?" I showed the Kardia device to the cardiologist and we ran the 30 second test (including reviewing the PDF file of the test results the device emailed me). He was dumbfounded. "We provide a unit like this, but it is $2000). A second cardiologist four flights above (the one who fixed me two hours later) said he heard about the device from downstairs and wanted to see it.
Two hours later (and $3000 poorer) I was patched up good as new.
($3000 buys you a discounted 32 channel EKG (Kardia is 1 channel), a Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE) to make sure I had no clots, followed by a Cardioversion (heart "reboot"). Now I feel great (except in wallet).
Overall this is a neat little device. I bought it because I suffer from various arrhythmias and thought it might be neat to help identify what I feel, especially as I continued to have issues after an ablation. This device seems to mainly be geared towards atrial fibrillation but I thought maybe it would be useful for more. And it kind of is, but it's just not a clean enough tracing to really identify too much. Notably after my ablation I was continuing to have frequent ectopic beats and wanted to find out if they were PACs or PVCs, because in theory my ablation got rid of the source of my PACs. But the tracing is just not accurate enough to really be able to identify between the two. It is, however, good enough to tell if you are having tachycardia, get a good read on the pulse rate and roughly identify qt interval. Overall for the price it's probably about as good as you can do, but it's no substitute for a proper ecg.
UPDATE: I've since discovered that this can read other leads beyond lead I (which is holding both pads with your thumbs / fingers). The other two methods are to read lead II by placing one pad just above your left knee and the other pad with your right hand, and an anterior precordial lead by placing it above your breastbone on your chest. It turns out that both of these other readings, while slightly less convenient, are MUCH cleaner and more usable. It's still no 12 lead but you can get a surprisingly decent read this way, compared to the handheld method which for me at least is just too noisy to be useful.
This device appears to be a very well-thought-out one trick pony. IF you don't have heart issues, you don't need it. BUT, should you have ongoing, infrequent, or just random heart problems, it's a wonderful tool to have. After a double bypass last August, I received a visit from AFIB. Not welcome. But in the ICU folks recognize it fast and deal with it fast. I thought that was a one-time visit, but now, the AFIB visited last week after all those months. Waking up with AFIB is NOT welcome, and the cardiologist I saw 4 hours later recommended this device. So, I've had and used it for all of 5 days, thankfully not when AFIB visits. It works as advertised, takes an ECG in 30 seconds and emails a PDF to your specified email. I'm using it once a day, and will take a thumb drive with the PDFs to the cardiologist office when I see her next.
Only drawback is that my iPhone SE with the unit stuck on back won't fit in any case that I know of. I may have to modify my old case to accommodate the pads on back. I'm happy to have this unit, and really hope that a-hole AFIB stays away for a lot longer.
Feature Product
- EKG ON THE GO: Take unlimited medical-grade EKGs anytime, anywhere. No subscription required.
- EKG HISTORY: Store your EKGs on your phone, and email to your doctor with the press of a button.
- TRUSTED BY DOCTORS: FDA-Cleared to detect Atrial Fibrillation, Bradycardia, Tachycardia or Normal Heart Rhythm in 30 seconds.
- EASY TO USE: Simply place your fingers on the sensors-no wires, patches or gels required.
- Works with most smartphones & tablets. See compatible devices below. Not recommended for use with pacemakers and ICDs.
Description
"Highly recommended! My doctor was even impressed!" | "Great device for home health monitoring!" | "Must have device for anyone with afib!"
Alivecor Kardia Mobile EKG Monitor is a revolutionary device that allows you to be proactive about your heart health. In just 30 seconds, Kardia captures a medical grade EKG from the convenience of your smartphone or tablet. Our FDA-cleared Kardia specifically detects atrial fibrillation, bradycardia and tachycardia, and lets you share your results with your doctor for a more informed diagnosis and treatment plan.
Kardia delivers more than EKGs! With Kardia Premium, our innovative software also allows you to easily track your stated symptoms including palpitations or shortness of breath, as well as your dietary habits, sleep, and exercise patterns, and has the ability to integrate with Apple's Health App or Google Fit. Through the app-based service, you are able to create a voice memo detailing any symptoms you are experiencing before sharing results with your doctor. Easily attach Kardia to your phone our convenient attachment plate, and take with you wherever you go!
