Home ECG machines

[ILowe]

In answer to a question in another thread

There is one site that gives exhaustive information. It is regularly updated.

ndsu.edu/pubweb/~grier/Comp...

"Here are some quotes. He repeatedly cautions against non-health professional use, then is very helpful!

At least for the foreseeable future, this website is expected to undergo frequent revision and be subjected to further reconstruction. Check back later for updates, possibly additional ECG recorders, and other revisions"

"Note that this technology and availability of personal ECG recorders are new and just now entering the consciousness of mainstream health care. Many physicians and cardiologists themselves are not yet familiar with these devices!

"They are potentially suitable in some emergency situations but only by order of a physician and when used by medical or emergency personnel or for obtaining useful information while waiting for emergency help to arrive. Otherwise, they can be used by the general public (generally in consultation with and approval by a physician) for non-emergency personal recording of information, such as for baseline information, routine monitoring, or during uncommon cardiac events. The recordings can then be shown to the person's cardiologist or electrophysiologist or, for non-emergency or simple monitoring purposes, used by the person himself or herself if he or she is able to interpret them. (See the subsection above for links to learning more about reading ECGs, if interested.)

I bought the Prince 180D from Amazon. Downloaded the latest software from the web. It can be used in three modes: hand/palm, chest, and three leads. The easiest is the Chest. It can be used as a holter. You connect to a computer, upload, and from there I screenprint the results I like, and this is clearer than the official printout.

I find the results clearer than the ECGs done at the doctor, both normal and 12 lead. I am only beginning to learn to read an ECG. I have some baseline clips, printed, which a cardiologist certified as being non-AF. Therefore, after an episode I can confirm that I am no longer in AF. I also have loads of ECGs from years of visits. I found the one that was the clearest, and compare.

Over a 30second recording, I can see if the data is irregular, even when the heart is racing, and this is one feature of AF. I can send clips to my Cardiologist for interpretation, without having the hassle of going to a doctor and persuading them to do an ECG.

[SVTSophie]

This is amazing! Exactly what I was looking for, as I wasn't sure how accurate some of things are if they're taken through the fingertips? This just answers everything

[PeterWh]

See my comments on similar post today.

Advantage of AliveCor is that you can record anywhere anytime and it is also a 2 lead device.

[ILowe in reply to PeterWh]

I looked into it a year ago. It may have changed, but at the time it required the use of a Smartphone. And I just do not get on with touch screens, so smart phones are a disaster for me. Smart people do not use Smart phones -- they get stolen!!

But, I know they are very popular for people with AF and are usually the first choice.

[PeterWh in reply to ILowe]

I definitely would only have a smart phone and I think that I am smart!!!

The chances of a smart phone being stolen are normally very small indeed. If I was unlucky enough for that to happen then at least I have the knowledge that I can restore a new phone from my auto backup and I won't have lost anything (unless a contact was put in just before). People with non smart phones nearly always loose everything (including photos) because of no backup. Less than 1% back up even once a month!!!! The very vast majority never!!!!

Normally unless the phone is a new model they aren't interested because older ones have little value.

[ILowe in reply to PeterWh]

Good for you if the local theft rate is so low. I live in a city with a relatively low crime rate, and I budget for petty theft. Smartphones, any kind, are more attractive than purses. A cheap txt/telephone is all I need. Smart people locally use only the cheapest phones -- ones they are prepared to lose. I only have 20-30 contacts, use a camera for photos. No backup needed. Plus, the fact that I do not cope with touch. You should see me sometimes trying to get money from a cash machine! I can try over 10 times before it responds.

So, if you can manage with smart phones, then AliveCor is a serious contender.