I was pretty skeptical that this would be an unbiased review. I am well aware that doctors often get ‘perks’ or benefits from pharmaceutical or medical device companies who hire them to review their products. After watching this particular doctor’s review, I must say I was pleasantly surprised by how honest he was in discussing the uses and limitations of this device. Having participated in a study years ago when such a device was in the research and development stages, I was somewhat aware of how it should work. I think this actually is an unbiased review and I really appreciate his discussion of the device.
Excellent review! Saved my husbands life....he felt AFIB & he e-mailed it for a fee to them and they sent back a message to go to EMERGENCY ROOM. We rushed him to Mayo Hospital and they took great care of him! It was wonderful to have the history of his irregular EKG's for the prior few weeks to share with the EMERGENCY ROOM Doctors! HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO ALL THAT THINK THEY EXPERIENCE IRREGULAR HEART ISSUES!!!
It was highly recommended to me by my cardiologist of 20 years and he has near 30 years of experience. He is all enthusiastic about this device...I suffered a severe hearth attack in 2001 and 5 or 6 more minors ones since. Changing my diet, loosing weight and training regularly has given me 20 extra years so far, and for the moment I feel great. I just turned 74 yrs old and I WALK over 100 games of golf per year between late Apri; and early November. The rest of the winter, I train for flexibility and strength unfortunately much less for cardio, but there is a cardio machine of some sort in my plans for next winter. Already have a device like that but it takes 15 min to set it up. Not very parctical in emergency situations.
I have Afib, and the one place this is super useful is to monitor your afib. I wore an old school monitor for 2 weeks and was only able to capture one episode. He wanted to see more, but said I do have afib. I am buying this to provide more data to my doctor.
You are a wonderful presenter! You have a very pleasant and soothing voice and you explained everything so clearly and effortlessly. It takes a gifted person who can explain complicated topics in such an understandable form. Not everyone can do this. The analogies and animations for atrial fibrillation and leads made everything so easy to understand. Your review of KardiaMobile placed the product in its proper context: the product is informational, may provide some assistance in specific cases and instances, but there is no substitute for being seen by a physician. Your review was very even handed. Thank you! And, I subscribed!
Thank you SO much for such a lovely comment. It brought myself and my brother a lot of joy to read your positive feedback and it drives us forward in creating similar content in the future. I cannot thank you enough for the time you took to write this comment. It means the world to us!
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.
I experienced a few episodes of AF a few months ago and with the difficulties of seeing a GP during the pandemic, i thought it would be good to purchase the Kardia 6L and try and catch such an episode at home and send the results to my doctor. I did just that and within a few weeks I managed to get some good traces which I forwarded to my GP and am now receiving treatment. I'm glad I purchased this machine.
(edit spelling)I've been using the Kardia 6L for almost a year now. Paroxysmal Afib, PVCs and right bundle branch block are my nemesis as well as having endured Bradycardia/tachycardia. Prior to the 6L when I sensed serious arrythmias along with rapid heart beats and high blood pressure the event had passed before I got to the ER, having spent travel time as well as at the triage section. With it I have been able to catch otherwise elusive events, record them and provide the ER staff with the information. Recently Alivecor upgraded the software app to allow for 60 sec traces, twice the old 30 sec trace thus providing more data of the arrythmic event along with FDA approval to identify more conditions. The size of the device allows me to keep it in my wallet when I am out and about, providing a record in case of need. Agree that for the healthy without diagnosed conditions is of small utility...unless they have aging relatives who might display onset of arrthymia.
My mom asked for this for Christmas 🎄☃️. We're both nurses with cardiology back grounds But I don't wanna waste money. Thanks for helping me make an informed purchase with your comment
@@phantasyphenom8282 Yes, since the software has been upgraded and approved by FDA as well as allowing traces longer than the 30 secs. Up to five minutes very useful to track transient arhthymias...traces now include 30 sec graph of QRS at end of full EKG graphs. Also allows bluetooth syn with certain Omron BP meters...no experience with that feature though.
