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Has anyone wearing an Apple Watch series 1-3 received an irregular heart rhythm notification?

Solver

Solver

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jan 6, 2004
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Apple Watch series 1-3 with watchOS 5.1.2 do not have the ECG hardware but they now can detect an irregular rhythm of the heart. Of course, the new series 4 also has his feature, as well as the ECG hardware.
 
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Solver said:
Apple Watch series 1-3 with watchOS 5.1.2 not have the ECG hardware but they can detect an irregular rhythm of the heart. Of course, the new series 4 also has his feature, as well as the ECG hardware.
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Series 1/2/3 have always had notification alarms for low or high heart beats. No EKG though as that’s exclusive for series 4.
 
brentc133 said:
Series 1/2/3 have always had notification alarms for low or high heart beats. No EKG though as that’s exclusive for series 4.
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High and low heart rate detection was added in a watchOS update. But, I’m talking about irregular rhythm detection using the PPG sensor, which was only added in watchOS 5.1.2, and currently only available on United States Apple watches.
 
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One big thing to note: This Irregular Rhythm Notification cannot be activated if you already have a diagnosis of AFIB. My wife has this diagnosis, updated her AW3 to Watch 5.1.2, and when she went to activate the Irregular Rhythm Notification, it asks if you have ever been diagnosed with AFIB. When she answered “Yes”, a pop-up informed her that she could not activate this feature. This means that, if someone who does not have AFIB activates Irregular Rhythm Notification and gets notified of an irregular rhythm, goes to their doc and gets an AFIB Dx, they will then have to stop using this feature on their watch. My wife has had the Kardia Band, but was looking forward to not having to wear a special band.
 
billcod said:
One big thing to note: This Irregular Rhythm Notification cannot be activated if you already have a diagnosis of AFIB. My wife has this diagnosis, updated her AW3 to Watch 5.1.2, and when she went to activate the Irregular Rhythm Notification, it asks if you have ever been diagnosed with AFIB. When she answered “Yes”, a pop-up informed her that she could not activate this feature. This means that, if someone who does not have AFIB activates Irregular Rhythm Notification and gets notified of an irregular rhythm, goes to their doc and gets an AFIB Dx, they will then have to stop using this feature on their watch. My wife has had the Kardia Band, but was looking forward to not having to wear a special band.
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I have intermittent A-Fib, but I turned it on. I just want to be aware of a possible A-Fib episode so it is something when I see my cardiologist on my semi annual visit. I'll only be concerned if I consistently get that notification and can be confirmed by doing an ECG. Besides I'm on blood thinner (Eliquist) so my chances of having a stroke from an A-Fib episode is greatly reduced.
 
I have a series 3 and I updated to watchOS 5.1.2. How does one turn on this notification? I don’t see it anywhere in settings or the watch app on my phone?
 
Good video to show EKG vs irregular rhythm detection on Apple watches.
 
billcod said:
One big thing to note: This Irregular Rhythm Notification cannot be activated if you already have a diagnosis of AFIB. My wife has this diagnosis, updated her AW3 to Watch 5.1.2, and when she went to activate the Irregular Rhythm Notification, it asks if you have ever been diagnosed with AFIB. When she answered “Yes”, a pop-up informed her that she could not activate this feature. This means that, if someone who does not have AFIB activates Irregular Rhythm Notification and gets notified of an irregular rhythm, goes to their doc and gets an AFIB Dx, they will then have to stop using this feature on their watch. My wife has had the Kardia Band, but was looking forward to not having to wear a special band.
Click to expand...

Or, maybe, don't tell the watch about your diagnosis? I know, I know: lying to technology is a sin and you could burn in hell for it, but if you really want the feature it's a risk you can take.
 
DVDxR said:
Or, maybe, don't tell the watch about your diagnosis? I know, I know: lying to technology is a sin and you could burn in hell for it, but if you really want the feature it's a risk you can take.
Click to expand...
Just what the FDA fears would happen.
 
Lol. We may chance the risk to compare alerts from Apple Watch vs from her Kardia Band.
 
I didn’t get an irregular rhythm alert, but I did receive a high pulse alert (can’t remember what it’s called exactly) when I was having a panic attack a few weeks back.
 
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