Heart Rate Monitor Accuracy

[ericgtr12]

Ever since updating my wife's Series 4 watch to Watch OS 7 her heart rate monitor has given what seems to be false alarms. For example it showed a spike of 167 out of nowhere, then a minute later it was normal and she didn't feel any different. Then last night it woke her up with an alarm due to a low heartrate (40). Prior to the update it never showed this. Any thoughts here?

 

[maka344]

Ever since updating my wife's Series 4 watch to Watch OS 7 her heart rate monitor has given what seems to be false alarms. For example it showed a spike of 167 out of nowhere, then a minute later it was normal and she didn't feel any different. Then last night it woke her up with an alarm due to a low heartrate (40). Prior to the update it never showed this. Any thoughts here?

Did she manually check her pulse to see if the reading were real at the time? Sounds more like a glitch but better to be sure. I get odd readings when the strap isn’t tight enough.

 

[Apple_Robert]

A low heart rate while sleeping is not uncommon. I often dip into the mid to upper 30s.

 

[ericgtr12]

Did she manually check her pulse to see if the reading were real at the time? Sounds more like a glitch but better to be sure. I get odd readings when the strap isn’t tight enough.

Yes, I manually checked it and it was normal, seems like an issue with the watch or maybe even the fit. I've asked her to tighten it up a bit to see if that makes a difference. Looking through the forums it doesn't seem like a widespread issue though so we're playing it safe.

 

[maka344]

Yes, I manually checked it and it was normal, seems like an issue with the watch or maybe even the fit. I've asked her to tighten it up a bit to see if that makes a difference. Looking through the forums it doesn't seem like a widespread issue though so we're playing it safe.

In that case, I wouldn't worry. Check the strap and if it does it again just do a factory reset - sounds like a glitch.

 

[Debekka]

I have a series 5 Apple Watch. I’ve been getting many alerts for heart rate. They don’t come in until one hour after the alert. Is this typical?

 

[Aspasia]

I have a series 5 Apple Watch. I’ve been getting many alerts for heart rate. They don’t come in until one hour after the alert. Is this typical?

Are you inactive when that happens? Since you're receiving alerts, I'm confused what comes in an hour after the alert.

I've had the AW5 for close to a year. I workout using a Concept 2D rower several times a week and always wear a Garmin HRM chest strap in addition to my watch because I want to see my HR on the monitor screen (Apple and Concept2 software are not compatible). I've found the AW5 is always spot on or within a beat or two of my chest strap monitor, so it's pretty accurate.

 

[Debekka]

Are you inactive when that happens? Since you're receiving alerts, I'm confused what comes in an hour after the alert.

I've had the AW5 for close to a year. I workout using a Concept 2D rower several times a week and always wear a Garmin HRM chest strap in addition to my watch because I want to see my HR on the monitor screen (Apple and Concept2 software are not compatible). I've found the AW5 is always spot on or within a beat or two of my chest strap monitor, so it's pretty accurate.

I am always inactive when I receive an alert. lets say it’s noon. I get the alert and it reads irregular rhythm at 10:30

 

[maka344]

I am always inactive when I receive an alert. lets say it’s noon. I get the alert and it reads irregular rhythm at 10:30

Do you manually feel your pulse at the same time? If so, is it irregular? If so, consult a DR.

 

[sevoneone]

I've noticed my series 5 will sometimes show a higher/lower rate when it first reads and then drops within a couple of seconds. I see some odd ball readings sometimes too. Like a single 48 BPM reading in the middle of a meeting where my pulse was otherwise between 75 and 80. I have rather hairy arms, so that may interfere with the reading. I've also had it record an entire afternoon averaging around 85 bpm when the watch was laying on it's side on my desk, or 134 bpm for 30 minutes one morning while it was sitting on the edge of my bed. I think the sensor is very adaptable, but not infallible.