HWN Suggests

Smartwatches Are Changing the Purpose of the EKG

Think of the stereotypical representations of medicine, as they might appear on a television show: the crisp white coat, of course, and the stethoscope dangling at the ready. Syringes and intravenous lines, maybe. An X-ray or a CT scan slammed theatrically into a light box.

But any medical scene is incomplete without an electrocardiogram (EKG) machine running in the background, its jagged line tracing across the screen reassuringly, or alarmingly to cue a dramatic threat. The EKG is the backbeat of many hospital scenes on television. Important medical things are happening here, it says.

To tap into that potent association, many private medical practices, urgent-care clinics,…

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Comparison and review of portable, handheld, 1-lead/channel ECG / EKG recorders

There are so many handheld ECG devices now available that choosing which one to get can be daunting and not easy! To begin with, choosing a device depends partly on whether you are (1) a medical provider (physician, clinic, etc.) looking for a device to prescribe or send out with your patients or (2) a layperson with various understanding (from little or none to much) about the subject of ECG.

Is Your Heartbeat Off, or Blood Sugar High? On the Road, You Can Keep Track

Dr. Frisch said the quality of recordings from the Kardia and the latest Apple Watch were very similar and provide a single view of the heart that is “an approximation” of the standard EKG. But Kardia is coming out with a new device, the KardiaMobile 6L, which Dr. Frisch said would allow doctors to view the same heart rhythm from six different angles. Users rest the 6L on the bare skin of either their left knee or their ankle and hold it in place with two fingers for 30 seconds.

What you should know about personal EKG devices

Keep in mind that these devices rely on just one or two points of contact, or leads, to track heart activity. Hospital EKGs use 12 leads and are more reliable and accurate. Don’t panic if you have an unusual reading; share the information with your doctor, who can then confirm or negate the validity of the finding.

Resources

AliveCor

Take a medical-grade EKG anytime, anywhere. In just 30 seconds, detect Atrial Fibrillation, Bradycardia, Tachycardia or Normal heart rhythm