technical help Kardia please!

[Peony4575]

I have had a standard Kardia for a couple of years and have just bought a 6L. Was going to do a test run but wouldn’t work on current app. Instructions aren’t for adding a Kardia but for setting up from scratch . I thought I could have one Kardia in my handbag and one in bedside draw . Do I need to download the app again and have separate apps for each Kardia ? Happy to do that if that is the best way

[pip_pip]

More than likely its the device. My Kardia works on one phone but not the other. Kardia will tell you maybe. They have lists as to which phones they work on. Because you have the 2 lead that works well does not mean that the 6L will. Trial and error. You might have to try another device / mobile.

Phil

[Peony4575 in reply to pip_pip]

Thanks Phil. I have consulted Google and have been able to add it now into my iPhone . Just reading on how I could switch between devices should I need to. How do you know when the battery needs changing? Any idea ?

[mjames1 in reply to Peony4575]

When in "record ekg mode" pull down me at very top let's you switch from one Kardia device to another.

Jim

[Peony4575 in reply to mjames1]

Thanks Jim !

[Peony4575 in reply to pip_pip]

I have just found that too. Seems a much more sophisticated device. Found a battery indicator

[baba in reply to Peony4575]

Where is the battery indicator , please

I have older device with no screws to battery compartment.

[Peony4575 in reply to baba]

I don’t know on yours sorry Baba I didn’t see it on my older device, just came across it on the 6L

[baba in reply to Peony4575]

Thank you!

[LaceyLady in reply to baba]

Battery seems to last a long time. I’ve an old one lead and only changed battery once in all time I’ve had it. Can’t remember what happened.

[alfrae13 in reply to baba]

excuse me but what battery are you taking about. I have a Kardia 6L which is a piece of metal you place on your knee, place your thumbs on either side and it will record your heart beat on the phone. That is the only product shown on Kardia web site. What am I missing?

[baba in reply to alfrae13]

I have a KardiaMobile.You probably have a KardiaMobile 6 lead.

They both have a battery.

[Peony4575 in reply to alfrae13]

Everything needs power to run. It has a battery

[alfrae13 in reply to Peony4575]

Sorry, but my Kardiamobile 6L is a piece of some kind of metal 3x1x1/8. It records your beats on the app and shows the ecg. I live in the US. Could the kardia in UK be different?

[Peony4575 in reply to alfrae13]

No. That’s what they are .

[pip_pip]

It worked my chromebook until the o/s was updated . So it was lucky I kept my older phone. The details of the account and the ecg history should be able to be read on any device once logged into the app online. According to what account you might have with them. I have to say I was also caught out with this issue. But you don't know until you try it. !

Phil

[Peony4575 in reply to pip_pip]

Thanks Phil. The ecg history seems to have disappeared for now I can just see the test one . It was very disconcerting to see 6 squiggly lines when I did a test run ( normal) . Always looks a bit crazy for first few seconds . Am going to have to nose around

[CDreamer]

What you may need to do, depending upon the devices you use, is it set up two different accounts with differing email addresses - one account for single lead and second for the 6L and then switch between the two accounts on the app.

Battery indicator will tell you when you need to change the battery but suggest you removed the screws over a container - we have all had to learn that the hard way!

[Peony4575 in reply to CDreamer]

Lol good advice since I am getting short sighted . So you can set up two accounts on the one app I will try that thank you

[kalgs]

I have a Kardia 6L and Kardia watch . Both work on same app. I also have app on 2 different phones. Download app again and connect Kardia. They have helpline

[Peony4575 in reply to kalgs]

Many thanks !

[Vonnegut]

One is fine for me! I keep it with my phone and have it with me wherever I am but hope you work it out for yourself successfully!

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Thank you for your message to the post. Please follow the link direct to AliveCor troubleshooting page on their website: alivecor.zendesk.com/hc/en-...

Kind regards

TracyAdmin

[Peony4575 in reply to TracyAdmin]

Thanks Tracy

[ozziebob]

You will lose your history of ECGs if you reinstall the Kardia App and aren't subscribed to services needing payment.

If you are NOT subscribed to Kardia's extra services (like me), your ECGs will be stored in the App and will be lost if you reinstall the App. Subscription creates an online account where your personal history of ECGs are stored, presumably until you stop paying the subscription.

But if you always send ECGs to yourself in emails after you create them (like me), and/or download them to your device (like me), you will always have your own ECG history stored safely.

So take care before reinstalling Kardia.

[Peony4575 in reply to ozziebob]

Thank you ! I did get it to work on my existing app in the end the ecgs are all still there . I have just subscribed because have been prescribed flec as pip. Haven’t taken it yet but want to be alerted if any change in qrs interval

[Palpman in reply to Peony4575]

You mean lengthening of the QT interval. This can happen with daily long term use of Flecainide.The PIP would not accumulate in the blood plasma and organs.

