Undecided

[tabletphobic]

Can anyone advise on these watches that can track your heart rate, I had mentioned this to a nurse and she said she wouldn't because it might make me paranoid, but... I have no clue what is going on in my chest and wonder now if all the trying to figure it out is not making me feel worse. Anyone tracking what their heart is doing ?

[Hidden]

Hiya tabletphobic,

Yeah ... me.

I have a hand held ECG device, BP monitor with AF alert capability and a Garmin watch.

Yeah - its a popular belief that you can become paranoid and a degree of self discipline is required .... but I need to know what is happening. For me - with a business statistics background in the dim past on a galaxy far away - it is not the actual reading that is significant but the trend of a group of readings, i.e. blood pressure, HR .

It is also useful in that my GP is mid to late 30's and very science and statistics based. So I find it easy to chat to her as I just send her copies of whatever and we chat. Pre CoVid it was face to face, nowadays via email and phone.

The thing to remember these bits of Tech are built for a price in a market place. They are not surgery, hospital or even paramedic grade - they are a guide, they give an overview .... but its a start to whatever category of treatment is necessary.

My Watch is a Garmin Forerunner35.

John

[BobD Volunteer]

Depends on the individual but I know I get obsessive if I have any gismos. Best is Kardia.

[Florence-Nightingale in reply to BobD]

I am the same Bob. I got just like that with a blood pressure machine. I now just have my check with doc and leave it at that. What will be will be.

[CDreamer]

I have the iWatch which tracks HR which also has an ECG built in but I find the Kardia gives a better trace. But the I’m plugged into all things Apple so just makes life easier if you stick to one provider otherwise syncing can be difficult.

Depends what you want from such a device. If you want a diagnosis and have paroxysmal AF then the Kardia every time. If you want a wearable device which tracks lots of stuff as well as heart such as O2 Sats, Steps, Sleep and about 100 other stuff then the smart watches are amazing and I found I really missed mine when I smashed my previous watch and bought a new one having had a few months without. Mind you I use it more for telling the time, receiving phone calls and checking the weather than anything else!

I’ve always tracked my health and my doctors have always have appreciated the data I’ve provided but I’ve never got obsessed or paranoid with tracking. These days I hardly ever even look at it but know it’s there if I need it.

Bob’s said it really - depends upon your nature and if you are the anxious sort and panic at every blip - probably not for you but if you have a serious interest and want to play an active part in your health - lots to choose from at a range of prices so also depends on how much you have to spend, how techy you are and what other smart devices you have?

Which recently did an article on best smart watches for your money so if you subscribe you should be able to find the article.

[tabletphobic in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for that, I wouldn't say I am the panicky type, What makes me anxious is not knowing whats going on so I'm erring on the side of getting something to let me know what's happening. I'm not very techy though so the simpler the better that does the job, apart from afib, checking blood pressure would be good has I'm desperately trying to avoid more tablets ( hence the name ) I'll check out Kardia but also my daughter has a fit bit so I'll pick her brains as well

[kkatz in reply to tabletphobic]

Hi most swartwatches trackers are not accurate .I have a Fitbit & always add at least 10 .I use it as an indicator.My body usually let's me know when high.I also use an Emay portable ECG.I can be a little obbsesive.

[CDreamer in reply to tabletphobic]

I would suggest the Kardia then - most accurate & most doctors will accept them, very easy to set up & works with most devices.

[foxglove1 in reply to CDreamer]

I agree with CDreamer. I dont feel obsessive but exercise a lot and have a Kardia and an Apple Watch. The watch I use for all sorts of information and would miss it if I did not have it for whatever reason. The Kardia is for my paf. both excellent

[mikelocke in reply to CDreamer]

Great summary CDreamer! The key point you made that if you want to be part of the decision making it’s the way to go. Having the ability to measure and record what’s going on and then able to give this to your Doc or Specialist makes for quicker and better outcomes.

I also use both Apple Watch and Kardia.

[Ren912 in reply to CDreamer]

I already had an iphone so purchased an Apple Watch because of the ekg capability. I also appreciate the fact that it detects falls

[fairgo45]

Im a big Kardia fan and wouldnt be without one.I also have a fitbit Versa 2 watch to check steps see how I've slept etc

I'm not obsessive at all but if your going to wear a watch why not one that tells you how your doing healthwise its a yes from me !