Thank you for your review. I was diagnosed with AF and a low ejection fraction in the hospital three weeks ago. An EKG in the cardiologist's office a few days ago showed that I was back in rhythm (at least at that point in time), but my ejection fraction remains low. I remain on medication and will return for an in-office EKG in two months. He recommended that I consider getting an Apple Watch or this device for more regular monitoring, and after watching your video and others have definitely decided that the 6 lead version is the best option for me. Appreciate your perspective and taking time to review!
Hi there! Thank you so much for leaving your detailed comment. I’m so happy to hear that you are now safely out of hospital and back at home. It sounds like the Kardia 6L would indeed benefit you. I’m so glad you found the review helpful and do let us know which other devices or med tech topics you would like us to cover in the future. :)
Best for those with real heart issues, stroke patients. Immediate feedback might lessen stress waiting, sometimes days, to speak to your doctor. I have one, the 6L, and it works great. My Doc mentioned it was better than the apple app.
I suffer from bradycardia and use this device (Kardia Mobile 6L) along with my watch and digital BP monitor, all of which detect bradycardia as low as 39 bpm on average 46 bpm. My primary physician referred me to cardiologist who stated I indeed have Bradycardia. This device along with other devices were paramount in detecting what normal visits to my physician did not. As we all know sometimes symptoms do not always occur when you need them to such as during a visit to your physicians office. White coat syndrome.
Excellent review, thanks, just adding, my cardiologist always ask patients to place not in the knee but on your belly just bellow the bellybutton as it get a clear signal.
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.
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.
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.
i have afib and had an ablation. Since i have had afib and have had palpitations, i find it to be a good test prior to calling the doctor. For the price it is very useful and beneficial. It is cheap enough and easy enough to measure my heart rhythm two or three times a day. And there are many youtube videos that explain how to read the strips. I have a great EP and cardiologist but, to me, i would rather be MORE informed when i talk with them. Small price to pay in my mind.
@@BagsEsquire so far after three years have had a couplevof minor episodes But under control ablation worked Great EP take mannesium every day need to stay hydrated vsorry about your misfortunes though Hope they get it under control
Note that the standard kardia uses hf sound to communicate with your phone, the 6L model uses bluetooth and is more apt to produce a good reading without a lot of interference.
I picked this up and the cheaper model. I had almost $700 worth of FSA spending left and decided to pick these up and a few other home style/ personal health monitoring systems
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.
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.
Such a great explanation of heart function, and a great analysis review of the AliveCor KardiaMobile 6L ECG/ EKG Device for Atrial Fibrillation. Thank you
There are many people, including myself, who have felt skips, palpitations, etc and wanted to know what was happening. They may, as I did, be put on a halter monitor to catch what is going on but nothing happened during that period of time. Where Kardia has been instrumental for me is being able to catch what my heart is doing when I experience things during the day or night. I can quickly run a test and provide data to my doctor. This is really what this device is for and the doctor here seems to downplay it’s value. That is really what people are buying it for. The doctor seems to be looking at it more from a regular healthy individual’s perspective. Sure, if someone is experiencing no symptoms it may be helpful to run this to see if there is something going on they are not seeing, but agreed, it may not be all that useful. But for the rest of the people like me it has been extremely. Helpful for me and my cardiologist in monitoring and managing my condition.
Be aware that the *automatic* detection algo in the app uses only lead 1 (out of six)! So if you have some abnormalities on leads 2-6, you will not notice it unless you show your ecg to a doctor!
This device only claims to detect A-Fib which can be seen on any single lead and should deviate from lead to lead. All we are looking for in A-Fib is sporadic non-conducting P-waves that are not synonymous with a block pattern. Many of times you only need to look at lead II for this, which I assume is what this machine does.
