If you want a heartrate monitor that uses electrical leads, then the Wellue Pulsebit is the way to go. This is the one I bought for my husband’s SVT events.
The Pulsebit is also a handheld, so it’s the best of both worlds. But if you just want a handheld because you’re never going to measure using leads, then the KardiaMobile is an excellent choice.
I posted a coupon for the Wellue Pulsebit below.
How to Buy the Best AFib Monitors for Home
Check the Price of the Pulsebit on the Wellue site (USE COUPON SENIORHOMECENTRAL FOR 10% OFF)
Check the Price of the KardiaMobile on Amazon
The Home Heart Monitor with Leads for Extra Accuracy
The Pulsebit-EX is the EKG for home use I’d buy for my mom. In fact, it is the home heartrate monitor I bought for my husband. This monitor scans for multiple heart rate pattern problems.
You can use the Pulsebit as a handheld, but its value is that it comes with leads for the most accurate measurements. The noise cancellation feature uses artificial intelligence to screen out electrical impulses from non-heartbeat sources.
It’s also no secret that watch heart rate monitors rely on incomplete data, whereas the Wellue Pulsebit gets its data from leads. Where a watch uses a light to try to read the pulse on the top of the wrist, the Pulsebit checks for AFib using the same technology they use in the hospital.
Use the touch points on the device to get a quick reading, but use the leads to get a confirmation.
The Pulsebit will give you an “irregular heartbeat” message when it detects arrhythmia, a heart pause, atrial fibrilation, tachycardia, bradycardia, and premature ventrical contraction.
This is the home EKG monitor that keeps a history of readings. Send the readouts to the doctor by email. Store them on your phone app or Windows 7, 8 or 10 PC.
The battery lasts for over 500 readings, and it sends reports wirelessly over Bluetooth. It works on Android and iPhones.
The reports are absolutely stunning, and as accurate as any hospital device. Show them to your mom’s doctor to see what I mean. The software is very detailed and is free with the device purchase.
Buy the Pulsebit Heart Monitor
Check the Price of the Pulsebit on the Wellue site (USE COUPON SENIORHOMECENTRAL FOR 10% OFF)
Pulsebit Heart Patterns
The Pulsebit-EX detects heart pause, atrial fib, tachycardia, bradycardia, and premature ventricular contraction (PVC).
It allows you to keep measurement history for two separate users.
You can use your palms or double leads to measure.
Share the reports with your doctor through email or print.
The Pulsebit EX puts out amazing reports.
Why You Should Buy the Pulsebit EX Heart Monitor
- The Pulsebit EX detects all of these heart beat patterns:
- Arrhythmia (generic irregular pattern)
- Heart Pause
- Atrial Fib
- Tachycardia
- Bradycardia
- Premature Ventricular Contraction (PVC)
- This monitor allows you to keep history for two users
- The Pulsebit Ex reads heart rhythms using palm sensors (convenience) or double leads (if palms are dry or shaking)
- This monitor allows you to share reports with your doctor (download, print, email)
- The Pulsebit EX works on iPad, iPhone and Android phones and tablets, and Windows PCs
- With the Pulsebit EX device, you get the measuring and history software for free
- Your heart history is also stored for free
- You can measure in lengths of 30, 60 or 300 seconds
- You can keep an unlimited history on your heart monitor device
Check the Price of the Pulsebit on the Wellue site (USE COUPON SENIORHOMECENTRAL FOR 10% OFF)
The Quick but Accurate KardiaMobile is FDA Cleared
The AliveCor KardiaMobile is the best handheld AFib monitor for seniors. It is the most tested over-the-counter ECG. The KardiaMobile is FDA-cleared to use as a medical device. It scans for atrial fibrillation, bradycardia and tachycardia.
Check the Price of the KardiaMobile on Amazon
KardiaMobile is Simple, Small, and Easy to Use
The KardiaMobile is many times smaller than the average mobile phone. It is about 3 inches long. To take a reading, press your fingertips onto the KardiaMobile pad. There are no gels, leads, and there is nothing to wear. You can carry the KardiaMobile in your pocket.
Email Your KardiaMobile Data
The KardiaMobile does not require any ongoing subscriptions to access your data, despite inaccurate Amazon reviews to the contrary.
There are many ways to store your KardiaMobile results. The device stores your results on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device. You can email ECG results to yourself. You can mail them to your doctor if you have arranged to do that. You can purchase a subscription to store unlimited ECG’s online. Finally, you can work with your doctor using the Kardia Pro service.
Your doctor creates a Kardia Pro account. You then signup as a patient. Your KardiaMobile sends your ECG’s to the Kardia Pro portal. AliveCor is working on an artificial intelligence program to analyze uploaded ECG’s for predictable patterns.
You can also convert your results to a PDF file, which you can then print.
KardiaMobile Home ECG Professional Analysis
There are three ways to get professional analysis of your KardiaMobile home ECG tracings. Just remember the device limitations before proceeding.
First, the FDA cleared KardiaMobile to indicate a probable arrhythmia. It analyzes your ECG for AFib, bradycardia, and tachycardia. It does not offer enough data to diagnose these patterns. You still have to get a 12-lead ECG for a diagnosis.
Second, the tachycardia function tops out at 140 beats per minute (BPM). If your heart rate is higher, you will get an “unclassified” result.
Third, the bradycardia function bottoms out at 40 BPM. A reading lower than 40 will also produce an “unclassified” result.