[Macmedal]

Apple Watch all the way for me. I am certainly not obsessive about it and only occasionally look at my heart rate. More a security blanket that if I think something is going on I can check with a reasonable degree of accuracy.

[tabletphobic in reply to Macmedal]

Yes I think that's how I feel

[CDreamer in reply to tabletphobic]

But you do need to have an iPhone already.

[john-boy-92]

It depends whether you're interested in an ECG, heart rate, or arrhythmia. Monitors worn on the wrist for heart rate tend to use LEDs to measure blood flow and time between pulses. Usually not that accurate if you have AF. I use a Polar Vantage V with an H10 chest strap and transmitter to monitor my heart rate during cardio exercise. If your interested in heart rate and arrhythmia, many oximeters worn on the finger will show both, and your blood oxygen (SpO2). I know that my P wave is slightly delayed, I have short bursts of flutter and, cardio exercise will cause flip flop between flutter and fibrillation, so an ECG function doesn't interest me. Of more interest to me is blood pressure as I've had a stroke and, staying below 170 bpm during hard cardio exercise.

[tabletphobic in reply to john-boy-92]

Seems to be getting more complicated, when my chest doesn't feel right I just want to know its not the afib really and to keep an eye on blood pressure as well.

[john-boy-92]

Blood pressure monitors tend to be inaccurate if you're in AF. When I had a Bruce protocol test where they trigger AF, I was fully wired up and, it they used an old-fashioned blood pressure measuring device , as electronic devices are not as accurate. It raises the question why GPs use electronic blood pressure monitors. I have a medically certified blood pressure monitor, and that indicates if it detects AF that might skew the reading.

[Ppiman]

I bought an Apple Watch 4 two years ago when I was first told I had atrial flutter and a high heart rate. I like it more for everything else it does, linking so well to my iPhone. I would recommend it and would replace it if it broke. The new model is very similar, except it has a screen that remains visible continuously rather than when the arm is raised. They are expensive but worthwhile. What makes them better than, say, a Kardia or similar, is their total convenience and ease of use. For that they reign supreme, in my view.

Is it worthwhile buying one just for the heart health measurements (heart rate and fibrillation check)? I would say so. The heart rate app isn’t 100% as it sometimes reads double for a moment which, until you realise, can be disconcerting. The watch also needs to be quite tightly fitted for this app to work while you’re walking or running. The app does give a useful and interesting graph or trace of your heart rate over the time you were walking or training - that’s useful and interesting. It also measures various aspects that might be useful to you, such as recovery rate and “heart health”.

The ECG app is as good as any other available so far as I can tell. It’s accurate and works. I would think that you don’t really need to be told you’re in AFib though, to be honest, but I doubt it will make you paranoid! Anyone with an arrhythmia is at risk of that, with or without the watch - but your nurse does have a point.

If you have a need to keep an eye on your blood pressure, you might also consider something like an Omron blood pressure meter. The measurements from this feed into the Apple health app, and become logged to view over time. The wrist versions are as accurate as the upper arm ones I’ve found and are far more convenient and discreet.

Steve

[LouBrig]

I have an Apple Watch with an ECG app, which I use. However, if the watch picks it up I revert to my Kardia. That’s an amazing device and which has enabled me to email tracings to my EP.

[Festinate]

I got a Withings after I had an ablation for PAF, partly because I had a lot of odd sensations in my chest for a number of weeks afterwards. It's been pretty reassuring, and while my other half would say I'm neurotic, I haven't got obsessed at all - I ike the idea it's there in the background keeping an eye on things. It also monitors sleep, O2 levels and activity. I am an Apple geek but the thing that swung me to Withings was the 1 month battery life between charges, and it has a nice analogue face with an inset screen which shows texts etc. If you want a watch that is primarily a health monitor rather than a multifunction smart watch, it's worth a look.

[Jes59]

I had the Kardia for several years but now have an Iwatch 6. The watch I believe is better for a few reasons. It does not suffer from interference from other devices (anything electronic). Ease of use. My Kardia was attached to my phones cover so had easy access but the watch is quicker to ‘get going’ and recording. The results from the watch can be seen on your phone automatically whereas the Kardia you have to go through a process of sending your reading to your own email to be able to save it. Interestingly my watch reported AF episodes while I slept, however this is based on fluctuations in my pulse rate which the watch monitors, picking up tachycardia episodes. I must admit when I first had my Kardia I was always checking my ecg, but that soon dies down. I mainly use the watch to record episodes as I often have ectopics rather than AF and it helps me confirm which it is.

