Alivecor vs phone app....for a friend

[Wightbaby]

My friend (doesn't have AF) is using a free heart rate phone app, but wants something that will give a graph of her heart rate , bit like an ECG to show her GP. Is Alivecor the only option?

Can anyone recommend anything please?

[BobD Volunteer]

Yes basically an Alivecor will produce a downloadable ECG from which heart rate can be seen as well as any arrhythmias. If she is looking for a trend of actual heart rate I don't think it would help as you need something "on the go" constantly to monitor every few minutes but for what purpose? Heart rate is constantly changing according to the demands on it by the body. Resting. running. eating etc will all produce different rates. Not sure if this is something fitbit can do ? Others may know that. I am far too busy to worry about that sort of thing myself.

[CDreamer]

Fitbit or similar will give HR graph - but obviously not free.

[Hidden]

Yep - Alivecor will give you an ecg when you ask it to. It does not work like a 24 hour monitor. The likes of Fitbit record your heart rate all the time so will show highs, lows and resting heart rate not an ecg. If she has concerns she could ask for a monitor which would record ecg over a period of time. My warnings with these is beware constant checking of them can cause anxiety.

[Goldfish_]

I agree that this could feed anxiety if she is already anxious about her heart rate

[Hidden]

Just don't expect AliveCor to show you a reading if you have any other arrhythmia apart from a normal reading or afib. I'm still awaiting my refund as it won't give me a reading because of LBBB. Brilliant innovation though.

[Wightbaby]

Thanks everybody.......I will pass info on.

[Ianc2]

try a samsing s6. it has a sensor on the back that shows your heartbeat pattern as it happens. Quite impressive to see, however do you really want to worry yourself with constant feedback about something you can't immediately change?

[Wightbaby in reply to Ianc2]

Its not me......i am in PAF, so for myself. there would be no point.

She just wants to try and show her GP when she has a irreglularity/fast haeart beats

[Hidden]

The heart rate monitors that are used in conjunction with exercise sample heart rate every few seconds. They can download a representation of the heart rate over time but not an actual ECG.

[Ianc2]

A doctor should be able to detect an irregular heartbeat by simply taking her pulse, if it is irregularly irregular it is more difficult?