I think the point is as someone who has been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation when I am feeling off or during an episode it is good to know just how fast my heart rate is or to know for certain when an episode is over. So for anyone who has been diagnosed with AFib and has a cardiologist this is brilliant as one knows it isn’t always convenient to have an EKG that’s where the Kardia EKG comes in I love it and it is as invaluable for my peace of mind If you are in AFib it will show If it’s normal it will also show Plus you’ll know anyway but as an adjunct between cardiologist visits...
How do you know if you have atrial fibrillation without been diagnosed by a doctor? I have anxiety and sometimes I feel like my heart is not beating okay.
@@alcom1313 i think the Kardia device can detect it and then you send the findings to your doctor or just go see your doctor and ask for a cardiologist referral.
👍❤ 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. 🙏
my cardiologist and some of the team have asked on a few occasions for me to buy this device as they highly recommend it as a helping device to catch symptoms we don't get either in hospital or on a ecg. they say it has helped diagnosis people who have palpitations .
Very Nice presentation.I was in AFIB for 18 months and finally had Cryoablation. The procedure was successful, but my doctor suggested I purchase this device to check it daily, so if my heart goes back into afib I will know right away.
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.
Awesome! Exactly what I was looking for. The only extra piece of information which would be useful is how the 6 leads actually works. I still don't understand how 3 points of contacts translates to 6 leads.
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.
Thanks for the honest review! My newborn daughter has SVT. We have the Owlet monitor now. Our pediatric cardiologist didnt think too highly of it, but mentioned this product. H did think that this would be a great way to double check, if the Owlet set off an alarm that her heart rate spiked. Our peds card doctor was thinking that we could just lay it flat on our daughter's chest. I guess we could place her hand on the back side?? Not sure if anyone has every tried it on a baby.
Hi there, thank you for sharing something so personal. I hope your daughter is doing ok at the moment. When it comes to children Medicine is a very nuanced and complex area so it would be difficult for us to comment specifically on this. We wish you and your family well with all our hearts.
Your are right- potentially life saving device if it picks up on atrial fibrillation in an individual. Glad you liked it! There'll be more videos to come- best way to keep a track is to subscribe and get notified.
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.
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! 💓
Great review. I have Cardioversion soon and was about to buy one until I saw this. I think I'll hold out for now. Seems to be made for a US Market to get the full use of it. Cheers
Great review! Glad to see a new and potentially informative channel! Are you planning to compare it to other devices such as e.g. the Apple Watch? Additionally, I was wondering if you have any interest in covering the COVID-19 pandemic from any aspect? My personal interest goes to patients that are taking a long time to recover, that also experience various nasty symptoms (strange fatigue, chest pain, numbness, etc.).
Hi! Thank you so much for your comment. I think comparing this ECG measuring device to the ECG measuring capability of the Apple Watch is a great idea and will put this on the list of videos to do! You raise an important point regarding COVID-19 and the recovery period- so much is still not known about this virus. I will certainly have a think about what I can add to this discussion. Thanks again for your excellent comment!
I have ordered this, im 28 and have been having palpitations, mainly when suffering with stress. I have a family history of atrial fibrillation, my mother and grandfather, but when I told my doctor all this, he told me I was fine and fobbed me off. Will see how I get on!
So grateful to you for taking the time to comment and thank you for your kind words of encouragement! It means a lot to us especially as we're just a small channel.
Real nice video! Nice style and way of explaining! Good job! (I have been using the less expensive 1 lead Kardia to detect Afib and pauses for about a year. Recommended.)
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
Great review. I struggle with AFIB, in fact have a pacemaker for insurance. I can feel when I have afib some of the time and it can go on for hours possibly days. It would be reassuring to have my feelings confirmed or not and to have something to present to a doctor. Too many times I see a doctor who orders a EKG that does not show anything at the time. Considering purchasing this but wonder if it is overkill and the 1W is all I need.
My husband has a Kardia and recently got a pacemaker. His cardiologist told him the Kardia is of no value to him now because of the pacemaker which is pacing his heart. It shows that his heart now has a steady beat of 60 but does not show when he’s in Afib which the Dr. said he has most of the time.
