Smartphone gadget that can take heart reading in seconds

A simple metal strip can turn a smartphone into a heart monitor to help patients with irregular heartbeats to manage their condition. The gadget – called Alivecor – is attached to the phone and allows it to take an electrocardiogram (ECG) reading in just 30 seconds. More than 2.5million people in the UK have an irregular heartbeat, known as arrhythmia, which can cause sudden death. A mobile heart monitor, such as this, could help them to detect, monitor and manage irregular heart rhythms, ensuring quicker diagnosis and potentially preventing thousands of deaths.