Smartphone monitor, app is saving lives

Electropads record heart rhythms, app sends results to the doctor

Connor Jasper loves trains, cookies, basketball, just about anything a typical little 4-year-old boy likes. However, he is anything but typical. Connor suffers from a heart condition that has put him in an ambulance four times.

"I am very scared about it all the time, every few weeks I tell myself it's going to happen any day because it seems to happen once a month," said Connor's mother, Kristy Jasper.

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Connor's condition, known as Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, has no warning signs. His heart rate can sky rocket causing fatigue and dizziness, even death. 

 "He'll just be doing anything, playing, he could be sleeping and his heart rate will just jump," said Kristy.

"It's particularly challenging in small children who can't always communicate uh what symptoms they are having," explained Alisa Niksch, MD, Pediatric Cardiologist at Tufts University Medical Center.

But now his smartphone can monitor his heart 24-7.  Connor takes this heart monitor with him anywhere.  Electropads are put on his chest and can record, display and store his heart rhythms. The results can be sent to his doctor immediately.

"I was able to call the doctor because she gets the feed from my phone instantly," said Kristy.

That quick response saved Connor another trip to the ER. The AliveCor heart monitor is available to patients without the need for a prescription. The app is free, and the heart monitor costs about $200.

Take It To Heart

Heart disease kills around 600,000 people every year which is 1 out of every 4 deaths. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. Over $100 billion a year is spent on coronary heart disease. Being able to monitor heart rates can be a good way to make sure that your heart is healthy, and can help you notice if anything seems abnormal. Noticing the warning signs is crucial and acting early can help save your life.

News4Jax, together with Baker-Gilmour Cardiovascular Institute and Walgreens, have put together the Take it to Heart Four Step Challenge, to help you and your family get heart healthy. On the fourth of every month, we take a moment to encourage you to sign up.

There are four steps to the challenge:

  • Learn the symptoms
  • Know your risk factors
  • Stop smoking
  • Exercise

  • To sign up for the challenge, go to www.takeittoheartnow.org.