Af Device.

[Claragh]

Please what is the best device to monitor AF. Ie Watch or Kardio unit.

[mjames1]

No best. Each device offers different but overlapping functions,

Both the Kardia and Apple Watch offer active afib monitoring. That means you have to actively initiate an ekg reading by either pressing the crown the Watch, or in the case of Kardia, putting your fingers on the device.

As a plus, the Apple Watch offers passive afib monitoring and will give you an afib history/burden report as well as afib alerts. The Watch doesn't check all the time, so this is not the 24/7 monitoring you'd get from your doctor's Holter type device, however it can be very useful.

While the Kardia doesn't offer passive monitoring, it does produce medical grade ekg's and the Kardia 6L will produce a six lead ekg which can be useful in distinguishing some arrhythmia's from another. The Apple Watch only does a single lead ekg.

Also, at least in the US, Kardia offers a paid monthly premium service that stores your ekg's in the cloud, looks for other arrythmia's than afib, and allows you to send your ekg's to a cardiologist and/or speak to a cardiologist to go over your ekg's. Apple Watch does not have these extras.

I have both, because again while the functions overlap, each offers something the other doesn't. If you're going to get a Kardia, I would recommend the 6L model because of the six lead capability and better connectivity.

Either way, you cannot go wrong. Most of us find these devices put us more in control of our health and treatment and allow us to share ekg's with our medical team via email for better diagnostics. This translates into better care and less stress and anxiety, worrying about whether or not you're in afib, or perhaps another arrhythmia. A few members have reported these devices make them more anxious, but they are very much in minority.

Jim

[Rainfern in reply to mjames1]

A very clear and informed review that should be posted on the AF Association website, such a regular question!

[Claragh in reply to mjames1]

Many Thanks for your update, muvch appreciated.

James

[Claragh in reply to mjames1]

Thank y0u so much for the update, much apprciated.

James.

[Claragh in reply to mjames1]

Thank you so much for your update much appreciated.

James

[BenHall1]

I suppose it depends on the status of your AF ! Paroxysmal, Persistant, Permanent and what advice you have already been given by your healthcare professional(s).

[Rainfern]

I can’t say what is the better device as I only have an iwatch. However, I have found this to be the perfect monitor for tracking Afib, communicating with the cardio team and giving me a lot of comfort now I’m in a long period of NSR since my ablation.

[Ppiman]

I would say an Apple Watch if you already have an iPhone (or similar, if you have android - a Samsung watch, say). If you get AF and nothing else, it might be said that you don't really need anything to tell you what you already know. That's a fair comment, but, in my case, for example, I get far more (and disturbing) ectopic beats (i.e. palpitations) than ever I get AF. I really do feel better knowing what is happening, and that where a Kardia first helped me back in 2019 when my problems began.

However, I found I was missing many occurrences and that the Kardia often gave an unhelpful reading because I had stopped paying the monthly fee. That sent me to follow some advice here and to buy a Wellue AI ECG device, well, two in the end. The first I bought was their 24-hour AI ECG monitor, the second was their hand held device to replace my Kardia, which I then sold.

It really depends upon your particular case. I would say many would find an Apple Watch ideal, or that alongside a Kardia.

Steve

[Claragh in reply to Ppiman]

Thank you so much for your advice appreciated . James

[Claragh in reply to Ppiman]

Thank you James.

[Sixtychick]

I have an Emay heart monitor. You can take heart tracings and then put them on your phone to save and you can print them out, if you want to, so you can show them to your Doctor. They will tell you if you have AFib or any other heartbeat problem. It is cheaper than the Kardia. I had missed beats after my ablation in September, so took ECG of them and showed them to the EP when I went for my follow up appointment at beginning of February and he reassured me they were fine and that everyone gets these and he also said these were good devices to have and was pleased I’d brought the heart tracings to show him. I got mine from Amazon.