Palpitations are a common symptom experienced by many people, but without an ECG taken at the time of symptoms, it is very difficult to determine whether or not they require treatment.
The Kardia device by AliveCor has revolutionised diagnosis of the most common rhythm disturbance, atrial fibrillation, by allowing patients to record their ECG at home, work, or on the go, without the need for access to the chest at the time of symptoms. The device is about half the size of a standard iPhone, lightweight, and syncs with an app on a smartphone. During an episode all the patient needs to do is open the app and touch two fingers from each hand on the Kardia device to take an ECG.
At the time of writing NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, has recently updated its guidance on the Kardia device, stating that it:
Is recommended as an option for detecting atrial fibrillation (AF) for people with suspected paroxysmal AF, who present with symptoms such as palpitations and are referred for ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring by a clinician.
For more information on the device and how to purchase one for personal use, please click here, and for more information about the recently updated NICE guidance, please click here.