I've had the Kardia 6L about since they were first sold. I got it because with congestive heart failure and polycystic kidney disease it's very tricky to get the right balance of medications to have pulse, rhythm and blood pressure near normal. I also have an implanted cardioverter/defibrillator with pacing functionality enabled mostly to reduce bradycardia. The 6L gives perfectly valid traces, but the fact of pacing has to be taken into account when interpreting, exactly in the same way an EKG does in a doctor's office. When I had new onset Atrial Fibrillation last November it was accurately detected and motivated me to not just wait the two weeks until my regularly scheduled cardiologist appointment was scheduled. It also allowed me to detect when the medications finally stopped the A-fib about 9 days later. I'm confident that the A-fib hasn't recurred and when I get dizzy it's the difference between potentially going to the emergency room or just lying down and listening to some music. I'd add that my Fitbit also 'suggested the possibility' of A-fib during that episode, but can only do the detection while sleeping and isn't FDA cleared the way the Kardia Mobile device is.
Thanks for this, very useful. I do have chronic AF for many years (since a small heart attack in 2008) and had a replacement valve fitted 5 years ago. I have had a Kardia Mobile for 4 years so I could check myself if I got bad palpitations. I showed it to my GP and he bought one for the health centre. My device appears to have failed and I was looking to replace it and found there is a newer model the 6l and was thinking about getting that. Your review looks very balanced and fits what I know about the 1 lead model. So I'm going to buy the 6l. I won't use it every day, but its handy to have and if I have to visit my GP or A & E I can print the trace and take it with me. Tony
Thanks, a useful review and I will consider purchassing although I thought it would allow 6 leads similar to being in hospital. It has been so difficult to get the hospital results apart from a report. Seeing the cardiologist after ECG, Echo, CT scan Angiogram, 24 hour test has proved impossible so far. I'm wondering if cardiologists actually exist? In the hospital everyone speaks about them with hushed reverence and the idea that you might speak to one, is like speaking to an Emperor who has been elevated to a god..
Mine keeps saying wide QRS complex. My cardiologist has a heart monitor on me for 2 weeks . Thanks for explaining in a way I can understand. I’m a music major with a learning disability
Thank you so much for the feedback! It is really appreciated. We will keep making videos like this to help you with your health tech buying decisions. Please do subscribe and share with friends and colleagues. ☺️
I have to medical training but I I do have an irregular heart rhythm, I do use the device to make sure I stay out of tachycardia and to look at my p q r s t timing, When I do do to the doctors office I do take a reading with me. I do a reading every morning. My family have all died young, I have made to to 77.
Do you think this device has a role for healthcare professionals? For example those working in rural and/or resource limited settings, or as a routine part of a cardiovascular examination in a similar way to auscultation. I guess there is a risk that it could provide false reassurance since it doesn’t have all the leads
I'm about to buy one. Imo, I am not a doctor so IF I cannot read the 6 leads then my doctor can. Thankfully I have learned to read a 12lead strip and as long as I can tell IF there is a P wave, what my QRS and the P to QRS, then I think that is good enough to tell IF I'm A Fib / SVT. SVT is my issue.
Hello Doctor, I really liked your review and the fact that you covered the software as well in some detail. For normal day to day preventive/observational use, would you prefer the KardiaMobile single Lead or the 6L device?
This is a great question and the answer lies in the degree of suspicion that one has of an abnormality in the heart beat. If you or your physician are suspecting a heart beating abnormality the 6L is far better due to the extra information it generates. I don’t know of any other portable devices in this price range that can pick up on 6 leads where as many devices (including the Apple Watch) will give you one lead. Of course, please see my replies to other comments about emergencies- as the device currently stands, at present it should not be used to detect or rule out an emergency- it is not quite sophisticated enough as yet to reliably tell you when you should be going straight to hospital, but then neither is the basic KardiaMobile. If the only goal is to get some information as to whether one has atrial fibrillation or not/ screening for atrial fibrillation over months/years and no heart abnormalities are suspected or being looked into then the basic KardiaMobile is likely to suffice. For more detailed information that could help a physician diagnose various heart beating abnormalities then the 6L is a clear winner.