Alivecor Kardia Mobile EKG offers peace of mind at your fingertips. Join thousands of families taking a proactive approach to their heart health by ordering yours today!
Wonderful to have a tool to be able to record your heart rhythm. I used it on my cousin one night and found his rate was 144 and in A Fib. Which prompted him to get more tests and found he had blocked coronary arteries and had quadruple bypass!!! Saved his life. He was completely asymptomatic and had a pre op eye surgery stress test a few months earlier and passed with nothing noted!! Thanks Kardia, you saved at least one life!! Love this device!! It so small and compact I carry it in my small zipper of my purse just in case someone in the family is not feeling right. Its not a doctor but can alarm you to get in touch with your doctor. GREAT DEVICE!!! Thanks!
This device does exactly what it was designed to do. It provides an accurate cardiac rhythm strip. As a physician with some additional training in electrocardiography, I found the device very helpful in evaluating my own symptomatic cardiac rhythm disturbance.
Since I’m not foolish enough to be my own physician, I submitted the strips to my internist and then my cardiologist, providing corroborative evidence in their diagnosis of my cardiac rhythm disturbance. As a result, I received a pacemaker which resulted in a dramatic improvement in my quality of life.
At one point, the device stopped working, but the AliveCor support team was able to provide by email instructions for a correction, and it has worked fine since.
Although the optional subscription service stores your tracings you can still keep the results without a subscription by emailing them to yourself as each one is recorded and place them in your own file. If need be, they can then be printed or transferred electronically to your physician.
Regarding use of this device by individuals without a medical background, if you have any suspicious symptoms, see your physician. Do not rely on this device alone. That said, if you are symptom free but simply want to use this for screening for disorders such as atrial fibrillation, it could be useful though any suspected abnormality would still need to be confirmed by your physician. Conceivably it could pick up a serious disorder, but it is also possible that an artifact or false positive could end up wasting your time and that of your physician, but then that is often the nature of screening tests. If used judiciously, I would definitely recommend it.
Like a lot of people, when I first saw the commercial for this device I questioned how anything at this price point and size could provide accurate results for an EKG - something that I've always had to be hooked up with leads at my doctor's office to get. I haven't been to my cardiologist since purchasing the monitor, so I can't comment on its accuracy from a medical perspective just yet. (I will update the review with this information when I have it.) The remainder of my review will focus on its features and getting things up and running "out of the box".
Initial device setup
Take it out of the box, and remove the plastic from around the battery on the bottom of the device. The physical part of the setup is that simple. There are no on or off buttons (or buttons of any kind) on the device itself - it's about as simple as you can get. This is definitely a plus for a device like this. After all, if someone is experiencing an incident and trying to take an EKG the last thing one wants to do is fumble with buttons and switches. Kudos on the design!
App setup and use
The app was fairly easy as well - download it from the App Store and create your account in it. The app guides you through taking your first EKG as well, which leads to the only "surprise" that I got out of the whole process: after taking your first EKG, it must be submitted to Alivecor for a medical review. This review must be completed by them (well, a medical professional through them) before you can do anything else with the device. The message in their app says it typically takes up to 24 hours to complete this review (mine was completed in around 20 hours). Until that's complete, the device is essentially a paperweight (albeit a cool looking one).
Initial EKG
As mentioned earlier, your first EKG must be reviewed by one of Alivecor's medical professionals before you can continue using the device. The app states that this is an FDA requirement. The device is regulated by the FDA so the statement is logical - plus it just makes sense from both a quality control and legal perspective. This, however, is one thing that they do not advertise enough prior to purchase. They do state it on their website - but it's buried in the Frequently Asked Questions section. This wasn't a big deal to me, and in fact was a benefit. (Who wouldn't want a board certified cardiologist to look at an EKG and provide an interpretation for free?) However, those who expect to get the monitor and "jump right in" taking recording after recording on the first day will be disappointed that they can't.
