Welcome to Digitize Health! I am a doctor who loves to share my passion about digital health and fitness technology. On this channel I review the best digital health and fitness tech out there that will help keep you healthy and help get you healthy. Everything from fitness trackers, wearables, devices that measure your heart’s activity and heart sounds to things that might help you stay healthy during this COVID 19 pandemic. You’ll also find me energetically educating and teaching on various health related topics. I believe tech can help us lose weight, get toned, exercise safely and effectively, stay happy, relax, reduce stress and encourage healthy balanced lifestyles amongst so many other things.
Join me on the most exciting digital journey to getting fit and staying fit. Let's have fun along the way!
Fitbit overestimates V02 Max, but to what degree? If it's a marginal difference I will stick with the Fitbit. A little more context would be appropriate, Munim.
Very good, clear review. I cannot think of any reason why an asymptomatic individual should buy or use this (or similar devices) but for those with - or suspected of having - arrhythmias it is useful and extremely easy to use. That said some Fitbit watches (like the Sense 2) and the iWatch from Apple will detect signs of Afib while you sleep, which is particularly helpful because a lot of people with arrhythmias will not be aware of episodes during the day but these watches can provide the first alert by detecting night time fibrillation. Then it is a case of discussing with your GP (they will accept the Fitbit or iWatch alert as valid), have an ECG, possibly wear a Zio patch (seven days recording) and possibly consult a cardiologist.
Brilliant review, thanks! My Cardiologist asked me if I could afford an Apple watch. I said, "No." Then he suggested the AliveCor Kardia. I'm reluctant to buy the latter because it's not wearable and my experiences with wearing the Holter monitor is that it usually misses cardiac episodes, so the ACK wouldn't be any better. I'll look to see if you have a review of the Apple watches. Cheers! 💓
Mine lasted less than two years. They will not replace it and I would have to buy a new device. Just a warning that you might be buying a new device every two years in addition to paying for the service.
After being diagnosed with Afib I was told about this device by my cardiologist and I started using it daily. Over several months it showed me to be in Afib about one third of the time. But when I would have an EKG in his office, the results were always normal. The Kardia data persuaded the cardiologist that meds alone were not working and led him to recommend an ablation, which I got. For me the Kardia was definitely a helpful purchase, and I will continue to use it to confirm that I haven't gone back into Afib.
He’s using his thumb I’m no doctor but I’m the Allie’s health and they’ve told us never use the thumb to check pulse or get o2 says since the thumb has its own pulse
Thanks for the review! I don't know if this was mentioned lower down in the comments, but I couldn't get the 6 lead to work, either on my knee or ankle. Kardia suggests taking a wet paper towel and getting your skin moist, and that did it. As long as I wipe with a wet paper towel, it picks up that bottom sensor on my knee immediately.
👍❤ Thank you. Very helpful review sir. I'm 10 years post heart attack/angioplasty, and recently suffering from 'kicks in the chest' (missed beats?). 15 second ecg checks aren't picking it up at doctor appointments. I want to show them with this device as nothing is being done about it. Bless you. 🙏
The Health Mate App ranks among the better Health apps available. But Withings technology does not use Heart Rate Variability data, which is Withings weakness! I have changed over to use Garmin Connect, which has many other strengths and ranks also high. I like both apps for different reasons. The Withing ScanWatch falls far short of the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro or 7X in monitored data but is more stylish, if that matters. The Withing scales and blood pressure meters do supplement the ScanWatch and generates excellent reports in Health Mate App. However, the ScanWatch left me wanting for more, especially HRV data analysis! The sleep tracking could and needs to be more accurate. My Garmin Fenix 6X Pro fills in where the ScanWatch leaves me wanting. Sleep tracking is more detailed and accurate with HRV data. So, I used both the Withing Health Mate and Garmin Connect in parallel for more than a year. I liked both. But I did switch completely to the Garmin Connect App when I begun to have problems with my Withings Body+ scale and the advanced and expensive Withings BPM Core Stethoscope failed!! Withings customer support kept me running in a perpetual circle without solving my problems! The BPM Core warranty expired while in that perpetual circle!! I was stuck with it! So, it was time to buy a new BPM gauge but from Garmin. This caused me to dump Withings. It was sad when I had enjoyed using the Withings MyHealth App and had all the other Withings devices. Garmin has so far not failed me and Withings devices were replaced by Garmin’s. Garmin’s analysis of HRV data is so much superior to Withings methods. The Garmin app is more for more advanced users with analytic skills to understand what relates to what, which powers the user/athlete to take corrective action from a wider perspective. But foremost, in order to be enabled to do that: the devices and app must be unforgivingly reliable and analysis of data scientifically accurate!
