| Cardiovascular disease is what occurs when | | | | using these portable ECG device, and then take |
| something in the heart blood vessel or its electrical | | | | the results to their health care provider for |
| activity isn't working right. These diseases can be | | | | evaluation. These portable ECG monitors are |
| manifested in various types including as abnormal | | | | equipped with batteries and a small LCD screen |
| rhythms. There are many different types of | | | | which shows the hearts electrical activity. These |
| abnormal rhythms of the heart. Atrial fibrillation is | | | | devices are now advanced by adding "intelligence" |
| one such disorder, it is found in about 2.2 million | | | | which enables them to provide with features such |
| Americans. During atrial fibrillation, the heart's two | | | | as user alarms as well as performing local |
| small upper chambers (the atria) quiver instead of | | | | processing to detect the type of abnormal heart |
| beating effectively. Blood isn't pumped completely | | | | rhythms. |
| out of them, so it may pool and clot. If a piece of | | | | They could be connected to the individual persons |
| a blood clot in the atria leaves the heart and | | | | through the leads like the conventional ECG device |
| becomes lodged in an artery in the brain, a stroke | | | | in hospitals, or through the person's hand using |
| results. About 15 percent of strokes occur in | | | | finger tips. Unlike the conventional ECG recorders |
| people with atrial fibrillation. | | | | which require aid of trained technicians to connect |
| ECG/EKG -Electrocardiogram monitors are | | | | the wires to your body, Portable ECG Device |
| devices which help health professionals to monitor | | | | requires only the person who is using to connect. |
| electrical activity of the heart and detect any | | | | These devices can be used only as a screening |
| heart disease at an early stage. It is useful in | | | | tool mainly with patients having a family history of |
| patients who have irregular heart beat or | | | | heart attacks or strokes or are being treated for |
| abnormal heart rhythm like atrial fibrillation. Once, a | | | | a heart condition. It can only be used as a |
| patient has been diagnosed with an abnormal | | | | screening device in fitness center for monitoring |
| heart rhythm, they need to be monitored | | | | of Rhythms or in hospitals for evaluation of drugs |
| periodically. One of the main reasons is to prevent | | | | in large number of patients. |
| complications like stroke which can be debilitating | | | | It has some limitations in that, it cannot be used |
| especially in older age group. | | | | as a replacement tool for conventional large ECG |
| One of the major disadvantages of these | | | | machines used in Hospitals and also it can be used |
| monitors was that any person who had to | | | | in patients who have pacemakers installed in them |
| undergo these tests had to visit a hospital or a | | | | and during pregnancy. The analysis of the results |
| healthcare provider center to perform these | | | | needs to been done by a qualified health care |
| tests. But, now with portability of devices; it is | | | | professional. |
| possible to perform these tests at home. | | | | Despite these drawbacks, it is still quite a handy |
| The small handheld devices enable people with | | | | tool to be in one's home especially in individuals |
| abnormal heart conditions, to perform | | | | with susceptibility to abnormal heart rhythms. |
| measurements of their heart electrical activity | | | | |