Hi All,Been looking at smartphones, considering whether to buy one or not. I have an Android Samsung Galaxy smartphone so though I know the Apple Watch is highly rated it's not compatible.
This one came up as Android compatible and been approved by FDA. Welcome any thoughts.... or suggestions... Many thanks. 😊
the Samsung watch is very comparable to Apple Watch. I believe it does just about everything the Apple one does.
Thanks Poochman. Shall have to wait till its released and take a look. I have a smallish wrist and am concerned it may not fit well.
I was part of a trial in Oxford, the conclusion of which was that all smart watches are pretty unreliable and you are much better off using a Kardia type device. All devices need good skin contact and unless your smart watch is so tight it cuts off the blood supply(!) the results are likely to be nonsense..
Thanks ObDyer. When was the research done and do you have a link so can read it?
Hi Sadly no link. I had a cardioversion last August and they grabbed me for a trial while waiting and shared their findings verbally (showed me the raw data to support it) but I don't have access to the final report.. now back in AF and next DCCV booked for Sept.. maybe I'll ask them! I really struggled to get any meaningful signal at all to the Apple watch they were using, which seemed to be true of 30-50% (?) of the other patients they had trialled. The Samsung (inc a ring device I wasn't aware of) were not much different. Maybe I'm just not sweaty enough!
PS just Google 'afib kardia v apple' or similar.. there's plenty of academically rigorous reports on there.. in general Apple measures heart rate, Kardia looks for arrythmia?
😂🤣 Well I appreciate the info.... They are expensive. I only ask as there are different models and theres a new one out. My tech knowledge isn't great.... OK but am not a techno wizz!! Also as am down for an op and my surgeon says its not technically Afib but simular and they treat the same way that has me confused. The cardiologist diagnosed it as Afib after I wore a 48hr Holster.
Consequence is I've been deliberating since over Apple or Kardia or steer clear!! 😅🤣
That's strange as my Smart watch is calibrated with my BP machine and it's always spot on.
I don't believe that. For a while I had a Withings MoveECG watch, that worked brilliantly well, and I loved it. Sadly the build quality was terrible and the battery life less than 20% of what they claimed, so it went the way of all things sooner than I would have liked.
However, all smart watches need contact with both arms to perform an ECG. You usually have to tell it to do a recording, and then grip the bezel or some other part with the 'off' hand to start the process. Readings take 30 seconds or so. This is no different to the Kardia device which can live attached to your smart phone, so is nearly as convenient as a your watch. The Kardia is well respected by the medics and is extremely reliable. Also, the 6L model does more than any smart watch can.
Article talks about a beta release in the US. You'd need to check when that functionality is available in UK. Also my interpretation on what it says is that it detects AF in people that don't know they have it. A number of watches already available in the UK already do this such as FitBit Charge 5...we have this watch and as my wife is already in AF it doesn't proactively tell her she's in AF, just confirms it when she does ghe ECG function.
Thank u Devon Hubby - I'm not sure what it's true capacity is and whether it does more than the fit bit or is comparible with an apple watch. I did notice it wasn't released yet.
I switched from Samsung phone to Apple specifically to be able to use the Apple Watch to monitor my PAF. My wife’s a doctor and encouraged it (she can help me interpret ECGs). Very happy with it and all results are entirety believable. I’ve been able to measure heart rate reductions when I started bisoprolol and wear it 24/7 so that I get a weekly % of time in AF. Useful to observe effect now I’ve started Flecanide.
Wholly recommend. Also great for loads of non- health stuff!
And this from a prior’anti-Apple’ person!
Oh wow Decaf Andy. 😊 I'm in contract with my Android for another year.....Ive been tempted but when I looked it up u can't really use it without an apple phone. Lol.... Now it's tempting because now I'm fully retired.... Whoopppeee!! I'm thinking of replacing my old iPad and I think I can use that but not sure?
You can use Kardia with either Apple or Android.
Kardia website has a list of compatible devices. If your device is not listed it may still work, just not been tested by Kardia (alivcor).
You can set it to record ecg from 30 seconds to 5 minutes.
Thanks Baba. 😊
Check out the Kardia. However, your Samsung Galaxy smart phone is probably not compatible with the Kardia Mobile 2 lead version, as the audio will be filtered for 'noise reduction'. The Kardia 6L should work perfectly.
Thank u Momist. Thanks for the heads up, I hadn't realised this.
