Kardia Reviews: Can This EKG Monitor Your Heart?
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Sometimes, people need regular heart monitoring to stay on top of their health. An EKG monitor like Kardia Mobile could adhere to these heart-focused needs. We review Kardia by evaluating its pros, cons, and benefits for checking heart rate.
Finding the best EKG can help you get the most accurate heart readings.
Some companies produce cheaper heart monitors when focusing on sales and branding. This is unreliable for people who need trustworthy home ECG monitors. Checking your heart rhythm requires high-quality technology and digital tools.
Kardia Mobile is known for helping AFib patients. The benefits of such a device can ensure you’re at lesser risk of getting heart attacks. Learning more about the app and monitor can show you whether Kardia is suitable for your health needs.
In this article, we review Kardia Mobile by studying its pros and cons.
Summary
- Kardia Mobile checks things like Atrial Fibrillation, Bradycardia, and Tachycardia
- There are summary reports for people who like sharing information with doctors
Kardia Mobile is an app and EKG device that can check your heart rhythm. You press your fingers onto the monitor and it will send detailed results to the app. Gathering readings on a smart phone can help you share readings with a doctor or cardiologist.
The single-lead personal EKG is supposed to detect atrial fibrillation – an irregular heartbeat that could lead to blood clots in the heart. If these results show on the Kardia app, people can seek medical help and undergo treatment for this condition.
⭐ Rating |
3.7
|
✅ Benefits |
Small and compact EKG, detailed reports |
❌ Downsides |
Expensive, EKG doesn’t suit all phones |
💰 BP price |
From $89 |
🧰️ Can Kardia be wrong? |
Yes |
🔔 How to get started |
What Is Kardia Mobile?
Kardia Mobile is a medical-grade EKG that monitors your heart in 30 seconds. Since these products were created by a board certified cardiologist, people can trust their results. Both the app and monitor work together to make heart monitoring easy.
Creators of Kardia believe that everyone should take better care of their hearts. Doing a simple test with the EKG every day can detect any abnormal heart issues. Because of this, you’ll be taking a quick trip to the doctor’s office to prevent serious problems.
One great thing about Kardia is that it’s clinically validated, CE marked, and FDA-approved. Gaining respective FDA-clearance means the monitor is trusted to detect heart conditions like atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, and tachycardia quickly.
How Does Kardia Mobile Work?
These Kardia Mobile products work by monitoring your heart and sending important information to the app. For example, when there is an abnormality in your upper chambers, the EKG will immediately suggest arrhythmia in the app’s logging system.
Even though you’ll be using the EKG frequently, its companion app works to provide the most heart-related data. Advanced determinations associated with AFib monitoring mean you can share unusual readings with your doctor or trusted cardiologist.
On the app, you can also view arterial pressure history, daily result graphs, personal health details, medical recommendations, and sinus rhythm reviews. One study found that these features and the EKG can actually help people detect heart conditions.
What Does Kardio Mobile Measure?
Kardia Mobile can measure hypertension symptoms, normal heart rhythm, atrial flutter, supraventricular ectopy, and abnormal heart rate. These measurements are important for preventing heart disease and ensuring your body is healthy during old age.
This single-lead ECG will also track premature ventricular contractions in your sinus rhythm – the rhythm that originates from the heart’s sinus node. These electrical impulses control your heartbeat, which is important to monitor in the long term.
How to Use Kardia Mobile?
The EKG has two touch pads on the front. You simply press your fingers against those pads for 30 seconds before getting a reading. For this to work and provide accurate readings, you need to have a reliable source of connection with the Kardia app.
You can take the small monitor with you during traveling. This is especially great for people who may work far away from home. Once you have your results, go onto the app’s main page to see summary reports, heart data, and medication tracking.
Pros of Kardia
There have been many studies that show Kardia Mobile can save a trip to the doctor’s office. You can look at the detailed measurements to gain insight into how your heart is performing, even when you’re fit and healthy from regular exercise.
Below, we have picked out some pros of using these Kardia devices for a good reading.
#1 Can detect some heart conditions
Since the electrodes on the monitor detect irregular heartbeats, it can also point out potential heart conditions. This is good for controlling hypertension or even heart damage. People have the chance to protect their heart’s health in the long term.
#2 Doesn’t require patches or wires
The small EKG is completely wireless and doesn’t need attachments. You can travel with the monitor and not worry about carrying leads. Because of this, customers who don’t work from home can easily take and transport the monitor in their bags.
Cons of Kardia
Of course, there are bound to be disadvantages as well. Not all Kardia devices work well for measuring your heart properly. Before buying your first ECG monitor at home, consult with a cardiologist first to ensure you’re getting the best products.
Just keep reading to find the cons of Kardia Mobile.
#1 Can’t detect a heart attack
Kardia Mobile cannot detect heart attacks or other serious problems. This is because a heart attack produces more physical symptoms. It’s important that you only use the EKG for daily monitoring and always consult with your doctor if you notice something worrying.
#2 Not compatible with pacemakers
Those with pacemakers won’t be able to use Kardia Mobile due to the incompatibility. Because of the battery-operated device, readings won’t be accurate on an EKG. This drawback might remove a lot of the potential audience, which isn’t a good thing.
#3 To get extra features you have to be a member
You can only get key features when purchasing one of the memberships. Paying more for something you might not use can be frustrating as well. Due to the expensive subscription plans, people will feel put off even testing Kardia Mobile to begin with.