Great review of the Kardia 6L. I have one for a few days now. Works simply. In answer to 6L vs 1… asked myself this question. If I felt the need for a device at all… is my life only worth the 1 lead cost? Or the few more $ for the 6L. The better data and my peace of mind made my decision clear. Just sayin’
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.
Thanks so much for the video! This was very helpful 🙂 My cardiologist has asked me to get this device as there is a possibility that I am developing AF (and I don't have an Apple watch which would also have tracked this for me). Do you know if Kardia requires a paid subscription to email the reports? Or can one obtain the reports without the paid sub?
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.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’ve concluded this device is more geared for people with Paroxysmal A-Fib, versus the person who like me has persistent A-Fib. My A-Fib is constant. Am I incorrect in the conclusion I’ve arrived at? Let me know.
Haha this is very kind of you to say! Glad you enjoyed the video and please subscribe to support us- every like and subscription really helps our tiny channel!!
Be warned that the Kardia app is not available in all regions. I live in Kenya, East Africa and I can’t download the app from the App Store nor onto my Android phone. My Kardia Mobile 6L is a brick in my case. AliveCor does not bother to replay to any email requests for assistance.
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.
Good video Munim. I am a medic and even I got sucked into the very interesting review. Seems the the device records and the software interprets. But it is only able to safely Interpret atrial fibrillation accurately. As a medicn I could interpret the tracing myself. Question is whether people can send their recordings online to their own doctor. An even more interesting potential use is sending heart recording to A&E/ambulance service and getting immediate advice back but that could take time to set up...
Hi, thank you so much for your comment. It such a pleasure to hear from another medic. Yes, the trace can certainly be emailed to one’s doctor and the app does go some way to facilitating this. Yes, the future would indeed lie in being able to send such traces straight to emergency services however as you correctly identify this will likely to take a bit longer to develop and the device nor the app is quite there yet... This is more for any others reading this comment as I am sure you are already aware: people should not use this device to rely on it diagnosing emergencies when one may be or suspect they may be acutely unwell- it is not truly capable of detecting emergencies or reassuring against emergencies at present. It is quite focused in helping detect atrial fibrillation (when used without a physicians assistance for example). It can give information as to when the heart is beating too fast or too slow in addition and this may be a trigger to seek emergency medical attention but it should not be used as the first port of call or to falsely reassure if one is feeling unwell. If it detects atrial fibrillation then a consultation with a physician should take place. When being used in conjunction with the advice and review of a physician potentially more abnormal rhythms can be detected however not usually in an emergency setting. This may change in time but this is the current status in my opinion.
@@DigitizeHealthI 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.
Hello! There has been a problem with heart rhythm disturbances for a long time now. The fact is that on the ECG and Holter I can’t help but how to catch this interruption, the rhythm of the interruption does not happen often, so I can’t catch it. Carrying the Holter every day is not an option, since the device is a pleasure expensive and very inconvenient to carry around. Can this device be replaced with a Holter? And how accurately can it detect the interruption signal? To send the data to the doctor. Thank you!
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.
I bought this product, it gives me so many different results in a row, Normal, then possible atrial fibrillation, then normal again. I'm not really sure why...
I wish you were my doctor 🥺 I keep hearing conflicting stuff about my heart. I've been getting other opinions because some say I need an ablation, some say I do not. I've never been more scared in my life 🥺
Hi Julie, I'm so sorry to hear you're going through such a tough time. Our health is the most precious thing and it can be really scary when you're trying to work out what the best course of action is to take. Few people will truly understand what it's like to be experiencing what you're going through but I hope you're able to come to a measured and informed opinion on what is best for your condition. With our all well wishes and thoughts, the Digitize Health team