I love my Galaxy 4. I've had some nasty events recorded on here, so easy to show to the gp, even an Afib I wasn't aware of, but the hospital was aware of events I wasn't aware of too. This allows me to take a dose of hawthorne from my herbalist and stop the event developing. I was very happy with the blood pressure option but read on the Galaxy instructions, it shouldn't be used if on blood thinners or with any heart problems. I don't understand why I can do an ECG but not a BP.
I know nothing about the Kardia. What does it do that my watch doesn't?
I use the Kardia 2 lead, which does nothing more than your Samsung 4 watch. However, it does it for what was (at the time) less than £100 UK. The Kardia 6L will give you a standard 2 line ECG, or with a third connection (to another body part, like your knee or ankle) 6 line ECG. I've never used one myself, but everyone who has thinks they are the best.
Much appreciated, momist, thank you. I do get three lines on my Galaxy and it's useful for so many other things, so don't think I'll be rushing to buy a Kardia just yet.
So I found the research comparing Kardia to apple watch series 4. Unfortunately technology has moved on so not the current apple watch. I also note that Kardia have won a case against apple for pinching Kardia technology. The full outcome I've not yet found but last summer there was talk of Apple Smart Watch might be banned for sale in the USA.Apple smart watch is now series 8 which I can't find anything much on only series 4 so don't know if theyve upgraded the technology on heart. Quite a bit of research was based on the Kardia band which Kardia stopped producing when Apple brought out their smartwatch. So it's actually quite hard to compare current models.
One thing is clear the Kardia 6L is a lot cheaper than an Apple Smart Watch & given I have a lovely automatic watch that I wear daily not sure I want to invest several hundred pounds in the Apple Smart Watch. Clearly Kardia is worried by Apples smart watch though....
Very interesting, I've not been following the news since my ablation two years ago. I've been happy with my original Kardia mobile, although it doesn't work with my current cell phone. It's fine with an old one I can still call into service, and with my Huawei tablet.
The reply I received to my query to an advert for the Aktiia bracelet. I know nothing about the Kardia but both watches and this bracelet are not for use on our bp. I do use my watch for ECG but afraid to use it for bp but don’t understand the difference.
Barbara Owen, we appreciate you reaching out. Aktiia Bracelet G1 is not intended be used on patients suffering from sustained cardiac arrhythmias that can lead to weak or unstable pressure pulses including tachycardia (heart rate at rest > 120bpm) and atrial fibrillation; on patients suffering from pathologies that systematically reduce peripheral perfusion including Raynaud’s disease, diabetes, renal dysfunctions (eGFR < 60mL / min / 1.73 m2), hyper- / hypothyroidism, pheochromocytoma or arteriovenous fistula; on pregnant women; on damaged / injured skin; on patients below 21 y.o. and above 65 y.o.
Withings Smartwatch tracks ECG, hr and blood ox. Will detect and confirm AFib and store EKG for download. Using it easily for 2 years with Android. Only needs charging monthly
Thanks Redwood Dweller. Looks very attractive as well. I like the fact they do a smaller size watch. I have a small wrist.
Galaxy say not to use their watch bp if on anticoagulants, have a fib, etc., etc. This was the reply to my query on an Aktilia bracelet.....
Barbara Owen, we appreciate you reaching out. Aktiia Bracelet G1 is not intended be used on patients suffering from sustained cardiac arrhythmias that can lead to weak or unstable pressure pulses including tachycardia (heart rate at rest > 120bpm) and atrial fibrillation; on patients suffering from pathologies that systematically reduce peripheral perfusion including Raynaud’s disease, diabetes, renal dysfunctions (eGFR < 60mL / min / 1.73 m2), hyper- / hypothyroidism, pheochromocytoma or arteriovenous fistula; on pregnant women; on damaged / injured skin; on patients below 21 y.o. and above 65 y.o.
Thankyou. Interesting. I also have hypothyroidism and am over 65....Making me wonder if I need to check further with Kardia then.....
I have both a Galaxy watch that can detect AF and a Kardia (older 2 lead version). They both work as well for me. I know when I'm in AF anyway but it's a reassurance that I record the ecg that I like with both of them. Of the two I prefer the Kardia but it's much more convenient to use my watch.
Thank u Drounding. I suppose the disadvantage is you have to carry the Kardia around with you.
hearing heart beat with afib 
Heart rates in Afib and NSR
Tracking AF with a Fitbit/heart monitor
All that is fast with the heart in not necessarily afib 
Sudden AFIB onset after near fainting, feeling like heart stopped 
