Kardia app reviews

[Tessybear]

I have talked to a cardiologist who has strongly recommended I use the kardia app to monitor my heart. I’d love to hear reviews from anyone out there using it.

[IanMK]

Very useful device as long as you are not the type of person who would use it obsessively.

[Jjda]

I've had mine for a year now and I like it very much. It is easy to use and send to be accurate. They have recently come out with a 6 lead version, which will give a more complete assessment of your heart. I just ordered mine, it won't be her for a couple of weeks.

[Finvola]

My GP, cardiologist and EP accept printouts of any misbehaviour by my heart and it makes my job of explaining symptoms easier.

I find it a useful tool, mostly to confirm and record what I suspect is happening and to get an accurate measurement of heart rate quickly.

Someone posted about a new 6-lead version which is shortly to go on sale in the US. Currently, the one available here can record one lead only but you can adapt your points of contact with it to have 3 different outcomes.

Wonderful device, as far as I am concerned.

[rosepod5]

I’ve been using a similar device called SnapECG same principle and the results I got were pretty accurate compared to the ECG I had at my GP.

I wanted to see if my irregularity was occurring all the time or if it was just whilst I was maybe anxious at the doctors.

[BobD Volunteer]

Great bit of kit especially whilst trying to get a diagnosis but do be aware many people become OCD by it. If you have such tendencies then avoid.

[Paulbounce]

I use a Beurer. It`s the same as a Kardia except it also has a LCD screen - you don`t have to use Bluetooth and the app to get a result. It fits in your pocket and is perfect for travelling. To get an ECG you have to use your phone or tablet but you can get an instant 'check' on the spot on the LCD screen. If it shows a problem connect to your phone and get an ECG. It hasn`t let me down yet and the ECG's always seem to match the hospitals.

I totally agree with Bob. It can become obsessive / compulsive. I use it once a day now to see if I am in afib. Maybe once a week would be enough. However it takes less than a minute and is so simple to use (once you get the hang of it). At least I know when my afib returns I`ll be on the ball (the device will alert me) and will see my GP right away.

The Kardia is highly recommended though - IMO it`s worth having one or the other.

Best,

Paul

[Riversmom1 in reply to Paulbounce]

For the Kardia care You don't have to have the bluetooth function on just to take a reading as that is how I do mine all the time so I don't have to have the radiation field on with the phone. Works find with the app on the phone. If you want to send it to your DR you would then have to turn on bluetooth function on the phone.

I really really like the Kardiacare. It helps me determine when I am in trouble like 3 days ago when it read out possible A Fib and my HR was 167. thankfully it went back into sinus within 5 minutes so didn't have to go to DR or ER. Then I can show my DR. Ex-cardiologist wasn't real impressed with it seeing a new one today an anxious to see what he says about it.

[doodle68]

Hello Tessybear I am currently managing my P-AF myself with lifestyle changes and medication. I have refused an ablation . I like to keep a record of my obvious 'episodes' to monitor any changes of frequency and duration and my Kardia helps me do this.

When I recognise I have gone into AF (breathless and shaking) which happens about once a month I first check my pulse then use the Kardia as confirmation.

Throughout the episode which lasts many hours I do the occasional Kardia check to make sure my heart rate isn't getting too high say above 150 . I know when I go out of AF and again the Kardia confirms this.

There may come a time when I don't go back into NSR within a reasonable time say 24 hours and I might need medical help.

I have a plan that if I get to 18 hours and am still in AF I would then have nil by mouth for 6 hours and with my Kardia readings as proof of the duration of my episode seek medical help. I am already anticoagulated so if medial intervention is required I am prepared.

PS I use my Kardia with an Ipad, it makes reading the recording easy for my old eyes.

[Tessybear in reply to doodle68]

That seems like a pretty comprehensive plan. I think it is such a good thing to take control of the situation- for me it eases anxiety.

