My watch may have saved my life

[Richard Dillon]

My iWatch might have saved my life this morning. I activated an app a few days ago, and this morning I was notified that there had been several afib events in my sleep the past two days. I went to the ER and they gave me meds which lowered my pulse, meds that I may need to take for an extended period of time. Thanks Apple!

 

[Apple_Robert]

Glad to see the Apple Watch has played a pivotal role in your health. I wish you the best.

 

[ElDuderino91]

How in the world is the Apple Watch able to detect afib while sleeping??!! You have to do an ecg to detect afib. As you speak of high pulse you could mean tachycardia.

 

[Berries-A-Million]

How in the world is the Apple Watch able to detect afib while sleeping??!! You have to do an ecg to detect afib. As you speak of high pulse you could mean tachycardia.

I've heard of stories of the watch being able to do this multiple times. It is able too and its accurate as every one I've read had it confirmed.

 

[edhchoe]

Awesome!!!
Stay on top of it!!

 

[andrewstirling]

I've heard of stories of the watch being able to do this multiple times. It is able too and its accurate as every one I've read had it confirmed.

It can’t do an ecg when you’re sleeping as it needs you to complete the circuit by touching the crown with your finger. It can measure your heart rate and will flag up if it detects irregularities. That could be down to a range of rhythm abnormalities so I wouldn’t be confident enough in it to call it accurate. Even with an ecg, it’s afib detection is far from 100% accurate.

 

[Shoo]

Awesome to hear, take care!

 

[matrix07]

My watch notified me of low heart rate while sleep this morning. 27 times the whole night!

Now I'm keeping my eyes on my heart rate rigorously.

 

[Aspasia]

It can’t do an ecg when you’re sleeping as it needs you to complete the circuit by touching the crown with your finger. It can measure your heart rate and will flag up if it detects irregularities. That could be down to a range of rhythm abnormalities so I wouldn’t be confident enough in it to call it accurate. Even with an ecg, it’s afib detection is far from 100% accurate.

Oh, you are so correct about the accuracy of the watch and Afib.

I speak from experience as on June 29 my AW5 warned of an irregular heart rate and Afib. Alarmed, I drove to the local ER where I spent hours hooked up to an EKG, had a chest x-ray, then blood work done. ER report stated that while I was there for possible "palpitations and atrial arrhythmia", they found no abnormalities and suggested I see a cardiologist. I did and gave her the print-out of the Apple ECG showing Afib. That led the doctor to order a slew of tests, including a cardiolite stress test (that was fun ) more EKGs, an echocardiogram, followed by 30 days wearing a Holter monitor. I'm fortunate to have good medical insurance to cover the thousands of dollars these tests cost.

The bottom line after all these tests: No Afib was detected; the prevailing rhythm was normal sinus rhythm.

I'll now always question the accuracy of my watch, not only for heart rate but fall detection as well. Today as I was walking out of the grocery store with bags in each hand, my watch "detected" I had fallen. This is the third time in 60 days my AW5 fall detection went off and the third time it was wrong.

 

[Apple_Robert]

My watch notified me of low heart rate while sleep this morning. 27 times the whole night!

Now I'm keeping my eyes on my heart rate rigorously.

I get notified all the time about low heart rate at night. I usually dip into the mid 30s. If you are a runner, I wouldn't necessarily be alarmed by that alert unless you have some other health concerns.

 

[matrix07]

If you are a runner,

The problem is I'm not. 🙁

Haven't exercise much this year.. My resting heart rate is always 80+.

 

[Apple_Robert]

The problem is I'm not. 🙁

Haven't exercise much this year.. My resting heart rate is always 80+.

It would be a good idea to see your doctor. 27 episodes in one night could be a sign of sleep apnea.

 

[nospleen]

Oh, you are so correct about the accuracy of the watch and Afib.

I speak from experience as on June 29 my AW5 warned of an irregular heart rate and Afib. Alarmed, I drove to the local ER where I spent hours hooked up to an EKG, had a chest x-ray, then blood work done. ER report stated that while I was there for possible "palpitations and atrial arrhythmia", they found no abnormalities and suggested I see a cardiologist. I did and gave her the print-out of the Apple ECG showing Afib. That led the doctor to order a slew of tests, including a cardiolite stress test (that was fun ) more EKGs, an echocardiogram, followed by 30 days wearing a Holter monitor. I'm fortunate to have good medical insurance to cover the thousands of dollars these tests cost.

The bottom line after all these tests: No Afib was detected; the prevailing rhythm was normal sinus rhythm.

I'll now always question the accuracy of my watch, not only for heart rate but fall detection as well. Today as I was walking out of the grocery store with bags in each hand, my watch "detected" I had fallen. This is the third time in 60 days my AW5 fall detection went off and the third time it was wrong.

My watch has been extremely accurate with afib readings. I’m fit and relatively young and went to the doctor after it showing me in afib a few times over a period of weeks. The doctor didn’t believe it, but made me wear a monitor the next 24 hours and it confirmed afib. My afib wouid come and go and that day in his office, my heartbeat was low 40’s and in perfect rhythm.

Took 3 surgeries to fix me, but I’m thankful for the watch. It’s not perfect, but I would not discount it’s readings.

In fact, my final surgeon had me send him weekly afib readings for 3 months post op.

 

[Aspasia]

My watch has been extremely accurate with afib readings. I’m fit and relatively young and went to the doctor after it showing me in afib a few times over a period of weeks. The doctor didn’t believe it, but made me wear a monitor the next 24 hours and it confirmed afib. My afib wouid come and go and that day in his office, my heartbeat was low 40’s and in perfect rhythm.

Took 3 surgeries to fix me, but I’m thankful for the watch. It’s not perfect, but I would not discount it’s readings.

In fact, my final surgeon had me send him weekly afib readings for 3 months post op.

Glad you had such a happy ending and wishing you only the best of health! Perhaps that's where I went wrong. I took immediate action rather than waiting to see if the notifications continued over a few weeks.

Nonetheless, I still will question the overall accuracy of my AW5 for yet another reason: The clock here just rang six bells. I have been sitting in a chair in front of my computer desk since 5:30 p.m. and have not stood up. In spite of that my watch just awarded me with a perfect week of standing although in reality, I had 11 stand credits.