[Peony4575 in reply to Palpman]

Good to know . I thought it was a possible adverse event from any use

[Palpman in reply to Peony4575]

Long term daily use of Flecainide taken together with some other QT lengthening drug such as Sertraline can cause LQTS.Flecainide taken daily by itself rarely cases LQTS unless there is another cause such as genetics.

[Peony4575 in reply to Palpman]

That’s reassuring . Am frightened of taking it. They used to only give if if you were on a cardiac monitor didn’t they

[Thomas45 in reply to Peony4575]

No, I was prescribed Flecainide 50mg x 2 a day, rising after 2 years to 150mg x 2 a day. It reduced AF episodes to one or two 10 minute episodes a year. After 12/13years I was found to be in persistent, though asymptomatic, AF. Have been for 6 years .

I wasn't on a cardiac monitor.

[Peony4575 in reply to Thomas45]

Thanks Thomas

[baba in reply to Palpman]

It did for me.

[F-M-C-MM in reply to ozziebob]

Hi,My first Kardia is broken, and I now have a new Kardia device, just the original basic one.

Should I uninstall the App on my phone, and reinstall again for the replacement device, or should the new one link up automatically?

[Peony4575 in reply to F-M-C-MM]

Mine linked up automatically . Give it a go before doing anything major . Because mine was a different device I went into account and was given option to pair , so have a look around the app if you have problems, uninstalling will lose your history

[ozziebob in reply to F-M-C-MM]

I think Peony4575 has given the appropriate answer. If you don't have a paid subscription, if you uninstall and reinstall you will lose your history.

Your new device should link into the App without issue and without needing anything drastic like reinstalling the App.

I lost my history, as, with no subscription, and needing a phone Factory Reset for other reasons, I performed a Kardia App uninstall and later reinstall. Although in hindsight I wish I hadn't uninstalled this App before that Reset because the Factory Reset saved much more of my User Apps and data than I expected. Next time I'll leave the Kardia App on my phone during a Factory Reset to see if the Kardia App and my history survive.

[mjames1 in reply to F-M-C-MM]

If you aren't enrolled in Kardia's subscription services and still want to save your ekg's after a reinstall, you can save the individual ekg's in files and/or via email, either on your phone or computer outside of the app itself. Just takes a few seconds to save an ekg.

Jim

[Grandmaz]

hi , hope you sort all your issues out . May I ask why you ve bought a 6 lead Kardia , I m looking at buying a monitor & not sure whether to buy the 1L or 6L

Many thanks

[ozziebob in reply to Grandmaz]

Remember the 6L also does a single lead ECG if you choose that simpler ECG. But the extra information in a 6 lead ECG is essential for more detailed arrhythmia diagnosis by medical experts.

And the 6 lead device uses Bluetooth to communicate between your device and your phone, and this is liable to less interference than the single lead model which uses radio waves.

I recommend the 6L.

[Grandmaz in reply to ozziebob]

Thank you ozziebob that’s very helpful

[Peony4575 in reply to ozziebob]

That is really helpful !

[Tigger_2 in reply to ozziebob]

Had to chuckle.

What's Bluetooth if it isn't radio?

[ozziebob in reply to Tigger_2]

Yes, the Kardia site said wireless, and I was confused. Regardless, the communication issues of the 1 lead were improved by moving to Bluetooth with the 6 lead.

[baba in reply to ozziebob]

I've never had issues connecting mine, used several different phones and tablet computers, without Bluetooth

[ozziebob in reply to Tigger_2]

I have a 6L with bluetooth so no problems re interference between device and my phone.

However it was the comments of others online and personal testimony of friends about having to move location to prevent interference from nearby electrical equipment to their older single lead Kardia devices that stuck in my mind. Along with feedback like this that I was trying to communicate ...

"The 6L communicates with smartphones via BlueTooth with a simple discrete device pairing. It does not communicate by sound with the smartphone’s microphone like the single lead Kardia unit does. This allows for a greater distance capability between the 6L and the SmartPhone.

The 6L appears less prone to electrical interference."

However, if my thinking is out-of-date, it was not my intention to confuse others as well as myself.

Silence is golden perhaps.

And it seems the newer Kardiamobile card system also uses Bluetooth.

[localad in reply to ozziebob]

Single lead uses ultrasound link

[Peony4575 in reply to Grandmaz]

Ozziebob has given the perfect answer !

[Grandmaz in reply to Peony4575]

Yes very helpful

[mjames1 in reply to Grandmaz]

I have both the Mobile and Six lead. Both are great, but as OBob said, the six lead seems to connect better and also feels more substantial. Most of the time I just use the single lead function on the 6L because it's more convenient, but on the occasion I want a six lead for my ep, that functionality is there.

