Hello friends, I have a Kardia and find it very helpful and reassuring ,however when I mentioned it to my GP and also showed him printouts of my ECG he said he had never heard of Kardia and was totally uninterested
On a recent appointment with a consultant cardiologist I mentioned my Kardia ECG and he also had never heard of one and was totally uninterested
Is this a Yorkshire thing ...have others experienced this with their GP and consultants not knowing or understanding what a Kardia is !!!
I've had mine for quite a while and everyone who I have shown it to from paramedics to consultant have been most interested and impressed ! Must be a Yorkshire thing !😁
My Yorkshire GP had not heard of it but was very interested and is buying one for the practice. The EP was familiar with it and pleased to see the printouts.
As a simple home device the Kardia has some uses. However it is a single channel device and will NOT pick up all conditions. For a full evaluation a 12 lead recorder is required which is obviously better than a single channel recorder. Most of the 24 hour ECG recorders have three leads.
So a Kardia IS useful and many doctors are happy to see them used.
Just don't think that the Kardia is as good as what is used in a hospital.
Dick
While in hospital quite a few years ago (3 maybe) my consultant brought a Kardia to my bed to show me how good it was, suggesting I get one.
Locally down here in the souff, Kardia's and the reports they generate are generally well received by medics but no doubt its not the same everywhere. I think the medical profession is generally quite conservative when it comes to new ideas and "gizmo's" so maybe its likely to be a while before the Kardia is universally accepted......
Might be a local thing - my EP, cardiologists and GP were all impressed with it and are happy that I can record any variations in heart rhythm.
It sounds like there might be a marketing opening in Yorkshire for Kardia.
My consultant and his nursing team at Bristol find it useful when I report any problems. It’s a very useful tool
My Gp was mildly interested and as my AFib hid when I was on a monitor, I was actually diagnosed by my Kardia! Strangely, my GP didn’t know what an EP was!
I had very negative responses to my Kardia recordings from two GPs but the third was fascinated, cooing ,'Oooh look there's a p wave, is that a bit of flutter there?' Didn't like to say it was probably just interference but it was relief he didn't treat me as a health anxiety nut. Cardiologist and EP took it very seriously.
I couldn’t get my Kardia back out of my GP’s hand when I first showed him back in 2013 and my EP was part of the team which trialled it for the AFA so must be a Yorkshire thing.
And you can take more than one lead ECGs with it - depends upon where you place the contacts on the body - but obviously it will never show as comprehensive a trace as a full 12 lead ECG machine - but then they tend to be a wee bit harder to carry around in a handbag or pocket - just saying.
Best wishes
In Australia both my cardiologist and my electrophysiologist were extremely supportive of Kardia. When I said "but it's only one channel" both of them said - "yes but it's the most informative signal" - so yes - the full ECG is obviously better, but Kardia is a life saver for those of us who can't have a "full" ECG system in our home!
My endocrinologist has one attached to his mobile phone. He uses it for quick checks and says it’s a fantastic clinical aid.
My Kardia showed inverted Twaves which lead to a full ECG which lead to an angiogram which identified two 60% and 75% blockages
Thank goodness my cardiologist took seriously the print out I sent him
Yorkshire needs to embrace new technology as thomps95 says it saves lives......
Everyone I’ve ever shown it to has been very impressed. If i hadn’t got it I wouldn’t of been diagnosed as I had no episodes when wearing the tape. I’ve also heard that Cardiology depts are starting to using them more and more because patients can capture the moment when they start to feel symptomatic as opposed to the Holter tape which is worn for a set time frame.
My GP here in Bristol used one to check my heart when I went complaining of bouts of palpitations, he then made me an appointment for a 12 lead ECG in the surgery to do a full reading. No problems diagnosed so all well. The doctors in the surgery have them as a quick reference tool, as you say must be the North/South thing!!
My cardiologist at the Northern General in Sheffield has always given me feedback on my Kardia printouts. At my last visit, he told me he had just bought 20 for use by his patients.
The first time I actually saw a Kardia was in a Kent hospital, immediately after my cardioversion. The staff used it to check if I was still in NSR in recovery.
The ladies who run my cardio rehab classes have asked me to bring it along next week as they need a simple way to check for AF.
My GP doesn't recognise it, though!
I read a report on here recently summarising the way forward for early diagnosis of AF,and in or standArdise were given out to how and healthcare professionals to do routine screening for AF!very successful,so maybe this may penetrate Deepest Yorkshire soon! I sent an Kardia reading email to my EP yesterday and got a reply last night!
Well,at least you can use it yourself. Shame they are not interested
My Kardia print outs were very happily accepted by my EP. If I thought I had gone back into af, I would phone my arythmia nurse to tell her, then email a printout to her. I would then be given an early date for cardioversion. Nothing else would get me back into NSR. Since my ‘pace and ablate’ last year, I have been unable to use my Kardia (pacemakers and Kardias are not compatable), so I have given it to my hospital cardiac department.....
Hi AvrilB
I hope you are keeping well? Can you explain why Kardias and pacemakers are incompatible? I have longstanding PAF and a pacemaker and was thinking of buying a kardia!
