Apple watch

[Andy-f]

Hi

Do any of you use a Apple Watch

If so are the readings accurate or are they over prices gimmick

Andy

[CDreamer]

Yes, I have the Apple6 watch. Is it gimmicky - yes - but also gives very useful information and tracks trends.

Frankly I can’t imagine not having it these days - I use it most for looking at trends rather than individual events, I track HR, O2 sats, HRV, movement and exercise, sleep, BP and mood. Over time I can what I changed and what influenced health so therefore make some correlations but then I am a bit of a techie nerd! My doctors also like the data because they can see hard evidence rather than rely on my memory and anecdotal reports

If you want it just to track ECG though - I much prefer the Kardia - much cheaper as well!

[CDreamer]

Are readings accurate? - if you wear it correctly the readings I get correspond with other devices eg: HR and O2 sats. The ECG is not as informative as the Kardia but then you are wearing it all the time so always have it to hand.

[Elli86]

Had mine for over a month now and it’s brilliant. Does exactly what I need it too and more. I find it highly accurate for bpm and notifying me when I’m in AF, not that I need to be notified but it does never the less. Ecg is very good and very accurate. Gives you a print out that you can share with EP. Only gripe would be the sleep tracker that comes as standard with the Apple Watch 6 is not very good. Very basic and not very accurate at all. I didn’t buy it for this so not a problem for me personally. Overall a great purchase for me personally. Tracks exercise, heart rate, distance travelled, steps taken etc superbly. Also gives you an estimated vo2 max daily which I find encouraging as I’ve watched it rise incrementally week by week. Gives you a nudge each day to remind you to stand, if you need a bit more exercise or need to burn a couple more calories to hit your targets as well. Again overall a great watch in my opinion I love it 👍

[CDreamer in reply to Elli86]

I agree re sleep app - I have a subscription app which I’ve used for years but what I found was that it works so much better when used with the iWatch - then it becomes more accurate & you can track O2 & HR during sleep which is useful for me.

[Elli86 in reply to CDreamer]

Which ones that dreamer? Autosleep or pillow?

[CDreamer in reply to Elli86]

Sleep Cycle

[Elli86 in reply to CDreamer]

🤣🤣 neither then! I’ll have to check that one out. Been looking at autosleep one which looks pretty good. Don’t really need it but if the options there then may as well take it

[Physalis in reply to Elli86]

Have been using Pillow. I've no idea how it can tell when I am in light or deep sleep or REM sleep or awake but it does!! It knows what time I go to bed, how long I take to go to sleep and if I am awake in the night. And it superimposes my heart rate over it.

I think it would be very useful for someone with sleep apnoea and a way of recording the sound.

However, I guess it isn't telling me very much that's useful so I am cancelling my subscription.

[Pigleywigley in reply to Physalis]

Me too I use pillow it’s brilliant!

[Paulbounce]

What to say about this one Andy ?

I check once a day to make sure I'm not in afib. Maybe I don't need to as I'll 'clock it' now the minute it starts. One of the joys of being (more or less) afib free for a few years.

The Karda is highly recommended on the forum - maybe consider one of these too ? This way you could double check if your Apple watch flags something up.

Just one more thing. If I had to pick a Fitbit or an Apple watch - Apple everytime.

Paul

[Andy-f]

Thanks for the comments Andy

[thumpthump]

Hi, I have the Apple Watch 6. Heart BPM is pretty accurate (almost matched with 12 lead ECG). It can be slow sometimes to adjust when your rate changes.

ECG works well, however like others have said the Kardia will give a more concise reading. I have the 6L.

Oxygen saturation is hit or miss, in most cases not accurate, comparing with clinical grade Nonin Onyx Spo2 reader. A number of times watch has stated 100% saturation which is unrealistic, but sometimes low as 95% when Nonin is showing 98%

[Gincalpe]

I have an Apple Watch for activity monitoring and various other apps. The ECG function is good. I would think a Kardia is a cheaper option if you only want the ECG.

[sdgb]

I have a Apple Watch and use it to send the info to my cardiologist who recommended it.

[Andy-f]

Sorry for the lack of teckie knowledge If I was to buy one are all the programs / apps pre loaded

Or is it something that you do yourselves through the App Store

[Elli86 in reply to Andy-f]

Everything’s already on there mate. You can buy additional ones if you want but I use the pre loaded apps and all good for me 👍

[Spudly22]

I have an Apple Watch and my cardiologist is happy for me to use it as an alert if i go back into AF and take my pill in pockets Miss wearing my old watches but like wearing this for reassurance

[Roto]

Yes the programs are preloaded but you need an apple phone for it all to connect ..certainly does work with Android, incompatable !

