Heart rate updates after 1.01

[Smurphy Gherkin]

You know, I was upset about this at first but I've changed my mind. Why would you want to see anything more than your resting heart rate and heart rate during workouts?

I too am less upset, as a lot of the time you have no way of telling what you were doing when it was recorded..

But my resting heart rate while sitting at work is a very interesting thing to me as it relates to sickness/stress/caffeine use etc.

So given I had stellar battery life with 1.0, I for one would like an option of 1-5 minute sampling if I wanted to take the battery hit.

It would also help filter out the obviously dud readings - I often get readings that are 1/2 or double the correct value. I just recorded a 44 while sitting at my desk, the rest of the morning was around 88. With my level of health, 44 simply didn't happen.

 

[dabigkahuna]

You know, I was upset about this at first but I've changed my mind. Why would you want to see anything more than your resting heart rate and heart rate during workouts?

Well, I wanted it as a possible help to some health issues. No, I'm not thinking the watch is a great diagnostic tool on that level, but it could be useful. I get some very inconsistent symptoms - maybe weeks apart - that the doctors can't figure out. Their best conclusion is, "Your symptoms don't match anything we know so you are probably fine". Not real reassuring, but considering how inconsistent this is, they probably are stuck.

But even they felt it was worthwhile for me to carry around a special box which was tied into sensors attached to my chest for a couple days (the box recorded full time). Also hooked up to an exercise machine twice while checking heart and, finally, another heart check while doing a chemical stress test. Nothing showed up. But when an episode can be weeks apart - even more - the odds were against them.

So I figured if the watch was checking all the time (I personally would have liked it checking every minute), I could just go about my business until a symptom struck again, then check my HR for then as well as the preceding half hour plus forward past the time the effect went away.

True, it would ONLY check HR - none of the other heart stuff. So maybe wouldn't show anything. But then again, just maybe it would. I'd at least have liked to have the chance.

 

[flur]

You know, I was upset about this at first but I've changed my mind. Why would you want to see anything more than your resting heart rate and heart rate during workouts?

Because you want to track your average HR and you can't anymore, because the readings are skewed.

 

[Zcott]

Plus, I'd like to see my maximum heart rate for when it increases but not through a workout - e.g. Stressful situations or even just a brisk walk.

 

[Phily]

You know, I was upset about this at first but I've changed my mind. Why would you want to see anything more than your resting heart rate and heart rate during workouts?

Because I want the Apple Watch to do what Apple promised and highlighted as an USP: To track activity, such as a "brisk walk", "playing with the kids", do some hard work etc (look at their website). After the updated, this function is almost completely gone. I did some serious gardening at the weekend and my watch gave me credit for 10 minutes of training (green ring). And NO, I don't want to start an exercise every time I take the stairs ...

 

[millerrh]

Because I want the Apple Watch to do what Apple promised and highlighted as an USP: To track activity, such as a "brisk walk", "playing with the kids", do some hard work etc (look at their website). After the updated, this function is almost completely gone. I did some serious gardening at the weekend and my watch gave me credit for 10 minutes of training (green ring). And NO, I don't want to start an exercise every time I take the stairs ...

This! Without heart rate tracking, how does the watch know when you are doing a strenuous activity that doesn't involve steps?

 

[Gimmi]

What are those of you who bought AW primarily as a fitness tracker and because of the 10-minute readings going to do?

Apple are adamant about it being a deliberate change, not a bug, so are they likely to contradict themselves and fix it? Doubt it.

 

[5105973]

Well, I wanted it as a possible help to some health issues. No, I'm not thinking the watch is a great diagnostic tool on that level, but it could be useful. I get some very inconsistent symptoms - maybe weeks apart - that the doctors can't figure out. Their best conclusion is, "Your symptoms don't match anything we know so you are probably fine". Not real reassuring, but considering how inconsistent this is, they probably are stuck.

But even they felt it was worthwhile for me to carry around a special box which was tied into sensors attached to my chest for a couple days (the box recorded full time). Also hooked up to an exercise machine twice while checking heart and, finally, another heart check while doing a chemical stress test. Nothing showed up. But when an episode can be weeks apart - even more - the odds were against them.

So I figured if the watch was checking all the time (I personally would have liked it checking every minute), I could just go about my business until a symptom struck again, then check my HR for then as well as the preceding half hour plus forward past the time the effect went away.

True, it would ONLY check HR - none of the other heart stuff. So maybe wouldn't show anything. But then again, just maybe it would. I'd at least have liked to have the chance.

I've got a similar problem. I've had it for years and we don't know if it's related to my mitral valve prolapse or not. I think it is, but docs would never commit to that. I've worn the box, too. Even during an "episode" the box picked nothing up, to my chagrin. I also had the other tests you had. It's harder now than ever to pinpoint because now I go for months between episodes, unless I am sick and then I can have them several times in one day and then nothing the next day. I was hoping eventually the Apple Watch will help me get data I can give to a doctor and find out once and for all what the hell is going on. I don't know if current apple watch sensors would help either of us. By any chance do you also suffer from migraines? My neurologist is starting to pick up on something anomalous with my body's electrical system. This could be a neurotransmitter problem for both of us and not a heart problem, per se. A friend who has had problems with arrhythmia was found to have two too many receptors on her heart for electrical signals and had a procedure to eliminate them and it helped her.