Kindest regards David
Hi David,
As it happens, I have literally just got home from having an echocardiogram in outpatients, yes, on a Saturday :). They are checking for fluid as I have gained more weight recently than I should have, and have started getting short of breath again on exertion!
As regards pacemaker and Kardia, the leaflet that comes with a Kardia does say it can’t be used if you have a pacemaker.
Soon after I had my ‘pm’ implanted, I emailed AliveCor to check and received a reply saying no, they can’t be used if you have a pm.
I did try to do an ECG on Kardia soon after pm was implanted, but it came up asking if it was me! Obviously recognised something different. I never tried again.
I am and will always be, in AF, but cannot feel it at all. I am 100% paced and totally dependant on pm. Having a ‘pace and ablate’ was a very hard decision to make, but I have no regrets.
I have a CRT-P pacemaker, with two leads.
I wish you well with your AF journey.
Regards, Avril
Do Kardia products work with a pacemaker?
Updated 1 year ago
The Kardia Mobile has not been tested for accuracy with paced-EKG recordings. We do not recommend use of the Kardia Mobile for patients with pacemakers because we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the resulting EKG recordings. However, please consult with your physician for more information on using Kardia Mobile with your pacemaker.
The above is from the Alivecor support site.
My view would be that this may possibly, simply be a legal disclaimer. KARDIA is a single channel (Lead 1) ECG. When I had a pacemaker, KARDIA recorded traces in the usual way. I can see that PM signals might compromise the reporting function.
I think it is worth sending abnormal traces to one’s cardiologist so they can decide for themselves on their validity.
However this is purely my totally uninformed opinion, and I would advise anyone using KARDIA with a pacemaker not to make decisions themselves based on the recording.
EDIT: PLEASE IGNORE MY COMMENT ABOUT KARDIA RECORDING TRACES NORMALLY WITH MY PACEMAKER. THIS WAS IN 2010, WHEN I WAS USING THE OMRON HCG-801 HAND HELD ECG MONITOR. THIS SHOWED BOTH PM ACTIVITY AND NORMAL CONFIGURATION AF RECORDINGS. SORRY TO HAVE MISLEAD MEMBERS.
Sound advice
It must be a Yorkshire thing !! At my very first visit to my EP at Papworth he recommended I purchase a Kardia and it has been invaluable.
On two visits to A & E I was able to show the reception that my heart rate was really 160 bpm resulting in immediate access to the Majors unit and then onto to Resus.
I now have the Card watch strap for my Apple Watch which even more convenient.
I would not be without
My gp thought it was fantastic and my cardiologist had heard of it here in Australia but I’m finding mine will only work when in afib as when in nsr my heart rate is too low (41-42) and it gives it an unclassified if under 50 bpm
Teeny, The Kardia tracing itself is still good snd readable by any knowledgeable doctor (or even yourself) under 50 -- it's just that the Kardia automated program will will not make a specific diagnosis.
Hi mine was recommended by my cardiologist and he was impressed with my results
My GP uses one when visiting people in their homes and my cardiologist thinks they are great. So I am surprised. They don’t know.
My EP in London wrote a paper on it and thinks it’s very good
My EP suggested I bought one to aid diagnosis .
Ey-up! I’m with a cardiologist at James Cook Hospital Middlesbrough, which serves a large section of North Yorkshire, and he has certainly heard of it. He was very pleased to see my read-outs. BTW, thank you all for this wonderful forum.
My GP had not heard of it but was very interested and thought it great. I live in the SE.
My cardiologist has one and my GP always asks for the print outs and was very interested when I took it in and showed him how it worked. I'm in Australia.
My sister lives in Huddersfield and throughout her life spent there ( more than 40 years ) has had consistently negative experiences with the doctors there. When I showed my French cardiologist the Kardia he had never heard of it but was very interested and disappointed that I had not fetched my tablet. His parting words were to remember the tablet on my next visit. My GP was also interested . I tried it on my mobile but it kept saying electrical interference in his office.
I have to be so careful what I ask/say as they know I used to nurse, so might feel ‘undermined’. I knew nothing of AFib til I found this site. It is so supportive. GP’s don’t have the time to look up individual conditions.
Enough already with all this Yorkshire bashing. When Alivecor did a survey recently of KARDIA market penetration in general practice in the UK, Yorkshire topped the list. Or so I'm told 🤔
There’s none as queer as folk
Hi, I have had a Kardia for about five years and found it very useful. At times when I have been worried I have sent the results straight to my Consultant for reassurance.
I had been having a bad time back in the autumn and was taking readings daily, I then visited my Consultant who spent quite a while going through the readings and the conclusion was that I had been in constant Af and flutter for some weeks. This changed his whole approach to my problem and I am now on a new regime of drugs and feel 100% better. No more beta blockers, hello calcium channel blockers.
For me the Kardia was an excellent investment. P.s. I have had Af for 13 years so know about the ups and downs of the problem!
