The value of the app seems to be the ability to quickly transmit your data to a doctor and probably the affordability of the product since you need no other hardware.

On the other hand, you can now buy an OMRON portable ECG/EKG for $290. You can also call 911 while you are using the device.

It is the OMRON HCG-801. Not only does it say "irregular heart rhythm", you can also easily see the missing P waves, the squiggly line in place of the P wave, the irregularly irregular beat, and the heart rate. You can also load the run on your computer and send the run by email to your doctor or your Uncle Louie in Pittsburgh.

petey

http://www.wholesalepoint.com/product/Omron-HCG-801.aspx

I was thinking of buying one of those, but it doesn't seem to be Mac comparable.

That should read "compatable." Dratted auto spell! :)

Why wouldn't it be compatible? If you can read an SD card, you have the ECG runs/files. petey

My computers don't read SD cards. Well, it might be worth it anyway.

From the linked article it appears that the app would not be able to distinguish PAC, PVC, and afib. They all would just indicate irregular heart rhythm
The Omron ecg shows you the actual ecg trace, you can easily tell apart PAC, PVC, and afib.
You can read the SD card in your computer if you have a USB port via an external card reader, I think Office Depot has one for less than 10$
.

I have the Omron HCG-801 and find it very helpful. It comes with a cdrom containing ECG Viewer Software that allows one to transfer ecg's from the SD card to your pc. The software also lets you view these files, print them and save them in other formats (i like pdf) and then email it. This software only runs on a windows pc.

Files on the SD card use an ECG file extension which stands for Electrocardiography as one would expect. While it is true that you can transfer files from an SD card to a MAC you will not be able to view or print the files unless you can find MAC software that can access ECG file extensions; you could still email the ecg to your doctor but unless he/she has software for reading ecg computer files it will be unreadable.

opsyn

Thanks for the info, Eco. I'll buy one.

Now... anyone have a web site where I can learn to read an ECG so I can tell the difference? As I'm typing right now, I'm having PVCs, PACs, or something... grrrr! I'd like to know what it is.

What do PVC's feel like?
What do PAC's feel like?

Searching the web I found that there are free downloads of ECG viewers for MAC. I have a PC, so I don't know whether they are good.

To me they feel like the heart beat is slightly delayed or paused and then there are two beats which are very close together. Then the heart beats regular again for a few minutes, then again a slight delay etc.
I mentioned it at my last doctor visit and Dr Pinski said, I myself could not distinguish between the two without an EKG. Nevertheless he said they are harmless, he himself has them from time to time.

I believe that the symptoms of PACs and PVCs vary greatly for different individuals.
I have occasional PACs, but they are typically symptomless, I can detect them only on my Omron.

See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premature_ventricular_contraction
http://lifeinthefastlane.com/ecg-library/premature-atrial-complex-pac/
for ECG waves of PVCs and PACs.

AFIB VERSUS NSR:

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/nursing/practice/resources/cardiology/fibrillation/

Page 1 has NSR. Page 4 has AFIB.

Look for P, QRS, & T with NSR.

Look for missing P, squiggly line in its place, and irregular (fast slow/long and short distances between QRS waves, and elevated heart rate in most cases). Simple.

petey

I like Dr John Mandrola's ECG example of AFIB. Only look at the top line on Dr John's website if you use the OMRON. His representation looks EXACTLY like my ECG.

http://www.drjohnm.org/atrial-fib/

petey