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I CANNOT get an accurate heart rate

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antman2x2

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 1, 2011
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Hey guys, as a 21 year old with a few minor heart complications and HBP I thought it would be nice to know my heart rate while I work out, but I'm getting REALLY sporadic numbers.

Im going from 102 - 76 in a matter of a minute and sometimes its even worse (down to the 40's from 100)

Am I doing something wrong? Its nice and snug on my wrist (not too tight)

:apple:
 
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I've had the same issue when doing my walks and using the workout app. For the bulk of my walk the watch was saying my HR was around 65 bpm. The weird thing is I was playing around checking the accuracy against my chest strap after my walk and it was pretty much spot on with what I was getting from the chest strap. So I'm not sure if it was using the workout app that was doing it or the movement of walking or what. I need to do some more testing. Will be doing another walk today (yesterday was my off day) so I'll see how the numbers look today.
 
Sphyrna said:
I've had the same issue when doing my walks and using the workout app. For the bulk of my walk the watch was saying my HR was around 65 bpm. The weird thing is I was playing around checking the accuracy against my chest strap after my walk and it was pretty much spot on with what I was getting from the chest strap. So I'm not sure if it was using the workout app that was doing it or the movement of walking or what. I need to do some more testing. Will be doing another walk today (yesterday was my off day) so I'll see how the numbers look today.
Click to expand...

Yeah keep me posted!
 
This is so strange. Why would they release something this buggy? Why?

Please, others, tell me these are exceptions.
 
antman2x2 said:
Im going from 102 - 76 in a matter of a minute and sometimes its even worse (down to the 40's from 100)
Click to expand...

Pardon my ignorance, but isn't this normal for a fit 21 yo? Do you have any other heart rate meters you can use to compare readings? Like some of the heart rate apps on the iPhone (where you have to put your finger on the camera).

I'm really interested in what you find out.
 
From what I can tell- and the heart rate data in the health kit app.

If you are just wearing your watch and have not started a work out like "outdoor walk or run" the watch takes your heart rate every 10 mins. unless you go to the heart rate glance then it takes it on the spot.

if you start an exercise in the app then it constantly checks your heart rate.

you can see this in the heath app- go to heart rate, then show all data.

hope this helps
 
Tested the heart rate monitor on the apple watch against the pulse oximeter I have in my office and apple watch seems off.

Apple Watch: 104 BPM
Pulse Oximeter: 64 BPM

Is the apple watch not accurate enough for medical accuracy?
 
antman2x2 said:
Hey guys, as a 21 year old with a few minor heart complications and HBP I thought it would be nice to know my heart rate while I work out, but I'm getting REALLY sporadic numbers.

Im going from 102 - 76 in a matter of a minute and sometimes its even worse (down to the 40's from 100)

Am I doing something wrong? Its nice and snug on my wrist (not too tight)

:apple:
Click to expand...

How do you know this is incorrect data? Are you looking for the rate to rise and fall more slowly? Your heart rate will fluctuate a fair amount as you move around so the changes are not that unusual. During a normal workout for me I will jump from a low of 60 to a high of 184 as my activity changes. I average about 140-143 at the end of the ride. Inside of a minute (climbing a hill for instance) I can go from 120 to 180 as my heart reacts to the need.

I'm not saying your watch is not lying, I don't know but I am saying your reported numbers could be a possibility. Could you borrow maybe another monitor from someone to compare the numbers?
 
doctorandrew said:
Tested the heart rate monitor on the apple watch against the pulse oximeter I have in my office and apple watch seems off.

Apple Watch: 104 BPM
Pulse Oximeter: 64 BPM

Is the apple watch not accurate enough for medical accuracy?
Click to expand...

That's not just off, that way out of whack. The preliminary Consumer Reports test stated that the HRM is very accurate compared to their top-shelf chest strap meter. Could there be that much sample variation?

Maybe their test subjects where all Irish pale skinned types? I wonder whether this type of optical measurement is sensitive to skin colour. I would expect the IR part of it to be oblivious to that.
 
doctorandrew said:
Tested the heart rate monitor on the apple watch against the pulse oximeter I have in my office and apple watch seems off.