I have now ordered the Kardia, which should be here in a few days. I really do not know whether what I’ve been getting are prolonged palpitations, or whether it is the return of AF, as my heart rate is pretty low due to beta blockers. I suspect AF but not as I knew it before my ablation. Hopefully I’ll have a good idea by the end of the week and be able to see the cardiologist in a few weeks time with more info to make a plan.👍🏻

[SpritzerAce]

I have one and to me it is very helpful. I always email the readings to my EP for interpretation and it is normally accurate when you are in or out of AF. Get it if you can.

[corgi02]

I have a Kardia and it is excellent, however sometimes by the time I have paired it up with my phone and started the EKG the AF has subsided. Recently, my cardiologist recommended an Apple Watch 4. I have got myself one and it is amazing. Now, if I feel as though my pulse is irregular I simply touch the app on the watch face and hold a button on the watch and a 30 second ECG is sent to my iphone and saved automatically - I can then forward a copy on via email to my cardiologist if need be. The watch also monitors the heartbeat periodically for AF symptoms and can auto record an ECG if it discovers AF. I highly reconmend it - very impressed (and I don’t work for Apple!).

[momist]

I simply wouldn't be without it. There is a new Withings watch due to come out this summer, which is a step counter or activity monitor along the lines of a FitBit, but has an analogue face and a one year replaceable battery, and which also has a Kardia type device built into it. I'd love one of those, when it is available.

Just a note on the Kardia - the company encourages you to sign up for their storage plan at about £10 per month so you have access to all your recordings. You don't need to do that. I already had a Dropbox account so I 'email' my recordings to that and they can then be viewed on my phone, tablet and pc and also sent of to the EP when appropriate.

There's lots of good advice in earlier posts on here about using the Kardia, and they have an education section on their web site of how to read your own tracings.

[GrannyE]

I have had one for a long time now and find it very informative. On the very infrequent visits to my cardiologist - difficult to get an appointment nowadays on the nhs - I show it to him. It not only shows the AFib clearly but the ectopic and irregularities very well as well as the heart rate. When I have a problem I take it more frequently and when I am OK I don’t bother. Easy to carry around in my handbag and forget about. I can recommend it and have been recommending it to my friends.

[Dodie117]

I have one and found it really useful as the print outs were useful for my EP post ablation. He could see what was happening to my heart on a regular basis. I rarely use it now. I would say well worth the money and check out if the new one is available here. It is available in US.

[BC50]

Bought Kardia and had too many "heartbeat needs to be between 50 to 100 unable to tell" this is when my heart rate resting was about 68-70. Returned it, bout apple 4 watch. Does HR and ECG. So far so good. Only downside, which may be upside for others, it also acts as my i phone

[Timsywhimsy]

I’ve had the Kardia about a month to monitor SVT. Last night I had some palps, did the cardio and it read Afib! Was terrified so went to ER. They think I was having pvc or pac and Kardia gave a false positive for Afib. Just my experience, but now I’m sort of afraid to use it.

[Polski in reply to Timsywhimsy]

If you are concerned then it's always worth taking several readings over half an hour say, before going for help. Then the stray false interpretations are likely to be more obvious. I sometimes have some very strange print-outs, but it turns out that this is when my heart is moving from SNR to AF.

[JudyMarieC]

I found the kardia device to be very helpful when I was having an afib or aflutter episode that differed from the usual. I, myself, didn't need a device to tell me I was having irregular beats since I can feel every one of them, but it was helpful to send the tracings to the doctor if I was concerned.

[Hidden]

used it obsessivley for a year, woriied about everything it told me.

Sits in the draw now with a dead battery

Useful if you are awaiting a diagnosis and if you don't obsess over it

[miltonmilo]

Very useful, right on, let’s you know instantly what’s happening, another tool in the box.

[stagecoach]

my consultant EP recommended one and since then have used it to show GP, A&E and cardiology rather than try to explain. Post ablation I have used it to send traces to the hospital for concerns so a useful diagnostic tool while someone is looking at the traces.

Of course it has limitations, like trying to catch the irregular ectopic or my AF trigger, had to resort to 24 hr holter for that. Device is only a 1 lead ECG so it is only a tool and really needs someone to review them so when I get discharged it'll probably sit in a drawer.