Jim

[ozziebob in reply to mjames1]

I had to look that up OBob ... the Oregon Battle of the Books ... who knew ! 😄

[Grandmaz in reply to mjames1]

Thanks Jim

[PleasantPink in reply to Grandmaz]

I had the same question & checked with my cardiologist. She said the 1L is all I need for home monitoring. To date since 2019 that has been sufficient. There have only been two times when the recording was unclassified and I didn't feel well that I had to follow up in an ER visit where they do a 12 L anyway to rule out any serious concerns.

[Grandmaz in reply to PleasantPink]

Thank you

[execz1]

Hello Kardia users,

My view is that having a Kardia or similar devices tend to increase patient anxiety which in turn induce episodes of AFIB. Frankly if one have symptomatic episode you will know you are in AFIB and I am certain your doctor have already told your what to do then. If you are one of the lucky ones and your episodes are not symptomatic then again your doctor have already told what to do if you feel out of sort.

I personally have had AFIB since 2012 and have been seen by the best cardiology center in the country among others and never was told to to get Kardia or other devices. At the end of the day it is how you feel what counts and when and how you seek medical attention. So follow your doctor’s instructions and leave the diagnosis to him and not to a well marketed gadgets.

[Grandmaz in reply to execz1]

Thank you execz1 for your reply, I appreciate what you are saying entirely, I am nervous that I may become anxious if I were to buy a monitor or maybe it would give me reassurance, difficult for me to decide

[execz1 in reply to Grandmaz]

Grandmaz

All of us suffering with AFIB were made anxious by our disease and it is important that we avoid any additional causes for anxiety. I am reminded that whatever Kardia show me, there aren’t much I can do with it except to share it with my doctor for any action. Having said that at least for me the doctor said I should be acting on how I feel and not what Kardia shows. We have been told by doctors when to contact them and/ or seek immediate medical attention. Probably knowing your heart rate would be beneficial for your doctor to know when you call him . For heart rate you could use very uncomplicated finger Oximeter that you can buy a good one for less than $30.

[PleasantPink in reply to execz1]

I have to agree you make some valid points. Initially I was very anxious using the Kardia until I was better educated on what the different findings meant. What was most reassuring was knowing what to do & when to do it. My doctor gave me specific guidelines to follow when to seek medical attention. Having a plan ahead of time has been more helpful in reducing my anxiety than the Kardia. I am on the PIP protocol ( Pill in the Pocket ) and do use the Kardia once in the morning when I check my BP. Aside from that I don't use it unless I am feeling a change in my heart rate or rhythm that I can't explain by my situation.

That said I like doing my daily Kardia & BP as a reassurance. I am not one of those folks who doesn't "feel the change". But should that start happening I want to be aware of it. So I guess the decision to use it depends a lot on an individuals preference & what their doctor advises for them.

[Peony4575 in reply to execz1]

That is your opinion . Other opinions are available . I only use mine if I am aware of palpitations but with the two episodes of AF I have had. The first I didn’t know what it. was . I waited several hours then rang 911 and they asked me how fast it was. I couldn’t answer because my BP monitor just said error because it couldn’t count 180 bpm and they didn’t know what was going on. The second time my Kardia said AF and 180bpm I could give the information and was told to go straight in . If I was travelling/away from home and had an arrythmia I would want to know what it was and if ringing for help could say what the Kardia said or email them an ECG . I think it is a great safety device nobody suggests it can replace a doctor . My cardiologists are very happy for me to use Kardia it makes their job a lot easier

[Rambler398 in reply to Peony4575]

“ Other opinions are available”

Love it ! 🤣

[execz1]

So the 911 medics wanted to know was how fast is you heart rate so the can decide what to do . Assuming you are symptomatic you can measure your heart rate using a simple Finger Oximeter . Of course if you are not symptomatic and you are taking your meds then why checking what is going on with your AFIB if you feel well.

[Peony4575 in reply to execz1]

Am guessing your pulse oximeter doesn’t tell you whether you are in fast AF or tachycardia with ectopics ? Having one arrythmia doesn’t mean you can’t /won’t get another . I am a person who likes to know what is going on . Each to his/her own

[execz1 in reply to Peony4575]

You are correct, Oximeter only show the heart rate number. If you go to the ER their goal of their treatment is to bring your heart rate down below 100 . Of course I expect that your doctor probably told you at what rate you should seek medical attention. Technically any rate above 100 during AFIB episode is considered Rapid heart rate.

Bottom line you should do whatever makes you feel good and if Kardia is doing that for you then it is with the investment.

[PleasantPink in reply to execz1]

Since I am following the conversation I will answer why to check what is going on if you feel well. From my understanding there are many folks with Afib that never feel poorly or are even aware they have Afib until it is found incidentally on another exam, perhaps PCP visit. Once you have been diagnosed it is a smart decision to stay on top of your response to treatment. If you are seeing your doctor regularly it may not be necessary; but I think a good habit as we all know things can change between visits. Early intervention in all things medical is always the easiest & best approach.

[Peony4575 in reply to PleasantPink]

Totally agree