[baba in reply to Jes59]

Kardia now automatically stores the ECG in the app.

Also Kardia can record for up to five minutes, I believe the iwatch only records thirty seconds at a time.

[Jes59 in reply to baba]

Thanks baba, just checked out my ‘old’ Kardia and yes they have greatly improved the ‘saving’ of the recording and you can also set the recording time up to five minutes! So really it’s just down to ease of use for me (still the watch) but must admit will use both devices if required!🤓👍

[mikelocke in reply to Jes59]

Interesting! I think I only get episodes of ectopics coming through making my heart beat irregularly. However my watch classifies it as probably AF. How do you determine the difference in the pattern? Cheers Mike

[Jes59 in reply to mikelocke]

Have a google on ectopics and AF and look at images (tab at the top) you will get some idea of what you are seeing. Most of my ectopic episodes I can clearly see the extra beat but then I get other readings which could be either (to my untrained eye), but I tend to say if my pulse is not raised a lot it’s probably not AF, but you can always record these episodes and show your doctor for confirmation.

[Maglynne007]

Yes to Apple Watch and agree with the Apple Watch comments above. The ECG records your heart rhythm for 30 seconds- so if your heart is beating irregularly you can trace this on your watch. I find it reassuring and I’m not paranoid when my heart is doing somersaults

[Guitar335]

Yes to apple to Fitbit. I like data! It reassures me. Only look at info once per day these days

[momist]

"Tracking your heart rate" is usually only monitoring your pulse with a flashing LED and photocell on the back of the watch. The trouble with that is that to do so, the watch has to detect the very slight reddening of the skin when the pulse of blood pressure enlarges the capillary blood vessels in the skin surface, and it usually applies an algorithm to look for a regular beat within a narrow range, 60 - 120 bpm. By definition, AFib falls outside that algorithm and doesn't always produce a pulse of pressure due a beat with a nearly empty heart.

Some watches also incorporate an ECG function which measures the electrical signal of the heart, down one arm and up the other. Those seem to be as good as the Kardia device, but how good is the 'watch'? I had a Withings MoveECG which I loved, but the battery life was not as advertised, and the build standard of the watch was so poor the face got scratched and it lasted only just over the guarantee period before it got broken. Withings gave zero support. There are good reports about the Apple watch, but you need to also invest in an iPhone!.

I went back to relying on my previous old Kardia.

[pantarei]

I would very much like to know the experiences with various brands of smart watches etc. when it comes to measuring Heart rate variability (HRV) measured in SDNN (cf. Day & Bunch, The AFID Cure pp. 240–242). It seems that the Fitbit bands may be inaccurate in this respect (cf. community.fitbit.com/t5/Cha.... What about the iWatches – are they any better?

[The_Lord_is_with_Us]

No thanks. I'm a computer engineer, but have no need to monitor my heart to that level even though I've had AFIB for years. I also have had a history of anxiety.

You don't want to go there. Perhaps for some people obsessively monitoring their heart rate could be the trigger that sets off a spiraling de-escalation into anxiety. And anxiety is an AFIB trigger. Just go over to the anxiety forum and read ... there's all kind of people who can't get enough ... there's never enough ... 'monitoring' and 'diagnoses'.

A finger tip to the artery in my neck is all I need to know things are well or not. That's good enough. There's an EKG machine down the street if AFIB needs confirmed for further treatment.

Some of these monitoring watch and app companies have effectively tapped into a niche segment with some appealing marketing. However, some info borders on overkill and the ridiculous and very happy to part you with your $$$$.

The watches and apps vary in the quality of monitoring. And some just spit out gibberish as it can't even tell you exactly what is occurring with your heart rate. Inconclusive. Just use common sense.

I don't have any qualms about an EP ordered 2 week or whatever length session of monitoring. Then, you will get the info needed quite effectively.

[tabletphobic in reply to The_Lord_is_with_Us]

Hmm, now you made me think, I'd just like to know what the strange feelings are. Maybe its the tablets and they'll go with dose reduction.