Hi.. I have a kardia.. Have a heart problem.. Drs and paramedics arent up to date with this... Heart consultants are and ive got tge impression some medical people arent that impressed that you have this knowledge but others are!! My heart consultant recommendex I had tge Kardia so i can see whats happening but when ive taken the trace to drs.. Like your experience my gp doesnt seem impressed.. Ignore it and just feel reassured that you have that invaluable to to help watch YOUR health xxxx
My cardio here in France told me to get one as reassurance, I’d never heard of it till he said, he said it was worth paying the extra and cheap nes we’re not good
Hi there. I find it bizarre that your GP is dismissive of the Kardia system and in my view he is showing his ignorance. This system is recognised globally as a major benefit and should be foremost in every GP mind. My GP told me about it and actually recommended I source mine. He actually gave me the website to contact in the first instance. Because of this I was formally diagnosed with AF and subsequently I was prescribed the appropriate medication. This all happened almost a year ago and because Kardia allows me to record and email an ecg reading at any time I have been able to capture abnormal readings and email them to my GP for further action. Your GP I suggest is foolishly living in the past and by the sound of it, by choice.
I live in the US and when I mentioned it to my cardiologist, he pooh-poohed it and said it wasn’t accurate and he doesn’t recommend it. I was disappointed. You all in the UK there, seems like your docs really like it.
Cardiologists are not the gold standard for afib care...get an EP. I have one in Florida and New England. Both have had me email my readings to them when I was unsure what was going on. I was using Kardia until I switched to Apple 4 ( my frequent PACs confused my Kardia sometimes). Both are great devices. I have saved myself a lot of grief, trips to the ER, and feel I understand what is happening. You need a 21st Century doc who knows an informed patient is a better patient. That is new in the US!
Thanks 37Polly....I should have stated that was my EP who didn’t care for the Kardia. I switched to him a few years ago. I liked him a lot when I first went to him because he told me about taking daily magnesium ( which has helped me so much) which my first EP didn’t think was necessary. Maybe I just need to buy the Kardia and teach him about it!! 😊
Where in FL do you live? I am in the Orlando area. Thanks for your response.
Both my GP and my Consultant Cardiologist are 100% in favour of the Kardia.
I agree as do they that it isn’t as good as hospital equipment but say it is an invaluable indicator.
I live in Bristol btw.
Get one, it has been invaluable for me! My arrhythmia nurses use them and what's great is that I have been able to catch most incidents post ablation whilst they still occur, even though usually they only last a minute or so. So then it's sent over as a PDF and the nurses come back to me within a day or so giving me an explanation of what happened. They then store them on file and when I go back to see the consultant we can discuss these incidents as he can actually have a better understanding of what is going as opposed to me saying "I could feel my HR was fast and I felt like this etc.
Plus I lost my first Kardia, my fault but they replaced it and the case FOC.
Can't recommend it highly enough.
My cardiologist is the one who recommended the Kardia to me. I live in the U.S.
My EP is the one that told me to get it. It’s a great tool to have. Of course, if you are having a real problem you are going to call your doctor. I will say the last time I was at the Cleveland Clinic USA my EP looked at my Kardia records, also.
I have put an EDIT footnote on my second post about KARDIA (and pacemakers). I said my pacemaker did not interfere with my KARDIA. In fact when I had my PM In 2010 I was using my OMRON HCG-801 handheld ECG monitor. The PM did not interfere with the OMRON.
So I have no experience of using KARDIA with a pacemaker. I apologise for my mistake.
It would be interesting to hear from those who do use the two together.
I bought one and it constantly said it could not register because my heart rate was not between 50 & 100. I took my H.R. each with a a pulse oximeter and it was always in that range. Sent it back
Yes! Absolutely. And I find it inexplicable. A cardiologist in Germany recommended Kardia and here in the UK (London) they assume I downloaded a free app on Google Play until I show the the unit. Even then they seem skeptical. I have to conclude that it is due to great guys like Dr. Sanjay Gupta that Yorkshire is clued in.
Hi. My EP is a huge fan of Kardia which is why I bought one. Every time I had an ECG, nothing showed up and that is the problem with PAF. I live near Southampton and the device is well promoted here. There are plans to roll them out to GP surgeries.
Hi
Very useful little thing !! My cardiologist
Said he definitely rates them as a good tool and I have often sent him recordings
Saying pos AF ( turned out just large volume of crazy ectopics ( Kardia are working on this as it’s difficult for analysis
Program to read when you are having skippy heart with multiple ectopics and it can read pos AF but being able to send to
A cardiologist is great as they can confirm
Exactly i what’s happened
A lot of doctors have big egos & think there god, & when they’ve done with there finger heart rate monitor & stethoscope saying heart rate looks ok! I pull out my Kardia & they look at me as if I have 2 heads. The heart nurse called it a toy, thank you Barnsley General YORKSHIRE!
My consultant recommended I buy Kardia to record episodes pre-ablation. Kardia proved useful to determine what was going on so he had a better idea before operating as to where the problem lay. I agree though, I have seen other doctors & medical staff who did not know Kardia existed & were sometimes dismissive. Still think it's a useful thing to have as it builds a record of how often you have episodes and what is going on to cause the episodes.
76 years old with A F
shortness of breath
3% Afib burden and proposed medication
breathlessness 
