Are apps to your phone any good .I found on titled AF detector where you place finger on your camera and it takes reading You then can save reading in history .
Sorry had to have a go didn't I lol apparently no AF was detected but I have not felt any palpitations so far today
Hi... yes I have an app ... I think it’s quite accurate and I’ve sent the readings to my EP who finds it very helpful... 😊
Thanks May I ask what app you use
Hi... I have Instant Heart Rate (free version) and Runtastic Heart Rate Monitor. I’m on an iPhone. 😊
Thank you
I've tested the Instant Heartrate app when I've been in hospital hooked up to all the leads and the pulse rate is exactly the same as what the hospital monitor shows so I believe that is accurate. There are a few apps that say the detect AF but I'm not convinced about their accuracy. They have mixed reviews.
I use "Cardiograph" which i find from experience will let you know if your in AF because it wil have difficulty in taking a reading. Currently takes a reading with no problem (which is accurate). Long may it continue. Good luck.
The difficulty with all the phone apps is the same as that with using the 'heart rate monitor' on a Fitbit or similar. Whilst you are in normal sinus rhythm, all is well and the app will be accurate. When you go into AF, it will only show those heart heats which have resulted in a pulse of blood pressure, not the in-between beats which are the heart beating while it is still empty from the last one. I find that my Fitbit will read about 78 while the Kardia shows AF at 135 or similar, resting. The beats are all over the place, some piling up one on another while others are spaced apart.
They all use the camera (or Fitbit's optical cell) to detect the slight pinking up of the skin as the capillaries dilate under the increased pressure during a pulse. Really, they are a pulse monitor, not a heart monitor.
I also tried a pulse monitor on my Android phone which had worked fine (NSR) on my old phone. On my newer one it got readings OK but the flash light used to illuminate the finger got way too hot to use and gave me a slight burn, so it depends on your phone.
I have one on a Samsung called cardiac diagnosis. It has me in bradycardia quite a lot which I don't suffer from , and my pulse rate seems to vary a lot which is not what my Garmin chest belt/hr monitor tells me when I compare it.
Consequently I do not trust it. I have never been in AF since I got it so I do not know if it would pick it up.
What I do know is when I saw the red warning sign on the screen when it detected the Bradycardia I instantly felt worried and upset ( an "oh no! What now? I am so fed up!" response) . And I have not been in afib for months following an ablation!
Then I engaged my brain and thought why am I believing an app I have just downoaded produced by persons unknown and with unknown medical knowledge, when I feel perfectly fine and have no other indication that anything is wrong?
If you are already feeling fragile these feelings/ stress must be worse.
If you think you may have an issue you need to go and get some measurements from a trained person using specialist ecg equipment and don't dwell on the readings from a cheap app. The worry it is causing you is probably causing you more issues than your underlying problem.
Best wishes
Couldn’t agree more
Can you share your experience w the ablation procedure ? I am contemplating on having one. Any info would be helpful. How long did you have Afib for before deciding on having an ablation? I assume you were in meds ? Did they work ? Any side effects ? Thx
Mike I will but an just busy now - if you can find some of my previous replies I have described my experiences quite recently in the last week I think
In any case ib will get back to you later today.
My experiences are good so far by the way.
Currently off drugs with no af
Totally agree with you to be honest. It's called photo af detector
I decided to have a bit of fun with my sons devices as I am in permanent af. Got totally different readings from his phone and his Fitbit within a space of 5 mins x
My cardiologist will only accept a Kardia reading, which I can email to him. He said that the other apps aren't reliable or accurate enough, but Kardia is to professional ECG standards.
Lot more expensive though for people like me on limited income
Yes, I'm also on limited income so I had to save up, but am really pleased I paid the £92 to get Kardia and now I have free checks and peace of mind about potential AF symptoms, hopefully for the rest of my life. It's proving more than worth the initial outlay.
What time of phone do you need for it to work
Did you get it off amazon
I don't think it was Amazon, but it was a UK company - I googled something like: Kardia cheapest buy UK and checked the best deal. Not sure what types of phone - I've got an old iPhone 5S. The seller or Kardia will have a list of which phones it works on. Good luck!
I use Samsung Health and Heart Rate Plus on my Samsung G7 Galaxy. I have read that the fingertip apps are actually much more accurate than the wrist-based apps like Fitbit. But if you want an accurate reading you really need a chest strap. I have a Wahoo Tickr that I bought off Amazon for about $50 that reads on my phone.
BrianGuitar
Disability Living Allowance
Home Use Oximeter & Atrial Fibrillation
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