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Kardia mobile

DaveBr profile image
12 Replies

I have looked at these devices but the website says not tested or recommended for pacemaker does anyone either use with a pacemaker or know why it won't work.

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DaveBr profile image
DaveBr
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12 Replies

Hi DaveBr, What you've read is not only correct but is actually your answer too. The Kardia was primarily developed to be a detecting tool, to quickly take an ECG reading for those people who are suffering arrhythmia, (especially AF) for those who need an instant trace read-out which can be shared with a medical professional. It shows information that can be used to provide you with a course of action, a remedy, such as ablation or medication.But a pacemaker is already a remedy. It's intended to not only speed up a slow heart rate, but to keep it regular, hence its name. It should be doing what it sounds as if it's intended to do. It's supposed to be a solution.

That's not to say that problems don't ever arise with pacemakers but not of the sort which the Kardia was developed to detect. Because it wasn't designed for that, I guess there was no reason to attempt to trial it on people with pacemakers. When your pacemaker isn't doing what it's intended to do, it's necessary for it to receive some attention and there are accurate ways available to test it other than with an untrialled app.

DaveBr profile image
DaveBr in reply to

I had a pacemaker fitted after being diagnosed with AF but also tachycardia and brachycardia the pacemaker stops my HR dropping below 50 but doesn't stop the AF according to my pacemaker clinic I currently spend a third of the time in AF

Buffafly profile image
Buffafly in reply to DaveBr

Did you need the pacemaker recording to tell you you were in AF? A pacemaker doesn’t cure AF unless you have an AV node ablation as well which doesn’t stop AF but prevents the irregularity being passed to the ventricles. I think the reason Kardia doesn’t work is because it records electrical impulses so the electrics of the pacemaker interfere with the recording. However, if you didn’t have noticeable symptoms there isn’t much point doing recordings except out of curiosity 🤔

DaveBr profile image
DaveBr in reply to Buffafly

I guess I can tell when I'm in AF some of the time I also take bisoprol to keep my HR low . I suffer from PAF so no long attacks but thought about using the Kardia to distinguish between possible AF and other eregularities

Tux18 profile image
Tux18 in reply to DaveBr

I also have pacemaker, which only keeps my heart rate up but I continue with lots of afib and tachardia.

bantam12 profile image
bantam12 in reply to

There are different types of pacemaker, some only control bradycardia so don't have any effect on the rate and keeping it regular, I still have AF, SVT and ectopics despite having a pacemaker.

in reply to bantam12

No I don't dispute that bantam12!

AFCyclist profile image
AFCyclist

As your pacemaker is not working all the time and only activating below 50bpm a Kardia may still be useful. My pacemaker is like yours and I still use my Kardia to check on things.

DaveBr profile image
DaveBr in reply to AFCyclist

That was my thought. I have a dual pacemaker and again according to the clinic is working on one section 30%of the time and 18%on the other . I have never been told if it is being used when I am actually having an AF episode

There speaks a man who knows…….

LindaDaisy profile image
LindaDaisy

I have an ICD which also paces me if I drop below 60. My EP recommended I get a Kardia. I’ve found it very useful as I can see what’s going on. Sometimes fast AF, sometimes slow AF, sometimes SVT and sometimes just a strange irregular heart rate.

DaveBr profile image
DaveBr in reply to LindaDaisy

That's very helpful would you recommend it? What one do you have

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