Does the 6L realistically offer much benefit for the extra cost and added requirement to connect to your ankle or knee, compared to the base model that only requires the fingers?
If determination is made based on the rhythm, and not on the amplitude and waveform shapes of the different additional traces provided by the 6L, when is it recommended to get that version? Would the timing of the telltale spikes ever be different on one trace vs another?
Is this useful for someone like me with SVT. I have felt unwell before and didn't know I was in SVT. My watch couldn't pick up the fast heart rate until I put the watch into ecg mode.
Bought this to be able to take a reading when I have certain symptoms so I can give it to my doctor. Getting seen and having a 12L is a great but it's not realistic for transient symptoms.
I got one of the original ones when I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and bought one of the 6Ls for my wife. It stated that she had AFIB and tachycardia so she went to the cardiologist where they implanted a device to monitor her. The Kardia Mobile recently indicated AFIB again so she contacted the cardiologist to find out what the Medtronic implanted device said and according to the implant, there were no episodes of AFIB. The implanted device has shown no episodes of AFIB thus far. This tells me that you can get false positives. I would just suggest that if you get a positive reading for a condition with the Kardia Mobile that you consult a physician for further diagnosis/treatment. Mine does, however, accurately measure my premature ventricular contractions which is what my cardiologist said that I have. All I would say is that I wouldn't freak out at a positive result but would immediately follow up with your healthcare provider.
Yes it is accurate l had AFib last week is really bad went on for 5 hours had to call ambulance they did there test confirmed l have afib and took me to hospital
Doctor! My doctor is useless. I have no alternative but to take matters into my own hands. I've been forced to look into private clinics for the hopes of getting better care. Thank God for credit.
It seems to me the value would be for someone experiencing arrhythmias to use the device to track events and conditions and then provide this information to their medical provider for a more detailed evaluation. That has been my personal experience.
I just returned home after three days in the hospital as they tried to get me back “into rhythm”. Ended up having to shock me while I was in Echo. This was my first experience with A-Fib and most of the personnel seemed a little surprised that I noticed none of the fluttering or racing of the heart before I reached a point I felt I had to go to the hospital. This is why I’m looking into this sort of device. I’d just like to see when things are changing rather than just passing out on the pickleball court. As mentioned, this device might not be for everyone I’ve already been diagnosed so I’m just hoping for a little help spotting it when the A-Fib returns.
Thanks for this review. I was diagnosed with AF about 6 months ago and still have the ECG on my fridge door! I had no idea what these leads meant. I agree wholeheartedly that people without symptoms would be wasting their time with a device like this. There are hundreds of things you could test for. Why bother if you have no symptoms? My AF seems to change on some days where I can feel symptoms all day long. I'm not worried. What will be will be. But this review has given me confidence that I won't be wasting my money.
Well done and thorough review. Especially the six-point ability to scan. The device is on sale currently in Dec 2023 for $79. Probably a good buy if you are worried about your heart as I am at age 79.
the only way to test one of these gimmicky toys is to run it against hospital EKG on a person with issues and compare the graph/results. i would not bet my life on these toys.
A Chamber Quartet....How lovely. I wish it would "trace" when the normal HR is under 60. If a person has a history of Afib, or AFlutter, it could be helpful.
the one time i caught a new afib in a patient at an oncology clinic pretreatment visit, the patient complained they felt well, and their pulse was high. because of the refractory period, every new afib will look like an approx doubling of a patients resting pulse. if your doctor looks at your vitals, i am confused as to the utility of this. if you feel unwell, you can check your pulse and get the same information 99% of the time lol. if its a rare/intermittent afib and hard to catch in office.... whats the clinical significance of it? probably not much imo. money grab
