AI ECG Reader: A Screening Aid, Not a Diagnosis

The AI ECG reader helps you understand an electrocardiogram trace and flags patterns that may be worth a cardiologist's review. It is an educational screening aid, not a diagnostic device, and it does not replace a clinician's interpretation. This is a screening aid, not a diagnosis: always confirm any findings with a clinician before drawing conclusions or making decisions about your health.

What an ECG Shows

An electrocardiogram records the heart's electrical activity as a series of waves. Clinicians read these waves to assess rhythm and conduction, and to look for signs of strain or reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. Common findings an ECG can help surface include atrial fibrillation, other arrhythmias, a heart rate that is too slow or too fast, and ST-segment changes. Each of these can have several causes, some serious and some benign, which is precisely why professional interpretation in the context of your symptoms matters so much.

• Atrial fibrillation: an irregular rhythm linked to higher stroke risk.
• Arrhythmias: beats that are too fast, too slow or irregular.
• ST changes: patterns that may warrant urgent evaluation.
• Rate and intervals: timing measures that describe how the electrical signal travels.

How the AI Reader Works

The tool reviews an uploaded or connected single-lead ECG trace and highlights features that resemble known patterns, described in plain language you can actually use. It is designed to help you notice when something looks unusual and to prepare questions for your clinician, not to hand you a verdict. It does not produce a medical diagnosis, and we do not claim regulatory clearance or a specific validation cohort for this feature. Think of it as a helpful reader looking over your shoulder, one that can point out something worth asking about, rather than a doctor giving an answer.

Important Limits

Consumer and single-lead ECGs capture only part of the picture. They can miss findings that a full 12-lead ECG would show, and motion, loose contact or a poor connection can create artefacts that look like real abnormalities on the trace. A normal-looking trace does not rule out heart disease, and an unusual trace is not proof of one. Always interpret results alongside your symptoms and professional review rather than in isolation, and never let a reassuring reading talk you out of seeking care when you feel unwell.

• A single-lead trace shows less than a clinical 12-lead ECG.
• Movement and poor skin contact can distort the recording.
• A normal trace does not guarantee a healthy heart.
• An unusual trace is not confirmation of a diagnosis.

Making the Most of a Recording

To get a cleaner, more useful trace, sit still, rest your arms, and make sure your skin is in good contact with the sensor before recording. Save any traces you take, note how you felt at the time, and keep them together so you can show your clinician a history rather than a single snapshot. Patterns over several recordings, paired with symptoms, are often far more informative than one reading in isolation, and they help your clinician make sense of what the AI reader flagged.

When to See a Cardiologist or Seek Emergency Care

Share unusual traces and any symptoms with your clinician promptly, and bring the recordings with you so they can be reviewed properly against a full clinical picture. If you have chest pain, pressure, severe breathlessness, fainting, or signs of a possible heart attack or stroke, call your local emergency number immediately, such as 911, 112 or 108. Do not rely on an app during an emergency, and never let a reassuring-looking trace delay urgent care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this tool diagnose atrial fibrillation?

No. It may flag a pattern that resembles atrial fibrillation, but only a clinician can diagnose it, usually with a formal ECG and clinical review.

Is a single-lead ECG as good as a hospital ECG?

No. Single-lead traces are convenient screening tools but capture less than a standard 12-lead ECG performed and interpreted in a clinical setting.

What should I do with a result I do not understand?

Save it and share it with your clinician. Bring any related symptoms to their attention, and seek emergency care if you feel unwell.