For a fee of $19, an AliveCor physician will review your KardiaMobile results. If your doctor allows it, you can email results for your doctor to analyze.
AliveCor’s Customer Service
AliveCor customer service answered my questions quickly and completely, something I cannot say about any other vendor I contacted.
Check the Price of the KardiaMobile on Amazon
KardiaMobile Warranty and Guarantee
AliveCor offers a 30-day money back guarantee in order for you to test the device to your satisfaction. This home ECG has a 1-year warranty.
What are the KardiaMobile Downsides?
KardiaMobile reports BPM below 50 and above 140 as “Unclassified.” It also reports some AFib as “Unclassified.” Therefore, it is possible to get “Unclassified” during a bradycardia, tachycardia, and atrial fibrillation episode. Personally, I find this confusing. I would rather see “Possible Problem” than “Unclassified.”
KardiaMobile works on many tablets and phones, but is limited to a very specific set of devices. Be sure to have a compatible device to use with your KardiaMobile AFib ECG.
AliveCor warns not to use its ECG’s with pacemakers or ICD’s (Implantable Cardio Defibrillator’s).
As with all home ECG’s, KardiaMobile is limited in its reporting and diagnosis abilities. No home ECG diagnoses any disease, period. Do not expect this from home ECG.
KardiaMobile reports on bradycardia, tachycardia, and AFib. There are many other types of arrhythmia besides these three types. However, you came here for an AFib device. That is KardiaMobile’s specialty.
Is the KardiaMobile Accurate?
I have a friend whose CAT scan showed a massive cancer. However, there was no cancer there. Instead of a massive cancer, her biopsy revealed a massive infection. What the doctors interpreted as cancer was actually pus. What a disguising relief that the CAT scan was wrong.
Machines are fallible. Doctors interpreting data can make mistakes. To reduce human error, AliveCor instructs users to put their KardiaMobile on a table, near their tablet’s or phone’s microphone. Keep your fingers and arms as steady as possible, perhaps by bracing your arms against the table. Micro-movements can create misleading signals.
Always remember that a single-lead ECG is not a diagnostic device. It can warn of a possible problem.
KardiaMobile AFib Studies
Researchers tested KardiaMobile data for diagnosing atrial fibrillation in 1,013 patients. Twenty-eight of those patients were experiencing atrial fibrillation. The KardiaMobile correctly reported 18 of those AFib cases. Researchers had to eliminate two cases, meaning the KardiaMobile gave eight false positives. It correctly predicted 99.2% of the remaining patients as not having AFib. They published the study in the Jul 6, 2016 volume of the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Researchers took 225 ECG’s from 52 patients using both a 12-lead ECG and the KardiaMobile ECG. The KardiaMobile produced 62 (27.6%) “unclassified” results. However, when the device reported “Possible AFib,” it was correct 100% of the time. When it reported “Normal,” it was correct 89.2% of the time. These high marks were only possible by throwing out 27.6% of the KardiaMobile’s readings. They published their study in the October, 2018 volume of Heart Rhythm.
Oxford Academic EP Europace performed a literature review of ECG studies. They reported that the AliveCor KardiaMobile had a 94% to 98% accuracy rate detecting atrial fibrillation; and a 76-97% accuracy rate ruling out atrial fibrillation.
Check the Price of the KardiaMobile on Amazon
KardiaMobile STEMI Study
Researchers tested KardiaMobile’s data for diagnosing ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), which is a blocked-artery heart attack. Doctors evaluated the ECG’s taken from 204 patients who presented with chest pain. The doctors did not know if they were evaluating KardiaMobile or 12-lead ECG tracings. In diagnosing STEMI, the KardiaMobile agreed with the 12-lead ECG 89% of the time. In ruling out STEMI, KardiaMobile agreed with the 12-lead ECG 84% of the time. The study was published in the Mar-Apr 2015 Journal of Electrocardiology.
KardiaMobile Anecdotal Atrial Fibrillation Report
Dr. Anthony Pearson instructed hundreds of his patients to use the AliveCor KardiaMobile ECG. He compared their data to a 12-lead ECG. Based on these cases, Dr. Pearson concluded that the KardiaMobile is accurate in detecting AFib about 80% of the time.
KardiaMobile Anecdotal PSVT Report
The KardiaMobile might not report “Possible Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT),” but the ECG it produced showed just that. The BMJ (British Medical Journal) reported on a patient who “was ultimately diagnosed using the AliveCor Mobile ECG.” By capturing “a typical atrioventricular node re-entrant tachycardia,” he enabled his physician finally to diagnose the PSVT.
Although this is not an AFib report, I find it to be the strongest evidence for buying a KardiaMobile. No single-lead ECG is going to diagnose arrhythmia. What this device does is to act as a net that catches ECG’s that would otherwise never see the light of day. These are the ECG’s that find arrhythmias that never seem to show up when the patient is on a 12-lead ECG.
Check the Price of the KardiaMobile on Amazon
People Also Ask
What is the difference between the AliveCor KardiaMobile and the KardiaBand? The KardiaMobile is a very small device that you use with an iPad, iPhone or an Android mobile phone. There are no fees to save and email your KardiaMobile ECG’s. The KardiaBand attaches to an Apple Watch version 3. Users pay a fee to AliveCor to get ECG readings, and to store their ECG data.
Check the Price of the Pulsebit on the Wellue site (USE COUPON SENIORHOMECENTRAL FOR 10% OFF)
Check the Price of the KardiaMobile on Amazon
