How Cardiac Rhythm’s Biosensors Simplified Cardiac ECG Monitoring for Enhanced Patient Care

Heart ailments are the silent villains of this modern age that can strike anyone regardless of age or gender. Factors such as stress, poor diet, sleep deprivation and lethargic lifestyle; all contribute to a high probability of developing a heart condition.
Nevertheless, the advancements in the field of medicine have provided a means of defending against this unpredictable foe. Electrocardiogram or ECG technology has evolved to be mobile, compact and augmented with wireless technology to be vigilant to requirements of patients with cardiac health issues. Remote patient monitoring devices have been developed to tackle this predicament.

About Cardiac ECG Monitoring

ECG or EKG monitors are used to detect arrhythmia in patients suspected of having portrayed symptoms. An ECG records the electrical signals of the heart. It is a painless and non-invasive procedure utilized to detect heart problems and also to monitor the health of the heart.

A physician may prescribe a patient with an ECG monitoring session to detect the following:

Arrhythmia, which are the irregular rhythms of the heart; its general symptoms include chest pains, rapid pulse, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, confusion or light-headedness and weakness, fatigue or decline in exercising ability.
Chest pains or heart attack that is a result of a narrowed or blocked artery, possibly as a result of coronary artery disease. and
To inspect the functional status of certain heart treatments such as pacemakers.
And lastly, if the patient has already suffered a heart attack.

Conventional ECG vs Mobile Cardiac ECG Monitoring

Over the course of its evolution, the ECG has transformed to attain multiple forms but its basic function remains the same which is the detection of irregular heartbeats. The earliest form of the ECG machine that was first used in hospitals was connected to a patient via wires and powered through an electric supply.

These ECG monitors are used for patients that are under a significant risk of an immediate and dangerous condition related to the heart. They are also used to monitor patients that are under recovery from an operation of the heart or are under observation due to a previously occurred episode of a heart attack.

Besides these, there are the Ambulatory ECGs, also known as Holter monitors, which are portable heart monitoring systems. They are compact devices that are worn by patients on a belt and are connected to the patients via electrodes to measure the electrical impulses of the heart.

Holter monitors are used for the continuous detection of heartbeats over a period of 48 hours. This monitoring exercise is conducted for patients that have recently experienced symptoms of heart tremors or arrhythmia and need to be diagnosed for the reason that led to the episode. They are convenient and comfortable to use for patients in the comfort of their homes; and can be worn while performing daily routine activities.

Also, there are wearable mobile cardiac telemetry devices, which are even more compact and are stuck to the patient’s chest using an adhesive label; and are worn by patients over a period of a month continuously to detect for any unpredictably occurring event of heart palpitations or arrhythmia. These biosensors are automatically activated upon detection of irregular heartbeats or are turned on by the patient, using a switch, when they experience symptoms.

These wearable ECG monitoring devices have long battery life and are also waterproof to prevent damage due to perspiration or inclement weather. These heart health monitoring devices can also be worn under clothing without causing significant discomfort. They have an extended battery life that allows them to record data, and depending on the device, also transmit data wirelessly to medical authorities for a diagnostic and therapeutic response.

The necessity of Enhanced Patient care and mobile heart monitoring

Heart problems require immediate attention as even a minor issue can escalate to deadly proportions within a short time. Therefore, the therapeutic procedures to prevent and, in extreme cases, resolve have been designed with the intention to save the maximum possible time and provide the best available treatment.

Thus, the creation of mobile cardiac monitoring took place to save critical time that is lost in the transportation of patients to hospitals or clinics when an unexpected episode of arrhythmia occurs; or to capture the opportunity when it presents itself, by having a monitor in place to record heart rhythm data.

Holter monitors consist mainly of a small recording device that is attached to a belt that the patient wears, and is attached to the patient’s chest using electrodes that are connected to the recording device via wires.

Holter monitors are used for long-term cardiac monitoring, which is the continuous recording of heart rhythm for a period of at least 48 hours to capture ECG data which can be analyzed by doctors to interpret the cause of the irregularity of heart rhythm.

Simplified Cardiac Monitoring and diagnostics process

Since its adoption into the healthcare sector, mobile cardiac monitoring has become the go-to option for patients and physicians alike. This is mainly because of the following reasons:

Mobile heart monitors are convenient, and not cumbersome, when in operation; as they are light, compact and easily concealed by clothing.
Thanks to their portable nature, they provide the convenience of recording cardiac data on the go; thus, preventing the disruption of a patient’s daily schedule or routine tasks.
They save the patient’s time and money by nullifying the requirement of frequent visits to the hospital for either check-ups or post-symptom diagnosis.
The patient benefits by having their cardiac data sent directly to the concerned physicians, via wireless means, through a cloud-based server that elicits a prompt response from the medical practitioners; saving vital time and resources that could be wasted due to logistic hurdles.
The patients can also avail a Pay-Per-Use facility that contributes to further savings as they can avail the services of mobile cardiac monitors as per their requirement; instead of purchasing these devices entirely. A service that is offered by promising new ventures such as TechIndia; a company that pioneers in the field of long-term Holter monitoring and interpretation of collected data using neural networks, machine learning and AI to provide the best therapeutic consultation.

Conclusion

Technology continues its march towards a bright and shiny future, paving the way for a safer and healthier tomorrow. The field of medicine is one of these avenues that has been built using the blood, sweat and tears of countless individuals that have either spent their golden years to perfect their art to save lives, or have sacrificed their lives to educate us mortals to the mysteries of the human body and the maladies that plague it. Nevertheless, together as a race, we will someday achieve immortality as a consequence of the arduous odyssey of the few, that are the protectors of humanity.