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Teddysjam

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 19, 2014
129
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After the initial set-up and fooling around the first few days how often will you check after that? I’m 45 probably had an ECG 4 times in my life so I don’t plan on checking it every day or every week like I would check my heart rate. However I did set it up in background to let me know if it detects anything. Just wondering how often you guys and gals will be checking yours.
 
Never. I’ll let the watch do it. I never checked it before (although my doctor has a few times over the years), now the watch will be doing it for me automatically multiple times per day. That’s enough for me.
 
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Once a month. I suffer from palpitations, but they are not severe enough for medication, so this will help when I have a episode.
 
Not a Watch owner. The ECG feature always struck me as a bit of a gimmick.

The 3 does a good job, from what I've seen, on notifying about odd heart behaviour. And since the Watch is a one (two?) lead device, not good for real readings (doctors/hospital use six(?) lead for quick dirty, 12 for real readings). I've been using an app, Cardiio, for a few years now: seems to be able to pick up odd heart beats, just does not give you an alert like the Watches.

As someone that has heart disease and in the family, not going to rely on a Watch to be a true test, especially when even the pros get it wrong. Case in point, was not feeling well, went to emergency, did not give full 12 lead ECG, gave a six. Nothing wrong, go home. Some months later, really not feeling well, urgent care in doctor's office does full 12 lead, and the 12th lead was off a little. Right to cardio unit at hospital across the street. Day later, 80% constriction in the Widow Maker, and a stent.
 
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After the initial set-up and fooling around the first few days how often will you check after that? I’m 45 probably had an ECG 4 times in my life so I don’t plan on checking it every day or every week like I would check my heart rate. However I did set it up in background to let me know if it detects anything. Just wondering how often you guys and gals will be checking yours.
Every hour ya know just to be safe, then if you have any sense you go straight to WEbMD and interpret. I am so excited to scare myself to the ER. SUPER Fun!!!
 
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Not a Watch owner. The ECG feature always struck me as a bit of a gimmick.

The 3 does a good job, from what I've seen, on notifying about odd heart behaviour. And since the Watch is a one (two?) lead device, not good for real readings (doctors/hospital use six(?) lead for quick dirty, 12 for real readings). I've been using an app, Cardiio, for a few years now: seems to be able to pick up odd heart beats, just does not give you an alert like the Watches.

As someone that has heart disease and in the family, not going to rely on a Watch to be a true test, especially when even the pros get it wrong. Case in point, was not feeling well, went to emergency, did not give full 12 lead ECG, gave a six. Nothing wrong, go home. Some months later, really not feeling well, urgent care in doctor's office does full 12 lead, and the 12th lead was off a little. Right to cardio unit at hospital across the street. Day later, 80% constriction in the Widow Maker, and a stent.

So, you don’t have an AW4 with ECG enabled? And apparently no plans to get one? I’m just not following why you’re posting all this......did you not understand what the OP was asking?
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After the initial set-up and fooling around the first few days how often will you check after that? I’m 45 probably had an ECG 4 times in my life so I don’t plan on checking it every day or every week like I would check my heart rate. However I did set it up in background to let me know if it detects anything. Just wondering how often you guys and gals will be checking yours.

I did the initial ECG a little while ago, and set it up to notify me for signs of a-fib. I might try different tests at different times of the day, and after a workout, but other than that no plans to do them regularly.
 
Though it's true Apple has developed a way for any Apple Watch Series 1 + to potentially determine Afib, it's not the same thing as using the ECG feature. The ECG feature increases the probability of detecting an issue. For those who poo poo this functionality, understand there are many people who die, or become disabled, on a daily basis who could have survived their episode had they access to what the watch offers.

Drs may not offer to do an ECG/EKG if a patient doesn't present with a reason to. Obviously there is a reason of cost and time. And because of that, people miss getting diagnosed.

As for me - I'll do it periodically. Maybe once/mo; when I don't feel well, etc.
 
Probably 5-6 times a week until I've managed to demo this super-cool feature to everyone I know (a lot of people I know are interested in it). Then after that maybe once a week when I'm bored. After that, probably not regularly anymore, but there have been times that my heart rate feels "off" due to excessive stress or illness or whatever, I'll have another way to see how I'm doing. Obviously, if I think I have a genuine heart issue, I'll go see my doc.
 
Not a Watch owner. The ECG feature always struck me as a bit of a gimmick.

The 3 does a good job, from what I've seen, on notifying about odd heart behaviour. And since the Watch is a one (two?) lead device, not good for real readings (doctors/hospital use six(?) lead for quick dirty, 12 for real readings). I've been using an app, Cardiio, for a few years now: seems to be able to pick up odd heart beats, just does not give you an alert like the Watches.

As someone that has heart disease and in the family, not going to rely on a Watch to be a true test, especially when even the pros get it wrong. Case in point, was not feeling well, went to emergency, did not give full 12 lead ECG, gave a six. Nothing wrong, go home. Some months later, really not feeling well, urgent care in doctor's office does full 12 lead, and the 12th lead was off a little. Right to cardio unit at hospital across the street. Day later, 80% constriction in the Widow Maker, and a stent.
a single lead EKG does not diagnosed CAD or heart attack(as Apple keeps warning during EKG measurement).
 
a single lead EKG does not diagnosed CAD or heart attack(as Apple keeps warning during EKG measurement).

And hence my take.

Apple rolls out any new feature, and most people think will be some wonder solution. Take iCloud Messages, something minor. That rolled out and then tons of threads re: I'm getting my wife's/kid's texts, we share same ID and never had this problem. Too many people read the press releases without really knowing what's going on. Will not read/understand the long list of warnings.