[Buffafly in reply to tabletphobic]

For ‘funny feelings’ you need a Kardia. An Apple Watch would allow you to check what your heart is doing instantly but if that is all you want it for I think it would be a waste of money. If you get the same ‘funny feelings’ ongoing then you only need to check a few times to see what they are. If they come and go briefly then that is harder but you might be able to catch them with repeated recordings. If not then invest in the watch!

[Zozzy]

I think it's down to your personality - only you know if you're the kind of person who will obsess about every minor data point or who understanding that the data, not being medical grade, is only useful for indicating trends and possible issues to be investigated by a doctor.

Personally, I like having a watch (Garmin) and was reassured after I was diagnosed with AF by the fact that I could measure it's frequency and duration using my Polar chest strap. I should say that my AF was "paroxysmal fast AF" which may perhaps be easier to detect that way than other types of AF. It's also been reassuring to be able to check since my ablation.

I'm no expert but I have the impression that the chest straps (which work with many watches, including Polar and Garmin, but not Apple as far as I know) capture better/more reliable data (from electrical signals near the heart) than the sensors built into wrist watches (which use optical sensors to capture data about blood flow at the wrist).

Steve

[KathFrances]

I have a Kardia on my mobile phone and find it excellent. I use it when I feel a bit wobbly and want to know whether or not I'm in AF. And when I'm in AF and have taken my pills-in-pocket it tells me how I'm doing and confirms when I've gone back into sinus rhythm. I find it hugely reassuring to be able to assess my AF in this way. Also, I've emailed the reading to my cardio and he accepts its findings as clinically valid.

[Yachtgirl]

Hi Undecided, I was not looking for a device, it was my Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist that suggested I either buy an iwatch or a Kardia. He thinks the trace on the iwatch is very good. The iwatch was more expensive however I would always have it with me so went with the iwatch. I am a person who needs to know and wants to be actively involved with my own care. I think it has helped me a lot, a sense of security in knowing what is happening. A few nights ago I collapsed at the NZ Symphony Orchestra ambulance called etc. I managed to do a trace and pulse while waiting for ambulance and used the app over the last few days. Two days in hospital. It was helpful.AF in hospital now reverted.

I managed to collapse at interval, horrible experience for others around me as well as myself. We are quite free to attend mass gatherings in NZ, no community Covid here.

Do hope you sort what is best for you.

[Thomas45]

I have a Coaguchek INR meter.When I first bought it I was checking my INR almost every day. Now I use it once every couple of months to give the arrythmia nurse my INR. Between times I may use it if I feel my INR is out of range.

I have seen posts on here where it appears people have been fixated on the information their electronics give them. I'm in permanent AF. No watch or home monitor is going to reverse that. I know how my blood pressure can fluctuate. I don't need anything to tell me what rate it's at.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Good morning, I would like to recommend the Kardia Mobile, it works alongside an app on your smartphone or tablet and you can record an ECG in 30 seconds. Please visit our online shop for further details heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

[tabletphobic in reply to TracyAdmin]

Thanks I'll have a look

[mcgavigan]

A 'watch' that would make you "paranoid"? Get the watch and get rid of the "nurse". I bought a magic watch a few months ago and it has been a great addition. It tracks and gives me relevant information when I go 'swimming'; 'jogging'; 'bicycling'; 'sleeping'; 'cutting the grass' etc. Heart Rate? Of course. Are they accurate? They're certainly acceptably approximate. I mean is a Bathroom Scale accurate? To the 'gram'? Of course not but then....'Heart Rate'? You can check the reading by 'taking your pulse; if they both agree +/- then you know. It's all done electronically as is hospital cardiograms. OH, and you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for a reliable one. Mine cost me $50 Canadian and it even tells me the time-of-day if I'm interested

[tabletphobic in reply to mcgavigan]

Thanks for that I must admit I would be more tempted to get the watch and get rid of the nurse, lovely as they are they aren't Gods and as human's do go by their own yardstick

[tabletphobic in reply to mcgavigan]

Which watch was it, a sports watch ?

[mcgavigan in reply to tabletphobic]

Nah! Although it's got lots of sports stuff in it, eg Bike, Swim. etc but it gives me my blood pressure and Heart Rate and it looks good on me --- but then everything does. It is my first and I paid $50 C for it and we are pleased; and a bonus 'it's guaranteed not to make you paranoid.". I've had it 6 months already...

[tabletphobic in reply to mcgavigan]

Is it actually called magic watch ?