Subsequent EKGs
It's simple to take an EKG, and only takes about a minute to complete. Sit down with a solid flat surface in front of you. Get as comfortable as you can. Open the app, and place the phone as close as you can to the monitor. The instructions say within 12 inches, and they provide an attachment plate that will attach the device to your phone. (I haven't used the attachment plate, so I can't comment on it.) Click on the "Record Now" button. Place the index and middle fingers from both hands on the plates on the device and sit still and relax for 30 seconds. Afterward, the app will ask whether the EKG was of you or someone else. That's it - easier and quicker than getting hooked up with all those pads from your doctor's EKG machine.
An instant analysis will indicate if the EKG was normal, abnormal, or unclassified. Normal is, of course, what you want to hear. There are a number of reasons that the EKG could be unclassified that are listed under the Frequently Asked Questions section of Alivecor's website. One of mine came back unclassified when my heart rate was over 90 - so I'd recommend not using this to take an EKG immediately after exercising. (I did this as a test to see what the EKG monitor could do.)
The App - Premium Features
While the device is simple and well designed, it's useless without its companion app, which works well on my iPhone 7 Plus. While the app is fairly easy to navigate and includes some good features, those who bought the EKG monitor with the expectation of getting more than a simple "record and store one result" experience without purchasing a subscription will be disappointed.
When creating your account in the app, you're given the option of starting a free 30 day trial of Alivecor's premium service. My recommendation is to try it out. This adds some features to the app that are handy - a place to record resting heart rate, medications taken for the day, blood pressure from an Omron cuff, and a weight diary. While all those features and useful and good, the main reason to consider a premium subscription is storage of multiple EKG test results. (Without a premium subscription, only the last result is stored.)
This subscription is available for $9.99 monthly or $99.99 annually, and payment information must be entered manually through the app. This is primarily what prevents my review for this device from being 5 stars. In my opinion, $10 per month is too expensive for a subscription price, unless someone has cardiac issues which require frequent monitoring. $4.99 per month or even less for the casual user would provide better value. I also think that the EKG journal feature (which saves more than just the most recent EKG reading) should be part of the basic (free) plan. Lastly, the app doesn't accept ApplePay for subscription fees.
Conclusion
The device is simple to use, and so is the app. This has great potential, and I'd recommend that those who wish to do more than monitor their heart rate and blood pressure consider buying this EKG monitor. Just be prepared to pay more than the purchase price of the equipment in service fees annually to make the monitor as useful as it can be.
I am a retired physician who has a strong family history of cardiac arrhythmias. I wanted a way to check my rhythm strip if I suddenly felt palpitations or had other acute cardiac symptoms. This device works really well as long as you follow the caveats others have mentioned. Keep your body loose and don't flex the muscles in your arms. Rest your fingers on the pad. I get a totally clean rhythm strip on my iPhone if I follow these steps. Well worth the price when one considers the cost and time spent on a trip to the ER.
UPDATE from 1 star to 5:
It appears that all of the complaints about the inability to store readings on your local device / the requirement of a "premium" account to store readings online finally got through.
The latest update of the Omron Connect app (version 5.6.0 released 4/22/19) FINALLY allows for the KardiaMobile readings to be stored on your local device...no Premium account required unless you want to have online storage. My KardiaMobile is now a device that provides the benefits I thought I was getting when I originally purchased it.
Anyone who bought a KardiaMobile and tossed it aside because of frustration with the app "premium" requirement needs to download the latest version and resurrect your device.
PRIOR REVIEW:
First things first - the KardiaMobile device appears to work well. No complaints there.
The scam is in the account requirement. In order to store readings after the 12 day introductory period, a "premium" account costing $9.99 per month is required. The sales pitch is that the "premium" account provides unlimited storage, monthly summary reports, and medication tracking. I have no need for monthly summary reports, medication tracking, and unlimited storage - only storage for the most recent "X" number of readings so that they are available for a short period of time.
At the end of the introductory period I now have the first 12 readings stored...that's fine - provide a free account that stores the most recent 12 readings in a "first-in-first-out" rotation. Don't charge me $100 for a device that ultimately has limited utility if I don't pay an extortion fee of an additional $120 per year. Fix your customer service model.
As an additional side note - I also have an Omron blood pressure monitor. A few weeks ago the Omron app for the blood pressure monitor was discontinued and I was required to "upgrade" to the new app which also happens to be the one that supports the KardiaMobile device. Oddly enough, I get unlimited free storage of my blood pressure readings without being required to pay for a "premium" account. Go figure...
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