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An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a medical test traditionally performed by a medical professional in a medical office or hospital to measure the electrical activity of your heart. Once electrodes are attached to your chest, the ECG monitors your heart rate and cardiac activity on paper or a digital screen. Your healthcare provider then analyzes and interprets the peaks and troughs on that paper or screen to determine abnormal or unusual activity in your heart.
You may be considering the purchase of an ECG home device to identify and maintain your heart rhythm if you are concerned about your heart, or have a diagnosed disorder such as atrial fibrillation. You may also want to keep an eye on your heart rate and rhythm for other reasons, such as when exercising, when pregnant, or when experiencing other health issues such as hypertension. If you live in the United States, you may want to only consider those devices that have met with official Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approval. An approved ECG monitor can measure and record your heart rate and rhythm, showing the data in a wave-like pattern. These devices can accurately assess other vitals, including blood pressure.
There are a variety of home ECG monitoring devices available, but finding the best ECG monitors, whether portable or home ECG monitors, can be difficult when searching for a device that is portable, dependable, and that provides accurate results.
How to Choose the Best Home ECG Monitor
You don’t need to spend a lot of money on a home ECG monitor. Clinically approved ECG monitors are remarkably inexpensive when compared to those used by healthcare providers and readily available, too. Below we look at the range of features, simplicity of use, and price points of the best ECG monitor brands to help you with your selection.
User-Friendliness
A home ECG monitor should be simple to operate. This feature is particularly significant for the elderly, who will be frequent users of these devices. It should be simple to use and require only a few button presses.
Connectivity and Portability
Portable ECG monitors should ideally be wireless and Bluetooth-connected to your smartphone. This feature allows you to keep track of your heart’s parameters and enables you to use the phone without connecting it to your computer. Having reports available on your phone will also allow you to show the data you collect to your healthcare provider during your visits. Your healthcare provider can also verify the results of your home device by comparing it to those obtained when using an in-office healthcare provider ECG monitor.
Precision
As might be expected, home ECG monitors can vary in precision when giving readings. Controlled by the Federal Trade Commission in the United States, those that have passed muster will indicate this FDA approval, and this is a good indicator of the accuracy of the results that you will get. The number of cardiac problems that the monitor can identify and the overall quality and pricing are good indicators of its quality. Expect less-priced items to be less accurate than more expensive ones.
Data Retention
Data storage is critical if you are going to utilize this gadget as a long-term tracking device that saves your heart’s data. You may want a device that presents your heart data to others, such as your healthcare provider, and also print the results if desired.
Cost
While cost is not always the biggest factor that predicts quality, price is a good predictor of precision. For budget-minded people, it is best to consider the issues of most importance when opting for one choice or another.
Best ECG Monitors of 2021
EMAY Wireless EKG Monitor
With the compact and user-friendly design of the EMAY Personal EKG Monitor, you can now record your heart rate and a rhythm at any time and from any location while the event is taking place. You won’t need a smartphone or tablet to use this device. It operates on its own if required.
Switch it on and lay your fingers/hands on the sensors, and it will do the rest. It offers two options for sharing EKG reports with healthcare providers: computer and smartphone. Bluetooth makes data synchronization and sharing considerably easier.
If you prefer, you can download the EMAY app on your smartphone to store, evaluate, and share your findings. You won’t have to rotate your head to view the display because you can switch the direction to horizontal or vertical. It presents critical information in less than 30 seconds. Furthermore, the report will provide your healthcare provider with useful information to use as a reference. This device offers Bluetooth compatibility with Smartphones: iPhone – iOS 8.2 or later (For iPhone 11 / 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max / XR / XS / XS Max / X / 8 / 8 Plus / 6s / 6s Plus / 6 / SE / 5s / 5 / 5c / 4s), Android 7.0 or later is required (For Samsung Galaxy & Note, Google Pixel, Huawei Only). Also, it is compatible with Windows 7/ 8/ 10 Mac OS 10.12 and later. This product is FDA approved, see Wireless EKG Monitor for more information.
SonoHealth Portable EKG Heart Rate Monitor
The EKGraph Portable ECG monitor has many sensors and gives accurate measurements and readings. This portable EKG monitor connects wirelessly to your iOS or Android device thanks to built-in Bluetooth. At the stroke of a button, you may email or print your needed data. There are no hidden costs or subscriptions, allowing you to use the software for an infinite amount of time and keep as much data as you like without incurring any additional fees.
This heart monitor’s one-button interface makes it simple to operate, and the ultra-vivid color LCD screen displays both heart rate and ECG wave patterns. Each device has two sensors that can mimic multi-lead measurements, including a vital chest lead (simulated) for a more precise cardiac measurement. This Portable ECG monitor is FDA cleared. For more information regarding being FDA cleared see Portable EKG / ECG Monitor.
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