This $100 handheld device could save your life
Soon enough, checking your heart's health could be as easy as checking your temperature
Heart disease accounts for one in four deaths in the U.S., but early detection "too often relies upon dumb luck," said Tim Moynihan in Wired. Kardia, a $100 electrocardiogram machine about the size of two sticks of gum, allows at-risk patients to monitor their ticker without bulky equipment or frequent doctor’s visits. Patients press their fingers to the device for 30 seconds and a medical-grade EKG reading is transmitted to their smartphone and to AliveCor, the startup behind Kardia.
The company uses artificial intelligence to analyze that data and build a profile of the user’s heart. If it detects possible signs of heart disease, AliveCor alerts the patient’s doctor to take a closer look. Eventually, Kardia technology could be built into smartwatches and other wearables, like sensor-laden clothing. "When that happens, checking your heart could be as easy as checking your temperature."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Foreigners in Spain facing a 100% tax on homes as the country battles a housing crisis
Under the Radar The goal is to provide 'more housing, better regulation and greater aid,' said Spain's prime minister
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: January 22, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Codeword: January 22, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published