[BuckleyBoy]

I've had an Apple watch 5 for 15 months now. The first one packed up after 9 months but Currys exchanged it FOC. It's handy to have on your wrist for a quick ECG. Much more convenient than my very fickle Kardia which I have virtually stopped using. However if I try to take an ECG after vigorous exercise (on stationary bike - my AF is mostly exercise induced) I can't get it to record if hands are sweaty, which is when I really want to see what my HR is doing. Also, its quite slow to react to change in HR. With a chest strap + Polar watch it's almost immediate, but the Apple takes 20+ seconds to show a change. Also , when out on a bike ride the HR sometimes "greys out" for some reason. However I am generally happy with it otherwise.

[Pigleywigley in reply to BuckleyBoy]

Mine greys out too sometimes I think it is when my heart is a bit more jumpy 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Ppiman]

The pulse reading can be inaccurate on odd occasions, especially if the strap isn't tight. There can also be a weird doubling of the actual reading, a "spike", that needs to be ignored. The ECG app, on the other hand, uses a different way of measuring, and is 100% accurate.

It's an amazing piece of useful technology if you use an Apple iPhone and any other Apple technology. Of course, life would go without it, but I wouldn't be without mine.

Steve

[Jmc43 in reply to Ppiman]

I wanted to reinforce the point about the BPM function. Usually very accurate, but the band has to be tight enough. Sometimes on exercise walks, the BPM double as I either have the band too loose, or the sensors are not clear. So I now usually give it a quite wipe with a cloth and tighten the band before exercise and I have no problem. As others have mentioned, the sleep app is not very effective. I use autosleep, which — while not perfect — is much better, and trainable. The other functions are fine.

[Ellie-Ann]

Hi Andy.

I’m 74 and both myself and my twin brother have just invested in one. It’s really good. Records an awful lot of heart data once you’ve set it all up. ( bit hungry on batteries but recharges in about 90 mins)

Excellent! I wear mine all day and it’s so useful for checking heart rate while out walking. Go for it!

[Andy-f]

Ellie-Ann

You put me to shame with my knowledge of technology

Good of you

[BongoBanana]

I got one when I was in AFIB but it did not ever detect it . I wonder if it was because of my pacemaker? It does show accurate heart rate.

[S11m in reply to BongoBanana]

My Apple Watch does occasionally report AF - and I have a pacemaker.I wear it all night - and it should tell me if my pacemaker packs up. (My last pacemaker stopped working properly, as "they" did not change my peacemaker when the battery ran down).

[Adiepie]

Have had mine for a couple of years- iWatch 4. Wouldn’t be without it. It provides reassurance at all times (yes, I KNOW I’m in AF, but it warns me so I can take a quick pip) plus it’s useful to act as a reminder of how many instances of AF I’ve had in any given time. Great to send traces to my consultant as well. Accurate? Don’t know, but is really good at reassuring me. Both my wife and I have Apple 4’s, and both would replace them tomorrow with the latest version if they stopped working

[KipperJohn]

I find my Apple Watch 5 excellent for keeping my EP and Arrhythmia Nurse informed with ECGs when necessary and for my own monitoring of heart rate and my moderate exercise.

However I’m a bit surprised if anybody on here who has been professionally diagnosed with AF has set up their watch to be notified when they go into AF, as it is expressly advised not to in the set up process. You literally can’t do it unless you confirm you’ve not been diagnosed with AF.

[CCW66]

Use daily and love. Ratings are accurate and fast. Simple to use. Worth the money.

[Andy-f]

Do all apple watches have the features required or is it only the six

[Elli86 in reply to Andy-f]

Not sure about this 🤔 didn’t do much research on the others I just researched and then purchased the Apple Watch 6. I think it might be the first one to incorporate the blood oxygen levels on it. Don’t quote me on that though 😆 to be honest I barely even use the oxygen level as it’s fairly generic and always sits around 95+ for me

[Andy-f]

Do t the watches do blood pressure as well

[Elli86 in reply to Andy-f]

Not at the minute mate no. Can’t imagine it’ll be too long before they do though. Probably incorporate something for diabetics as well 👍

[Lisa54]

Love my Apple Watch. EKG reading on the watch always correspond to readings at doctors office.

[momist]

If you already use the iPhone, then fair enough. If not, are you really considering investing into both the watch and the phone? I would rate that as too expensive, especially if you already have another phone (Android) you are happy with. For an Android user, there is the Kardia (not a watch!) and also the Samsung sport series with ECG capability. I'm considering buying a used Samsung watch myself.

[Roto]

Apple watch Does NOT do blood pressure the 6 series has the ECG feature

[Physalis in reply to Roto]

And the 4 and 5 series do.