Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by Fnord666 on Monday April 29 2019, @12:38PM   Printer-friendly
from the makes-your-heart-skip-a-beat dept.

Submitted via IRC for ErnestTBass

The FDA just cleared an iPhone ECG sensor that beats the Apple Watch

Apple Watch wearers and fitness enthusiasts were ecstatic when Apple Watch Series 4 came out with a built-in electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor that detects irregular heart rate. And rightfully so -- early detection of atrial fibrillation (AFib) could prevent a serious medical event.

Now, a tiny smartphone accessory from life sciences company AliveCor goes two steps further: The KardiaMobile EKG Monitor detects tachycardia (unusually high heart rate) and bradycardia (unusually low heart rate).

[...] Tachycardia and bradycardia aren't often anything to worry about -- many people experience a low heart rate during sleep and daily stress can cause a high heart rate. But sometimes, these heart arrhythmias can be indicative of severe anxiety, heart disease, thyroid conditions or other health complications.

"No other consumer ECG device in the world can tell you more about your heart than KardiaMobile," said Ira Bahr, AliveCor CEO, in a statement. "Until today, patients have been frustrated when devices label their ECG reading as 'unclassified' or 'inconclusive.'"

AliveCor's device has the potential to reduce those unclassified and inconclusive readings. However, even AliveCor points out that your KardiaMobile EKG readings shouldn't replace conversations with your doctor. Rather, you should use the KardiaMobile readings to inform those conversations.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 3, Informative) by EvilSS on Monday April 29 2019, @02:35PM (3 children)

    by EvilSS (1456) Subscriber Badge on Monday April 29 2019, @02:35PM (#836263)
    So first off, the Kardia device has actually been around for a while now. What was approved was adding certifications for tachycardia and bradycardia. And while the Apple watch doesn't do either of those with the ECG function, it does use the pulse sensor to monitor for both low heart rate and high heart rate (when it thinks you are otherwise not exercising). I'm sure other heart rate monitoring smart watches could do the same thing as well. Since it uses the pulse monitor, it is watching for these all the time vs when you use the Kardia device, it can only check while you are actively using it.

    I have the Kardia Mobile and it's a cool device, but this isn't something amazing they are announcing. I'm really more excited for the 6 lead device (two fingers plus an electrode on the back for one knee) which will actually be able to detect quite a few conditions the Apple watch can't.
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   +1  
       Informative=1, Total=1
    Extra 'Informative' Modifier   0  
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   3  
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 29 2019, @02:49PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 29 2019, @02:49PM (#836266)

    I'm having trouble finding one with an electrode for my mesothorax.

  • (Score: 2) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Monday April 29 2019, @03:55PM (1 child)

    by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us (6553) on Monday April 29 2019, @03:55PM (#836284) Journal

    Well said and One of many prior articles here at Soylent [soylentnews.org], as you say not about ECG really. What KardiaMobile is *really* good at is

    • self-promotion

    .

    --
    This sig for rent.