Wearable sensible priced recommendations

[rubyred]

Hi all, I’ve read a couple of times on different sites that some of you may wear a watch that lets you know when your in AF.

I would like to get one but to be honest I don’t wish to spend a fortune. Would like to keep within a £100 budget.

Please could someone who uses one advise on which is the best.

I would like simple to use and easy to read. I have an Apple phone and don’t know if some are linkable but don’t wish to purchase an Apple Watch.

Thank you for reading.

[Paulbounce]

TBH Ruby I'm not sure if you will find a reliable device in your budget - maybe not for a watch. Would a Kardia be a better option for you ?

Paul

[rubyred in reply to Paulbounce]

Thanks Paul. Sounds like I need to consider spending more.

[Hatten28]

Hi Ruby, I don’t understand how you need a gadget to tell you are in af as I know straight away and it’s horrible.however spoke to my doctor yesterday because of breathlessness and she said it could be due to my heart racing which I am totally unaware of, it apparently it does.so maybe it’s just the difference between people.

[rubyred in reply to Hatten28]

Hi my lovely 😊 I have absolutely no idea. By the time I was admitted to hospital back in November I never felt any racing heart beats or any palpitations. I was very unwell and had been getting breathless with exertion for couple months. Looking back I may have had the AF for around a year before diagnosis. I’m well medicated but recently I’ve had one or two minor chest pressure for just couple minutes. The cardiologist wonders if I’m slipping in and out. I’m due an ECG on Tuesday to check. I just thought it may be useful for my own understanding to have my own way to check. I’m waiting for cardioversion but everything is on hold in my area. ☹️.

[momist]

Beware of those watches (e.g. Fitbit) which merely monitor your 'heart rate'. Most of those measure your pulse by detecting the colour change of your skin when the capillaries swell under the influence of the increase in pressure just after your heart pumps. To do that, they filter out other changes by looking for a !regular! beat in the range 60 - 120 bpm. They will not detect AF because a) not all your heart beats will pump enough blood and b) you will not necessarily be within range and c) it's not regular (by definition!).

I would recommend the Kardia. The 2 lead version though, uses ultrasound to communicate with your phone and this could fail on a high end phone which has filtering on the microphone. Check out which model of Apple phone works before you buy. You would be OK with the more expensive 6 lead version, as that uses Bluetooth, but I think the 6 lead complication is unnecessary.

[rubyred in reply to momist]

Thank you momist I’m beginning to wonder if I need to invest in the Apple Watch. Do you happen to know if they are any good x

[Bennera513 in reply to rubyred]

I LOVE my Apple Watch. Was pricey, but....It's always on my wrist, resists interference and jolts better than Kardia. My EP actually prefers it's readings to Kardia (said I wouldn't benefit from 6 lead version), with latest update it can read afib even for HR above 120. I can take a reading and no one has to know. The Kardia proved to be an act of congress to get connection and reduce interference, etc. There's a commercial showing folks of all sorts taking their ECG on their watch discreetly while singing a song (i.e., in a theater, etc.). Can easily export .pdf of the reading directly tot email, message, etc. Then I use 'my chart' to upload the strip to EP and make a call and they get back in an hour or so.

[CCW66]

These watches are expensive ...but I find mine to be much more convenient and user friendly than the Kardia device that used to be glued to the back of my phone. So much easier and less obtrusive to put your finger on the stem of the watch than holding the phone. Signal always perfect and in 30 seconds , you will get the diagnosis. Signal with Kardia was always spotty depending on where I was. Cannot overstate how much I love this watch.

[rubyred in reply to CCW66]

Hi CCW66 Can I check is that the Apple Watch. Thank you x

[CCW66 in reply to rubyred]

Yes

[Adiepie]

Now that Apple are up to version 6 on the watch, why not look for a second hand version 4? Both my wife and I have them, both suffer from fibrillation or flutter, we wouldn’t be without them now. Are really reassuring plus have the facility to export the trace to your EP for diagnosis. Really really good!

[rubyred in reply to Adiepie]

Thank you that’s a helpful suggestion. I don’t think my consultant is an EP. I attend the Norfolk and Norwich hospital and I don’t think they have any there. But I also have secondary dilated cardiomyopathy x 😊

[hayrisdnet]

Does I watch distinguish between flutter and AFib? Can notification be programmed for type of condition. Any information would be appreciated. Thx

[rubyred in reply to hayrisdnet]

No idea

[Bambi65]

i havent found a watch that can do all that my Kardia can do. I email the ecg to myself, or to my Cardiologist all at no charge. The Kardia (not the 6 lead) is convenient and very easy to use away from all electronics, and it only cost $89.00 USD

[rubyred in reply to Bambi65]

Thank you. I’m not really sure what a Kardia is but will google them so I understand. X

[hayrisdnet]

Thx for info. Kardia is good, but “normal “ maybe wrong conclusion (confirmed with cardiologist it was normal, but flutter.