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Best watch for monitoring irregular heart rate?
- Thread starter Bodhitree
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This is for my father, who did just talk to his cardiologist. The cardio doc recommended he replace his Xiaomi Band 5 with an Apple Watch if he wanted to get some insight into when and how his heartrate was misbehaving.
Hello sorry to butt in but if you don't mind me asking - what does the doctor suggest your father to track? Irregular heart rate (abnormal high or low) or irregular in the sense of doing ECG.
I used Mi Band 5 for 1 year before purchasing Apple Series 7 a month ago. Mi Band 5 actually takes more heart rates samples during the day compared to Apple Watch (no matter the model). Mi Band 5 can be configured to measure heart rate every minute (no matter if you workout or not). It can also be configured to notify you for abnormal high or low heart rate. Of course it cannot do ECG. Apple Watch on the other hand takes my heart rate every 10-15 minutes unless I am in workout mode. Then it takes more often samples and continues so for 3 minutes after workout to measure heart rate recovery.
If the doctor suggests Apple Watch for the ECG app then be mindful that ECG is not supported for every country so check if it applies for you. Per my knowledge Series 3 and SE cannot do ECG so you are left width Apple Watch Series 7.
I used Mi Band 5 for 1 year before purchasing Apple Series 7 a month ago. Mi Band 5 actually takes more heart rates samples during the day compared to Apple Watch (no matter the model). Mi Band 5 can be configured to measure heart rate every minute (no matter if you workout or not). It can also be configured to notify you for abnormal high or low heart rate. Of course it cannot do ECG. Apple Watch on the other hand takes my heart rate every 10-15 minutes unless I am in workout mode. Then it takes more often samples and continues so for 3 minutes after workout to measure heart rate recovery.
If the doctor suggests Apple Watch for the ECG app then be mindful that ECG is not supported for every country so check if it applies for you. Per my knowledge Series 3 and SE cannot do ECG so you are left width Apple Watch Series 7.
… or S4, S5 and S6. AFAIK the S6 and S7 have the same optical heart rate sensors, but a used one of any of those should do the job fine as well - if ECG is needed.
Indeed those support ECG as well. Yeah I was not clear enough that I mentioned the models you can purchase officially from Apple, excluding the used devices market.
If there is a budget, look for models in Apple's website that fit that budget. All watches post-Series 4 have proven to be within solid performance in terms of detecting AFib and high BP.
For what is worth, get a watch that has 24/7 heart rate monitoring, as far as I know the Apple watch can't do that, only when you ask it to measure it. Has this changed? I am not using an Apple watch, I have Garmin Venu 2 and it does 24/7 heart rate monitoring, but in Canada, it only does it for the pulse, the ECG is not offered.
AFib detection is good because it can be fatal, but detecting any extrasystole is also very useful via an ECG function.
AFib detection is good because it can be fatal, but detecting any extrasystole is also very useful via an ECG function.
It doesn’t do 24/7 heart monitoring but it looks for afib in downtime.
Heart health notifications on your Apple Watch - Apple Support (CA)
Get notifications for high or low heart rates and irregular rhythms.
The ECG works in Canada too, as well as afib.
Thanks guys, he went with an Apple Watch Series 7, we will see how it does when it arrives and then make a choice whether to keep it or get something perhaps with 24/7 monitoring. He mainly uses it to check his heart during activities such as long walks.
I have an Series 4, so yes, that included.
Note: I mention Series 4 and up cause those are the only models capable of AFib detection.
Despite some initial problems — the Watch was discharged, there was no charger in the box, delivery happened in the evening so no chance to hop on the bike and buy one — my dad is very pleased with his Series 7, and happy that it is able to pick up on his condition.
“High BP” isn't correct, is it? At least if you're referring to blood pressure. I don't believe any Apple Watch can detect it. Please correct me if I'm wrong or let us know what other thing BP stands for!