Cardiovascular disease is considered the leading killer disease of both men and women in the US, with about 655,000 Americans dying because of cardiovascular disease each year. That would mean, every 36 seconds, a person dies from heart disease. Fortunately, researchers have several undeniable breakthroughs over the past decades to manage this killer disease. One of the latest advances is integration of ECG in many smart wearable devices.
An ECG or electrocardiogram is a test that records and measures the heart’s electrical activity as it contracts. Through ECG, your doctor will be able to determine any abnormalities in your heart rhythm and will prompt further work up. With a 12 lead ecg done in office or hospital, your doctor will be able to diagnose the following after conducting an ECG test:
- Heart rhythm issues
- Ischemia
- Heart attack
- Abnormalities in the muscles of the heart
- Electrolyte abnormalities
ECG Wearables
Thanks to the advent of technology, ECG is now incorporated in many wearable devices, which means, lesser lives will be lost due to heart disease. However, these devices shouldn’t replace your doctor visits and checkup.
Kardia Heart Monitor
Kardia is an FDA-approved ECG monitoring wearable device from AliveCor that allows you to monitor the condition of your heart anytime, anywhere. It works in conjunction with your smartphone when reading your heart rhythm. The Kardia Heart Monitor consists of two parts: the device itself and the other part that will sync your smartphone to the app.
PROS:
- FDA approved
- Fast and accurate ECG readings
- Has the ability to detect AFIb, Bradycardia, Tachycardia or Normal heart rhythm
- Allows you to save your ECG result on your phone and send it to your physician later
Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5 and Series 6
From the latest Apple Watch, you can now better monitor your heart’s rhythm. These watches have improved health, fitness, and ECG monitoring. The Food and Drug Administration and Educational Credential Assessment of Canada have approved the use of the Series 5 in personally monitoring heart rhythm because of its more accurate ECG readings.
PROS:
- FDA and ECA approved
- ECG readings almost as accurate as in the hospitals
- Has the ability to detect AFIb
- Supports LTE
- Has fall detection
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
Like Apple, Samsung has also released a wearable device with ECG monitoring ability. If your device is not compatible with Apple, then The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is the best option for android users like you. It features health and fitness tracking with about 40 sport modes; thus, allowing you to get a detailed fitness analysis.
PROS:
- Android user friendly
- Sleek design
- Supports 4G LTE
- Wide array of fitness tracking apps
- FDA Approved
Withings Move ECG
Withings Move ECG is a hybrid smartwatch with ECG monitoring capability. The best thing about this ECG wearable is that you can get your heart rhythm reading in as fast as 30 seconds. You just have to place your finger on the metallic side button and, presto!
PROS:
- Fast and accurate ECG readings
- Has the ability to detect AFIb
- Provides detailed analysis of your heart rhythm thru the Health Mate app
- Sleek design
- Sleep tracking
- Supports GPS
- Long battery life
*not yet FDA approved