Apple Watch - ECG function - Is it any good?

[Guitar335]

Hi all

Im wondering whether to buy the new Apple Watch to monitor my AFib. Id be really interested to hear peoples real world experiences of how they are getting on with using the watch and how the ECG function helps them...or not.

[wilsond]

I dont know but thre is one for sale on here this morning!

[wilsond in reply to wilsond]

Rodders777

[Hidden]

I got my apple watch last spring as a gift. I love it. When ever I feel a few palpitations, it is comforting to press the button and see a 30 sec read out on my heart rhythm. So far I havent had any a fib but my watch has asked me if Ive fallen if I make any sudden jerking movements like rough housing with my dog. My watch gives me peace of mind knowing no sneaky a fib is occuring when Im sleeping.

[Guitar335 in reply to Hidden]

Hidden , thank you for the reply. The point you make about no sneaky Afib occurring whilst Im asleep is definitely one of the attractions for me. Can you explain how you would know? Does it alert you?

Thank you

[Hidden in reply to Guitar335]

Yes it is supposed to alert you if it detects a fib. Ive not had any in 18 mo, and back then it hit me like a freight train but “ silent a fib” was always a question.

[Hidden]

Wouldn’t be without mine. It warns me when my heart rate is too high or too low for a continuous period. Records ecgs on an app on my phone.

[Guitar335 in reply to Hidden]

Hidden , Thank you for your reply.

Ive realised the thing that Im most interested in is whether the watch/app will alert me to Afib episodes that Im not aware of, perhaps when Im asleep or really focused something.

I 'think' Im going approximately 7 weeks between Afib episodes presently but would love to know that this is true and Im not kidding myself simply by being unaware of what's going on.

Would the watch help with that with some sort of alert of 'silent fib' ?(I don't want to have to trawl through hours of data manually)

Thank you

[Hidden in reply to Guitar335]

It has a function which is supposed to alert you to odd rhythms but comes up and says not if you are already diagnosed with af. It does however show you your heart rate overnight on the sleep app. Don’t think I can add photos to your post to show you what i mean.

[Elaine1951 in reply to Hidden]

Which sleep ap are you using as a matter of interest?

[Hidden in reply to Elaine1951]

Auto sleep Di

[Elaine1951 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[Hidden in reply to Guitar335]

If you pm me your email address will send a couple of photos. Big expenditure if it’s not exactly what you want. I have the 4, not the new 5.

[Guitar335 in reply to Hidden]

Have sent pm. Thank you.

[Elsieclarke]

Hi

I like it but the annoying thing is if your heart rate is above 120 it won’t tell you whether it’s afib

[momist]

I don't have an Apple Watch, but I know a little about the technology involved. The watch I understand has two monitors for your heart, one that measures your pulse rate, and one that can record an ECG (EKG), which measures the electrical signals from your heart.

The pulse monitor will be the LED lights and tiny light sensor on the watch back, which actually tracks the slight change in the colour of your skin with each pulse of increased blood pressure. The problem with these is that skin colour changes all the time anyway, due to other factors like movement and temperature, so it has to filter out the pulse with an algorithm which looks for a regular change within certain parameters.

When you are in AF (whether silent or not!) not every contraction of the heart will produce an increase in blood pressure to redden the skin through swelling of the capillaries, as some of the beats are from an empty or partly filled heart. Also, the pulse might be no longer regular enough for the beat to fall into the structure of the algorithm. What the watch must depend on is the change in pulse rate compared to the usual sleeping rate?

I have the new Withings MoveECG watch, which does not have the pulse monitor, but has the ECG function. That works very well (so far, I've only had it a couple of weeks). I suspect that the Apple ECG system works in a similar manner, with contacts on your watch wearing wrist and the other hand used to grip the bezel and thereby measure the electrical signal across your two arms, This is not as flexible as the Kardia device (which I also have) but it suits me fine. The Kardia can be used between one hand and a leg, for instance, to get other heart signals than the usual two arms version.

[Adiepie]

I have one, as does my wife. It provides reassurance,being able to see what is going on, as well as being able to export readings to show your cardiologist / EP. It’s not perfect, but gives both of us confidence that things are really ok and not to worry, which is what we all want. We have both said that if they ever break, we would immediately replace them!

[Jonathan_C]

I will declare my scepticism up front. How many of those sticky things are stuck on you when you go for an ECG? About 8 across the upper body and sometimes on ankles too. I do not understand how something that reads your pulse in an area the size of a coin can be trusted to do the same.

I have a polar M 430 (reads HR on the wrist) and a chest strap - these have 'detected' afib when its not there and have not picked up afib when it is there. I was in afib for a few months and my watch never suggested I was.

I know the Apple watch has FDA approval to warn people about Afib. But remember it uses a formula to 'measure' your heart rate.

[Rodders7777 in reply to Jonathan_C]

Not quite correct, if I may say. It does use the pickup on the back but the second point is the finger of your opposite hand. I’ve had some very accurate ecg readings, showing Afib and accepted by the doc as an accurate read-our. Obviously, it’s not as good as the eight-point machines but, it DOES work!

[Rodders7777]

I have a brand new one for sale if you’re interested. It’s just been supplied-by Apple as a replacement to my badly damaged one so still under warranty and a big saving on a ne w one from Apple. My wife has just bought me the latest model as a gift so not complaining! Let me know if you’re interested.

[TommoHFC]

My daughter gave me her Apple watch to try whilst I was in AF. After 30 seconds is told me I was in NSR.

Not very good in my opinion.....