Which machine?

[Coeurdelion]

Could someone tell me which is the recommended machine for recording ECG/arrhythmia please?

[Paulbounce]

The Kardia comes highly recommended by forum members - maybe this is best for you. I use a Beurer and have always found it very effective. However the Kardia maybe the right choice for you. Google Kardia and you'll find more details.

Paul

[Physalis]

What do you want to record? The Kardia is fine for recording ECGs.

I like the Apple Watch 5 because it also monitors your heart rate all day and night - about 300 times. I used to put the readings on to a spreadsheet and it was useful for me to see when the episodes of atrial fibrillation started and finished, how long they went on for and how often it happened. The ECGs could be printed out for the doctor too.

Before I got it, I had no idea what was going on and I only bought it for its fall detect feature. Fortunately, I haven't had to use that. The apps are useful too. I wouldn't be without it now even though I am free of AFib. And I will be ready if it comes back!

[Coeurdelion in reply to Physalis]

Thanks for that. Very useful.

[Rubymurray25]

I use a Kardia and think it is brilliant and on two occasions has really helped with catching the AF early to show the consultant.

[Coeurdelion in reply to Rubymurray25]

Is there just one Kardia machine?

[Hidden in reply to Coeurdelion]

no, there are two, single lead and 6 lead (I think)

Also note that the kardia is recognised by NICE and readings can be used by professionals to help with diagnosis , my GP surgery has one that they loan out to suspected AF patients

[Coeurdelion in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Mikee. Very useful.

[Hidden in reply to Coeurdelion]

No worries, happy to help.

They are great for diagnosis and to understand what is going on when you feel the chest rabbit but some people (like myself) can get a bit obsessed and worry about every strange bump on the trace

[Rubymurray25]

There is a simple version which I have where you just have to place your fingers on the pad and link it in with your phone, all very simple and does the job perfectly. Then there is a 6 lead version which cost more and takes longer to use.

[BillCook in reply to Rubymurray25]

I've just bought a Kardia Mobile 6L ("6 lead") monitor, and it is also very simple to use. The "six lead" name is perhaps misleading, as there aren't any leads at all! It is basically the same device as the basic model, but with an extra electrode on the underside. You place the device on some bare skin on your knee, so that the electrode on the underside is touching the skin, then make contact with the upper electrodes with each hand, and the device automatically transmits data to the Kardia app on a compatible mobile phone. You can also use it in "single lead" mode if you wish, simply using the 2 upper electrodes in the same way as with the basic model.

The 6L cost me £150 instead of £100 for the basic model, but I went for it because the extra electrode enables it to record additional information, which I thought might be useful in the future diagnosis of my problem. I don't know if this will turn out to be be true, but I thought that for £50 it was worth it to me to have that possibility.

I think it's called a 6L because the data gathered mimics that recorded by a traditional 6 lead monitor.

[Rubymurray25 in reply to BillCook]

Very interesting and many thanks for clarifying the difference, might have to upgrade at some point!

[Coeurdelion in reply to BillCook]

Thanks Bill. Very helpful.

[baba]

alivecor.co.uk/

[tunybgur]

I have a HealForce PC80B.

It comes with leads etc but you don't really need them, I just hold it against my chest, make sure of a good connection (drop of water on the contact patch), press the button and it gives an excellent 30s rhythm trace which clearly shows whether the P wave is missing or not. It can hold hundreds of readings in the memory and they can be downloaded to a PC and emailed if required etc.

It does give a brief assessment of the reading but it's better to educate yourself what to look for, and for AF it's the absence or not of a P wave which is clearly visible....or not as the case may be.

I paid about £80 for it on Ebay a few years ago and consider it an excellent investment, my GP was very impressed with quality of the rhythm traces.