Watch 3 has done a great job of notifying folks to possible issues, ECG adds another layer for afib, but not panacea that it seems like many people appear to believe it will be.
 
Though it's true Apple has developed a way for any Apple Watch Series 1 + to potentially determine Afib, it's not the same thing as using the ECG feature. The ECG feature increases the probability of detecting an issue. For those who poo poo this functionality, understand there are many people who die, or become disabled, on a daily basis who could have survived their episode had they access to what the watch offers.

Drs may not offer to do an ECG/EKG if a patient doesn't present with a reason to. Obviously there is a reason of cost and time. And because of that, people miss getting diagnosed.

As for me - I'll do it periodically. Maybe once/mo; when I don't feel well, etc.
FYI, people don't die directly from having an afib episode. They may suffer a stroke and the complications of that that may lead to death. The risk of stroke is pretty low for most people that would be wearing the Apple watch. It's the elderly, >75 with other medical problems, diabetes, vascular disease, etc that are at higher risk for stroke and complications of afib.
 
And hence my take.

Apple rolls out any new feature, and most people think will be some wonder solution. Take iCloud Messages, something minor. That rolled out and then tons of threads re: I'm getting my wife's/kid's texts, we share same ID and never had this problem. Too many people read the press releases without really knowing what's going on. Will not read/understand the long list of warnings.

Watch 3 has done a great job of notifying folks to possible issues, ECG adds another layer for afib, but not panacea that it seems like many people appear to believe it will be.
So start a thread on you dissatisfaction. Thank you for pointing out how dumb we all are. Bet you’re a load of laughs at a party!
 
FYI, people don't die directly from having an afib episode. They may suffer a stroke and the complications of that that may lead to death. The risk of stroke is pretty low for most people that would be wearing the Apple watch. It's the elderly, >75 with other medical problems, diabetes, vascular disease, etc that are at higher risk for stroke and complications of afib.

That's why I said "disabled" which can occur with stroke. Plenty of people have afib and don't know it. Had no idea until a friend of mine was diagnosed with it after going to a couple of docs for feeling different than he had previously. Went through some treatments and now is afib clear. He was in his late 50's.

Those of us who are younger benefit from both the watch warning us for high or low pulse and if we get those warnings, with the 4, we have the added function of single lead ECG. An odd reading there could convince us to see a doctor if persistent.
 
My cardiologist does because I do have A-Fib.
That's probably overkill then. I am a cardiologist. You don't need an EKG at every visit. Usually to can tell by heart/pulse exam whether someone has afib.
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That's why I said "disabled" which can occur with stroke. Plenty of people have afib and don't know it. Had no idea until a friend of mine was diagnosed with it after going to a couple of docs for feeling different than he had previously. Went through some treatments and now is afib clear. He was in his late 50's.

Those of us who are younger benefit from both the watch warning us for high or low pulse and if we get those warnings, with the 4, we have the added function of single lead ECG. An odd reading there could convince us to see a doctor if persistent.
These abnormal high/low HR alarms are often nuisance false alarm particular in young people that signify no true abnormality. Believe me because I could run a clinic just based upon Fitbit and Apple Watch concerns.
 
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That's probably overkill then. I am a cardiologist. You don't need an EKG at every visit. Usually to can tell by heart/pulse exam whether someone has afib.
It appears that I had A-Fib for two years before a nurse at blood donor center detected it. My Omron bp monitor had its software updated the day before my scheduled platelet donation. I went back and looked at two years worth of bp readings and just about every reading showed irregular heartbeat detected. So how does my PCP along with various specialist miss this despite multiple visits over a two year period but a nurse at what was my second visit at this center detects it. After EKG by primary care and cardiologist I'm now on a beta blocker and blood thinner. Shame Omron waited so long to update their software because if I started seeing consistent irregular heartbeat detected messages say over a 30 day period I would have brought my findings to my PCP to see if an EHG was warranted.
 
That's probably overkill then. I am a cardiologist. You don't need an EKG at every visit. Usually to can tell by heart/pulse exam whether someone has afib.
[doublepost=1544147106][/doublepost]
These abnormal high/low HR alarms are often nuisance false alarm particular in young people that signify no true abnormality. Believe me because I could run a clinic just based upon Fitbit and Apple Watch concerns.

I believe you. I've been sitting at my desk and received a high alarm. Didn't feel like I had tachycardia and felt my pulse as well. Cleared it and figured I'd see if it happened again and go from there. Haven't seen it since.
 
I will try to do it everyday, I don't know but I think it will be interesting to see if there are any changes over a few years of tests. I will try to do it at the same time each day, and I know it's not that detailed but I'm impressed so far. It took a few days of doing way too many readings but I finally caught my missed or skipped beat I thought, but come to find out it's not a missed beat but a early beat or pacs, which for the most part are harmless.
 
I will try to do it everyday, I don't know but I think it will be interesting to see if there are any changes over a few years of tests. I will try to do it at the same time each day, and I know it's not that detailed but I'm impressed so far. It took a few days of doing way too many readings but I finally caught my missed or skipped beat I thought, but come to find out it's not a missed beat but a early beat or pacs, which for the most part are harmless.
How old are you? If you're less than 60 or 70yo, you're highly unlikely to have atrial fibrillation. Actually, more likely to find a false positive finding than true atrial fibrillation. That's the nature of Bayes' theorem. Just relax and let the watch do it's thing. There is really no need to go out of your way to check daily.
 
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