 

[StophMac24]

I didn't pay much attention to this whole software bug/intentional operation HR deal until this weekend. I spent the weekend removing tile from my back terrace in preparation for an addition I am doing in my home. Using a jackhammer, sledgehammer and everything in between and without setting the watch to exercise, I clocked in 75 minutes of exercise (I worked in the back for at least 5 hours) and not once did it take my HR. I was curious to see my heart rate during the whole endeavor and that was when I realized they had changed the functionality of the HR sensor.

So ok, fine, I am ok with the change (not really, but just going to patiently wait for them to either update it or I'll live with it.)

Yesterday was a typical day at my desk where I spend most of my time sitting. Every hour I'll get up when prompted by my watch and walk around the office for a bit then sit back down.

I was at my desk from 8:30am to about 2:30pm working on a major deadline and the watch took my HR twice. I don't say this because I am in desparate need to know my HR at work (I could care less....although I noticed back when it took the HR every 10 mins that my HR was always lower when I was home, specifically when hanging out with my wife and daughter, and always higher at work, even when I was at my desk, was interesting), I say this because I don't move much at my desk and somehow, the apple watch considers me moving my arm to type and grab papers as movement. How it has only clocked in two HRs when it had 36+ opportunities to clock it in at my desk is beyond me.

Really hope they revert back to original functionality but given that they have updated their website and PR material, I doubt it.

 

[Night Spring]

I thought about posting this in this thread, but decided it should be a separate thread. But I think it should be of interest to people following this thread.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/other-workout-registers-excerise-while-sitting.1888709/

 

[Lictor]

I was hoping eventually the Apple Watch will help me get data I can give to a doctor and find out once and for all what the hell is going on.

If the box, that picks electrical data at various points around your heart, didn't pick anything, there is no way the Apple Watch, which merely looks at blood vessels at the other end of your body, could. For the device to work, it has to heavily eliminate noise - even assuming you have a problem that could be seen with the poor inputs the Watch has, it would be filtered out anyway.

Also, I can understand the update from Apple. The problem is that if you're healthy, your heart rate jumps around all the time. Stand up, it changes. Sit back down, it changes. Go to the toilet, it will change. Cough, it changes. Breath in, it goes up, breath out, it goes down (that's how you can voluntarily slow your heart). Heart rates changes all the time. Yet, this does not mean that you're exercising, it just means that your body shifts from one configuration to another and that modulating heart rate is part of that process.
So, it makes sense for Apple to filter out that data : it's not your resting heart rate, but it's not exercising ever or anything significant for what the Apple Watch tries to do.

 

[gsmornot]

I don't need the readings it generated every 10 minutes I just need to know that it was taking regular readings. If I look now and see it "skipped" 4 hours (because I was moving) it appears that nothing was done or it was broken. The update says it still takes a reading every 10 minutes but only records it if you're still when it happens. So, its not saving any battery its just saving the chance that the reading might be off a little. Its true they make you sit still when getting your pulse but being this is a watch it should be able to overcome that at least more often than just every once in a while.

 

[5105973]

If the box, that picks electrical data at various points around your heart, didn't pick anything, there is no way the Apple Watch, which merely looks at blood vessels at the other end of your body, could. For the device to work, it has to heavily eliminate noise - even assuming you have a problem that could be seen with the poor inputs the Watch has, it would be filtered out anyway.

Also, I can understand the update from Apple. The problem is that if you're healthy, your heart rate jumps around all the time. Stand up, it changes. Sit back down, it changes. Go to the toilet, it will change. Cough, it changes. Breath in, it goes up, breath out, it goes down (that's how you can voluntarily slow your heart). Heart rates changes all the time. Yet, this does not mean that you're exercising, it just means that your body shifts from one configuration to another and that modulating heart rate is part of that process.
So, it makes sense for Apple to filter out that data : it's not your resting heart rate, but it's not exercising ever or anything significant for what the Apple Watch tries to do.

That's why I said eventually. Eventually they will have other sensors and even then it's a vain hope. I don't think this particular iteration of Apple Watch will pick up anything that could help diagnose me or Dabigkahuna.

I doubt even three watch generations from now it will, because if Dabigkahuna still can't get answers 18 years after I tried getting answers, I don't think medicine is that concerned about such things and the research and technology isn't there and won't be for some time. Oddly enough, even though the sensor box could not pick up the problem, a cardiologist listening in on a stethoscope could hear it. That was luck and chance he caught it at the right moment. Even then he couldn't render an opinion without consistent data. That was 18 years ago.