Is Kardia Mobile Accurate?
Kardia Mobile won’t always be accurate in detecting some heart irregularities. There have been several customer reports on how all the phones need to be case-free. People can’t use the EKG properly due to poor signal through a phone case.
It’s also important to note that Kardia servers can go down at any time. This means you won’t get accurate readings on both Apple and Android phones. As mentioned earlier, testing your heart rate more than once ensures you get a more accurate picture.
FAQs
The monthly plan is $9.99 and the 1-year plan is $99. You have to become a member to access the premium Kardia Mobile features. If you choose the no membership option, you can’t view things like professional heart data and unlimited data storage.
Yes, there may be times when Kardia provides inaccurate readings. The algorithm could have poor tracing, which shows noisy and unreadable heart information. You should use Kardia Mobile again to gain an accurate response and understand your heart’s health.
People who use the Kardia device can track heart palpitations. This is because the electrical activity is detected in your heart and sent straight to the app. You could share this information with a medical professional to discuss medicines or anxiety relief.
You can get it on the official website: kardia.com
Kardia vs. Competitors
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Cardi Health focuses on heart health by giving detailed reports and health information
People with high blood pressure or cholesterol can use this app to manage their physical symptoms
You can also follow exercise and meal plans to lose weight while strengthening the heart
Welltory encourages people to connect the app to products like Apple Watch, Samsung Health, Google Fit, and Omron
You are encouraged to measure stress levels when determining blood pressure and long-term heart health
Tracking exercise performance is another key feature that shows how your heart reacts to certain workouts
Kardia Mobile is a medical-grade EKG that can check Atrial Fibrillation, Bradycardia, Tachycardia, or normal heart readings
You can view a heart health summary report when taking readings every day
All you need to do is place your fingers on the sensors to get your results
Cardi Health focuses on heart health by giving detailed reports and health information
People with high blood pressure or cholesterol can use this app to manage their physical symptoms
You can also follow exercise and meal plans to lose weight while strengthening the heart
Welltory encourages people to connect the app to products like Apple Watch, Samsung Health, Google Fit, and Omron
You are encouraged to measure stress levels when determining blood pressure and long-term heart health
Tracking exercise performance is another key feature that shows how your heart reacts to certain workouts
Kardia Mobile is a medical-grade EKG that can check Atrial Fibrillation, Bradycardia, Tachycardia, or normal heart readings
You can view a heart health summary report when taking readings every day
All you need to do is place your fingers on the sensors to get your results
How We Tested Kardia Mobile
Testing this product beforehand ensures it’s suitable for measuring heart health. You need to know whether these features are truly FDA-cleared. Just remember that everyone will have a different experience when using Kardia Mobile devices.
Here are 4 factors we considered in more detail:
Quality 7/10
Products that aren’t high-quality aren’t worth buying, right?
Kardia has strong and compact ECG strips that make monitoring easy. People don’t have to struggle with arm cuffs or big machines. However, something that lowers the score is the ECG case, as users report no signal when using the phone case.
In terms of the app, nothing negative stands out. You have everything you need when looking at progress over time. Summary reports are a great high-quality feature for those who share results with doctors.
Effectiveness 7/10
Kardia may only be effective when you have good signal and internet. If the servers go down, people can’t access the app’s features either. This may be a problem for those who are constantly moving and need to measure their heart at random times.
However, Kardia Mobile is still great at providing accurate readings. You can easily touch the top two electrodes with your thumbs to gain results in 30 seconds. The unlimited cloud storage and Apple Watch connection are more effective features.
Price 6/10
Sadly, the price for Kardia brings down the overall rating.
Not everyone can afford paying $9.99 a month or $99 a year. There are inexpensive alternatives in today’s market that could offer similar features. For those who need this in the long term, the budget might put them off from re-purchasing.
Brand reputation 8/10
AliveCor is a brand that created the Kardia Mobile device. They aim to “improve diagnosis and treatment” for those who need medical-grade heart data. By looking at their mission, it’s clear to see that AliveCor cares about connecting patients with professionals.
A Word from a Nutritionist
Finding the right monitor is important for getting accurate results. Buying cheaper ones might sound handy, but they won’t last in the long term. Always look at what the EKG provides, like heart disease prevention, arrhythmia symptoms, and doctor reports.
Studies have shown that regular electrocardiogram monitoring can detect various heart disorders. Some of these might be blocked arteries, heart damage, and irregular sinus rhythm. If the EKG covers these things, then it’s worth buying for your health.
Just remember that FDA-cleared devices are better. This means they’re trustworthy and can properly read your heart without constant inaccuracy. For more guidance, consult with your doctor or cardiologist when finding a home monitor to use daily.
Conclusion
So, is Kardia Mobile really worth buying?
Detecting your heart rate and providing detailed reports is great for improving heart health. People can also use this to prevent failed blood pressure management. However, Kardia isn’t always accurate and the prices won’t suit everyone’s budget.
The Cardi Health app is a better alternative for monitoring your heart. You can prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol and hypertension over time.
Edibel Quintero is a medical doctor who graduated in 2013 from the University of Zulia and has been working in her profession since then. She specializes in obesity and nutrition, physical rehabilitation, sports massage and post-operative rehabilitation. Edibel's goal is to help people live healthier lives by educating them about food, exercise, mental wellness and other lifestyle choices that can improve their quality of life.
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