Apple Watch: 104 BPM
Pulse Oximeter: 64 BPM

Is the apple watch not accurate enough for medical accuracy?
Click to expand...

Were you using the workout mode while you compared? The difference would be how often it took a sample reading.
 
Pardon my ignorance, but how do you check heart rate. I opened up the activity app and did not see heart rate anywhere.

Do I actually have to start a workout to measure heart rate?

Just received it yesterday so no time to learn this yet.
 
gsmornot said:
Were you using the workout mode while you compared? The difference would be how often it took a sample reading.
Click to expand...

I'm unsure, I simply swiped up and swiped to the heart rate portion under glances.

It is now showing 89 BPM on the apple watch vs 71 BPM on the pulse oximeter.
 
jbachandouris said:
Pardon my ignorance, but how do you check heart rate. I opened up the activity app and did not see heart rate anywhere.

Do I actually have to start a workout to measure heart rate?

Just received it yesterday so no time to learn this yet.
Click to expand...

It's one of the glances. Just swipe up from the bottom of the screen and swipe back and fourth.

You can re-arrange and disable the ones you don't want in the companion app on your phone.
 
doctorandrew said:
I'm unsure, I simply swiped up and swiped to the heart rate portion under glances.

It is now showing 89 BPM on the apple watch vs 71 BPM on the pulse oximeter.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure my watch is right but I just checked again so was not telling a story. My watch and my Garmin with chest strap match exactly each time I check it. I would suggest talking with Apple....you might want to try another watch for better accuracy if you find yours to continue to be off.
 
For what it's worth, I've found the heart rate sensor to be very accurate (within 2-3% of my chest strap) both during active workouts and while resting.

This is only after two days of testing, so take it with a grain of salt. I have very light skin, if that matters.
 
Did you try to manually get your bpm? To compare to the watch...?

It's easy...

Checking your pulse on the wrist

You can easily check your pulse on the inside of your wrist, below your thumb.
Gently place 2 fingers of your other hand on this artery.
Do not use your thumb, because it has its own pulse that you may feel.
Count the beats for 30 seconds, and then double the result to get the number of beats per minute.

Checking your pulse in the carotid artery

You can also check your pulse in the carotid artery. This is located in your neck, on either side of your windpipe
Count the beats for 30 seconds, and then double the result to get the number of beats per minute.

Or count for 10 seconds and multiply by 6
 
Just checked again, 4 minutes ago I had a resting heart rate of 56, I just checked and now its telling me 100.

I haven't moved.
 
To the OP, if you don't mind saying, what minor heart problems do you have?

There are many heart conditions which causes ones heart to beat inconsistently.

There could be a simple reason why the readings are off.

Also, portable pusle ox monitors are notoriously inaccurate for both heart rate and blood oxygen. They are good for a generalized idea but if a true measurement is needed a doctor will usually order a "blood gas" in the hospital.

Also, it can be normal for a person to have a heart beat less than 60 beats per minute when resting if they are young, healthy, very athletic etc. It can also be a sign that the primary pace maker in your heart is not functioning normal and one of the hearts backup pacing systems has taken over.

Unfortunately, the apple watch will not be able to diagnose any of these issues. Its a good idea for everyone to get a physical once a year if possible.:)

That being said, everyone take a deep breath, you heart is probably fine and the watch is most likely not getting a good reading for one of several factors including how tightly you have the watch applied to your wrist.

If you are interested in how the heart rate monitor in you watch works you can read about it here:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204666

There is also some info about inaccurate readings.

enjoy
 
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antman2x2 said:
Just checked again, 4 minutes ago I had a resting heart rate of 56, I just checked and now its telling me 100.

I haven't moved.
Click to expand...

So, its looking more like the watch. Just for kicks, flip it over and let it read on the underside of your wrist. See if its any different.
 
gsmornot said:
So, its looking more like the watch. Just for kicks, flip it over and let it read on the underside of your wrist. See if its any different.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same, try underside of your wrist and then try switching arms as well. It might be a fault in the watch itself if it isn't reading properly.
 
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