I've got a new doctor but have not tried to get this heart issue figured out. It was frustrating and a lot of bother the last time around and after while if you persist with these weird medical things like this, docs will think you're touched in the head so it's best to shut up and move on. They don't think "We just haven't researched and worked on this enough yet." They jump to the conclusion you must be one of those hysterical people making crap up to worry about. That's so far from my personality it is too insulting to bear. So, I ignore it and hope that if it hasn't killed me yet, it never will.

 

[dabigkahuna]

By any chance do you also suffer from migraines? My neurologist is starting to pick up on something anomalous with my body's electrical system. This could be a neurotransmitter problem for both of us and not a heart problem, per se. A friend who has had problems with arrhythmia was found to have two too many receptors on her heart for electrical signals and had a procedure to eliminate them and it helped her.

No. I've had several odd systems. The two weirdest ones were:

1. On occasional bicycle rides, I'd have a period of time where every time I blinked, my vision would sort of "twist" and I'd seem to have a cone of darkness move in my peripheral vision - each lasting about as long as a blink themselves. Would tend to last for 30-45 minutes, gradually getting worse and then better. Haven't had that one in years.

2. General head discomfort during a bike ride. Would usually go away within a minute after taking off my helmet and bandana. Neither was especially tight though. Then one day it didn't go away, just better. Then over a period of weeks, it just kept getting worse. Never severe - just an annoying ache. Lasted for nearly a year I think before gradually going away. Haven't had that one for a long time either. Still get occasional light-headedness, but just for a moment each time.

 

[Fwingonga]

I have had much better battery life since the update (which apparently is what Apple intended). For the moment, I haven't really perceived the need to have HR measured every 10 minutes. If I want to measure resting HR, then I can use the Glance, and if I want to measure exercising HR, I start an exercise session. I suppose everyone has different needs, and for some people a HR measurement every 10 minutes is essential, but I am quite content with knowing minimum (resting) HR and maximum (checking wrist during workout sessions) HR, which provides HRV (heart rate variability - an important health parameter). And if I leave a workout session running for a few minutes after stopping exercise I can also get an idea of heart rate recovery. So, for me, personally, everything is covered.

 

[l.marcus]

I have had much better battery life since the update (which apparently is what Apple intended). For the moment, I haven't really perceived the need to have HR measured every 10 minutes. If I want to measure resting HR, then I can use the Glance, and if I want to measure exercising HR, I start an exercise session. I suppose everyone has different needs, and for some people a HR measurement every 10 minutes is essential, but I am quite content with knowing minimum (resting) HR and maximum (checking wrist during workout sessions) HR, which provides HRV (heart rate variability - an important health parameter). And if I leave a workout session running for a few minutes after stopping exercise I can also get an idea of heart rate recovery. So, for me, personally, everything is covered.

I've gotten much better battery life as well, but I don't need it! It doesn't matter that my watch has gone from 25% left at the end of the day to 50%, I still need to charge it overnight.

 

[Pagemakers]

I've gotten much better battery life as well, but I don't need it! It doesn't matter that my watch has gone from 25% left at the end of the day to 50%, I still need to charge it overnight.

It's 21:50 and I've got 59% left. That's about the same as V1. I see no difference.

 

[Night Spring]

It's 21:50 and I've got 59% left. That's about the same as V1. I see no difference.

Another vote here for "no difference."

 

[macdaddy86]

I read this thread before i got my watch, my watch came with 1.0.0 OS, i keep getting notifications to update, but i think i'll give it a miss.

I think apple should give you a toggle if you want to check every 10 minutes or not, it should be up to the end user.

 

[flur]

Apple are adamant about it being a deliberate change, not a bug, so are they likely to contradict themselves and fix it? Doubt it.

I don't think they'll announce a fix. I DO think they'll tell us this was what was always intended and that it works as designed, and hey, guess what? We're announcing a brand new feature in this new update that will make the watch take your HR at 10 minute intervals even when you're active!

 

[Pagemakers]

I don't think they'll announce a fix. I DO think they'll tell us this was what was always intended and that it works as designed, and hey, guess what? We're announcing a brand new feature in this new update that will make the watch take your HR at 10 minute intervals even when you're active!

They've lost a whole heap of credibility over this fiasco.

 

[Gimmi]

I don't think they'll announce a fix. I DO think they'll tell us this was what was always intended and that it works as designed, and hey, guess what? We're announcing a brand new feature in this new update that will make the watch take your HR at 10 minute intervals even when you're active!

Ha, yes, I think you're absolutely right! Well, I hope you are

 

[ifarlow]

They've lost a whole heap of credibility over this fiasco.

Not likely.

 

[Gimmi]

I've gotten much better battery life as well, but I don't need it! It doesn't matter that my watch has gone from 25% left at the end of the day to 50%, I still need to charge it overnight.

It's the opposite for me, mine has gone from 50% at the end of an 18 hour day to 20%.

 

[amirite]

They've lost a whole heap of credibility over this fiasco.

In whose eyes? Yours? I prefer accuracy over quantity. And I seem to get readings every ten minutes unless I'm walking around anyway. Fiasco is a pretty strong word for something no one outside of MR is even talking about.