Review: KardiaMobile 6L – Heart Monitor

In 2020 I had a bit of a scare when I suffered from a severe case of Atrial Fibrillation or Afib for short (irregular heartbeat) after a heavy night of boozing.  When I went to the doctor, my heart was measured at 183 BPM at rest, which is nearly 3 times more than it should be! Fortunately for me, after many checks and tests, it was determined that I didn’t have a heart problem and that the booze and dehydration were the likely cause.

It was a very unpleasant experience, and for months afterwards, I was constantly paranoid about my ticker not working correctly. To help put my mind at ease, I purchased the KardiaMobile 6L.

What is the KardiaMobile 6L

The KardiaMobile 6L records a person’s heart’s electrical activity (ECG) when they place their fingers on the sensors. The data is recorded in the Kardia mobile phone app (via Bluetooth), which shows heart activity in a diagram and alerts the user to any heart irregularities.

How to use the KardiaMobile 6L

Using the KardiaMobile 6L is really easy. Only a mobile phone with the Kardia app and the KardiaMobile 6L device are required to take an ECG heart reading.

Steps to use the KardiaMobile 6L to obtain a single lead ECG reading:

1. Open the Kardia app (available on Android and iPhone) on your phone
2. Select ‘Record Your ECG’
3. Place your fingers on the top KardiaMobile sensors (see picture below). Make sure the arrow on the black section is pointing away from your body
    
   
   
4. Wait for the 30 second timer to complete.
5. Wait a few seconds for the results

KardiaMobile 6L Results (single lead ECG)

Steps to use the KardiaMobile 6L to obtain a six lead ECG reading:

1. Open the Kardia app on your phone
2. Select ‘Record Your ECG’
3. Place your fingers on the top KardiaMobile sensors
4. Place the bottom sensor on your knee
    
   

   

5. Wait for the timer to complete.
6. Wait a few seconds for the results

Difference between KardiaMobile single-lead ECG and six-lead ECG

Basically, a six-lead ECG provides more detailed information about your heart activity than a single-lead ECG.

Pros: KardiaMobile 6L

• No Subscription – Once you’ve purchased the KardiaMobilew 6L there is no requirement to sign up for a subscription.
  
  There is a KardiaCare subscription available that gives more details about the results and some additional features, but for the basic functionality, no subscription is needed.
  
  
• Accurate Results – The KardiaMobile 6L provides the most reliable readings you will get from a home ECG device. This is evidenced by the fact that NICE has approved the KardiaMobile for use by the NHS.
  
  
• Easy To Use – No wires, no gels; simply place your fingers on the sensors for 30 seconds to get a heart reading.
  
  
• Share Data With Your Doctor – The results are stored in the app history every time you monitor your heart. You can show your doctor the results to help diagnose heart problems.

Cons: KardiaMobile 6L

• Interference – The KardiaMobile is very sensitive to interference from other electronic devices. To get a good reading, you must be far away from other electronic devices.
  
  
• Data Privacy  – You have to sign up to use the Kardia app. I’ve used bogus information and an email account that doesn’t include my real name. I don’t know anything about AliveCor (the company that makes the KardiaMobile) and how they use the data they gather about me and my heart. AliveCor states that they comply with European GDPR, but that’s not enough for me to trust them.
  
  
• High Price – The KardiaMobile 6L is quite pricey, but you have to pay the price if you want the most accurate and reliable home ECG device available.
  
  
• Limited Detection – I’m not sure how many different heart conditions there are, but I would guess there are a lot. The KardiaMobile 6L only detects Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), Bradycardia, and Tachycardia. These are some of the most common heart conditions in the UK. As long as you are aware of what the KardiaMobile can and cannot detect, then it is not a problem.

 

Tips on using the KardiaMobile 6L

• Make sure that you turn off ‘NFC’ on your phone before taking a heart reading.
  
  
• Use the KardiaMobile away from other electronic equipment. Interference from other equipment can cause the readings to go haywire.
  
  
• Sometimes, the readings suddenly stop before the timer completes. I’ve found that this is caused by my fingers being dry. Licking my fingers to give them a bit of moisture usually sorts this problem.
  
  
• Don’t freak out if the app shows a potential heart problem. Wait a few minutes and rerun the test. If you’re not relaxed, interference from other devices can give inaccurate results.
  
  
• The KardiaMobile cannot detect heart attacks. It can only indicate if you have signs of atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, tachycardia

Conclusion: AliveCor KardiMobile 6L Review

The KardiaMobile 6L is a groundbreaking piece of technology in personal heart health monitoring. As a compact, six-lead ECG device, it offers a more detailed view of the heart compared to single-lead ECGs.

It can be operated simply by touching the sensors, making it accessible to many users, from health professionals to those monitoring heart conditions at home.

The device’s ability to detect signs of atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, tachycardia, and other heart conditions in real time is really useful.

The device has received approval from the FDA (US) and NICE (UK), adding a layer of trust and reliability to the device.

The accompanying smartphone app provides straightforward interpretations of ECG readings, easy sharing options with healthcare professionals, and a user-friendly interface.

Overall, the KardiaMobile 6L significantly advances personal health monitoring devices. It brings clinical-grade technology into the hands of everyday users, providing peace of mind, and playing a vital role in proactive heart health.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions: KardiaMobile 6L

 

How much is KardiaMobile per month?

The KardiaMobile does not require a monthly subscription to use. There is the one of cost of buying the KardiaMobile, after which there are no other costs. 

There is the optional KardiaCare membership which is paid yearly. KardiaCare gives users some additional insights and reporting. But it is not required for the basic functionality of the KardiaMobile

What is the difference between KardiaMobile and KardiaMobile 6L

The main  difference between KardiaMobile and KardiaMobile 6L is the number of leads they use to record an ECG. KardiaMobile uses a single lead, providing a straightforward view of the heart’s electrical activity.

The KardiaMobile 6L uses three leads, offering a more detailed picture by capturing the heart’s electrical activity from different angles. This can provide more comprehensive data for detecting potential heart issues.

How to change battery in KardiaMobile?

There is a good support article on the Alivecor website showing how to change the battery of the KardiaMobile.

How long does the KardiaMobile 6L battery last?

If you use the KardiaMobile 6L 2 or 3 times a day then you can expect the battery to last 1 or 2 years.

I’ve had my KardiaMobile for nearly 3 years and the battery is still going strong. However, I probably only use it once or twice every month.

Where to buy the KardiaMobile?

In the UK the only high street shop that I’m aware of that you can buy the  KardiaMobile is Boots. However, I think you have to order online and collect from your local Boots shop.

Online you can buy the KardiaMobile from places like Amazon, British Heart Foundation, eBay and various other online stores.