Hello, I’m hoping someone may kindly be able to help me with this Kardia reading? It’s advanced detection stated AFib, however after sending it off to them they have said it is normal sinus rhythm?
I have very little understanding of what I am looking at so any help would be hugely appreciated.
(Heart rate was 72bpm)
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Aries17
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I have only a single lead Kardia, so a bit wobbly on the 6 lead version but it looks to me like normal sinus rhythm with, perhaps a PVC in your second trace below.
The first trace looks like it has massive interference - perhaps from another electronic source? The beats show uniform R peaks which would not be the case with AF which is chaotic. As there is wobble interference, I can't easily see the complete individual pqrs traces.
When I take a trace on my Kardia, I dampen my fingertips, sit very still, don't talk and keep away from other electronic sources - and I still get a shaky trace sometimes!
Who is "them"? If the reading isn't from an electrophisologist (ep) I wouldn't trust it.
That said, Lead 1 does seem irregular but it is a bit hazy and Kardia makes all its advanced determinations only based on lead 1, so you might be ok because the other leads seem regular. Maybe take it again, just using Kardia's single lead function (fingers only) and as suggested, make sure the phone is not in the charger and fingers are a bit moist.
Apologies, after the app flagged up AFib I sent it off to the Kardia clinicians to review and the response from them said Normal Sinus Rhythm hence why I am so confused!
In the US at least, I believe the Kardia clinicians are cardiologists. If that's the case, it probably is normal rhythm as they are well versed reading Kardia.
Hi, like somebody else said, looks to me like lots of electrical interference, but still a little initiating atrial peak before each ventricular beat. Hard to distinguish among all the noise. I'm mainly agreeing with the Kardia analyses, wouldn't venture that opinion on my own.
It’s sinus rhythm based on the P wave visible with the final two beats and the regularity of the QRS complexes. The first part of the trace shows marked interference, most likely due to poor contact between the Kardia and the skin, or movement. Moisturising the electrodes very slightly usually results in a much better quality trace.
I found that if I used the Kardia when sat near my pc or lap top there was interference. on both the kardia and my i phone. If I have the sound on the computer turned on I can actually hear the interference so be careful of using near other electrical items.
I think Jim's advice is sound. Tbh I rarely use my 6 lead function. But if you get a confused and messy reading like this, take another and then take another with the 2 lead. There's a guy on the forum who helped design the Kardiamobile. He usually chips in.
What you have in the first graph is interference because of poor contact between your skin and the device.
I use mine sitting down normally in an armchair, not at a table, and use my thumbs not fingers as it’s so much easier and more effective. If your thumbs are very dry just dampen them a little, then rub dry before use.
Your other graphs show a regular pulse (i.e. NSR) sparked off by a normal atrial signal (i.e. the tiny blip before the big one - the so-called “P” wave).
Below is an example of my Kardia picking up AF a couple of days ago. Notice the irregular pulse (i.e. the big peaks or “R” waves) and the missing or sometimes multiple “P” waves:
But how do you actually feel and do these readings matter. The more I read on this site about kardia et al it seems people are more likely to stress themselves by readings. What's the worse that can happen, death, you won't have to worry after that, or massive stroke, have your air ticket to dignitas or equivalent arranged.
My take is that most people here find the Kardia extremely useful, with a handful who don't. Worst case scenarios aside, documenting fleeting episodes or arrhythmia's at home can often be the difference between receiving needed treatment versus being looked at as an hysteric by the hospital or doctor. Now THAT can be stressful.
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