I think it's been discussed a few times that these devices are not suitable or accurate for those with Afib. I have looked into buying something but with a pacemaker as well I decided it just wasn't worth it.
Kardia don't recommend using one with a pacemaker but I think some people do use it. Im not comfortable spending the money on something that may not be giving the right results.
I've got a pretty basic free app on my iPad which is enough for me.
I’d have to disagree there bantam. The Apple Watch 6 is superb for detecting afib among a host of other things. I would and do recommend it to everyone who asks 👍
I use an Oura Ring to track whats going on at night when asleep. Fortunately, my paroxysmal AF is well controlled. A problem riding alongside this statement is that I can be at times asymptomatic. I am predisposed to AF mugging me in the early hours. Mostly it wakes me up. As far as I can tell the trigger is food or ingredients of food that I've eaten the previous day. What does give me the heebie jeebies is how low my HR goes overnight. Day time when at work I'm around 65 - 67 bpm feel great. would prefer it to be around 72, then I'm superman. o/night is down to 46 to 49, with or without AF. I am on 7.5mg of Bisoprolol and am monitoring things.
Oura doesn't diagnose AF. Its designed to report on what is happening overnight amongst other things.
Yes I've heard of that ring but wasn't convinced it was worth it.I know from my kardia that I am presently having a long period of afib but I dont know why since I've been on meds that controlled it well and now I'm worried
I was hoping there was a watch that could detect afib as well as the kardia but thanks for your comments
I don’t think 46-49 overnight should be a problem. My resting pulse during the day is around 46-50 and overnight averages 41, so I wasn’t put on beta blockers. But they weren’t in the least concerned about it being low, just didn’t want it even lower.
Apple Watch seems to be the best but no device that works with green technology (monitors blood flow in capillaries) is going to give you an accurate report as the strength of beats and speed varies so much. I have an inexpensive ‘fitness watch’ and I can actually recognise AF on the recording because the line becomes much more even than when in NSR - don’t ask me why! Also the sleep data is rubbish - it assumes I’m asleep because I’m lying down even if I’ve been tossing and turning for hours! I acknowledge it is a cheap watch but I know even the best have limitations.
My question is : does knowing your health metrics make you feel better? Or help you modify your behaviour?
This is the only thing I didn’t mention in my comment but have in previous ones. The sleep data is rubbish I would have to agree. I don’t think the sleep tracking tech is up to scratch with any device at the moment so I’m gonna hold out until it improves before buying anything. I’ve considered buying the mats that go under your mattress and are compatible with the Apple Watch but I personally think even these are unreliable.
100% knowing the data can help both modify behaviour and make you feel better for it. In my opinion the more data the better. Why would knowing more be a problem unless you are of the type that gets obsessive and therefore anxious along with it. Personally that isn’t a problem so roll on more data 🤣👍
Yes it makes me feel better to see how I slept to see the sleep apnea addition that warns me of any problems and the sleep app though not as important is just good to see it's all very reassuring.I'm concerned about long bouts of afib some have been 70 days long.
As I've had 3 ablations and am on rate control drugs and warfarin there's nothing much else to be done please correct me if you know of anything else.
Probably just going through a rough patch and lost without my data to be honest the greatest fear I have is a stroke
Amiodarone? Pace and ablate? Apixaban etc instead of warfarin? I can understand why you feel reassured by the monitoring but then it does need to be as accurate as possible. Best wishes 💜
On the recommendation of my Dr son I got an Apple Watch, I could record my AF episodes and give them to my cardiologist and it was on the basis of this that I got my ablation. The watch is expensive but lots of heart information.
Any device using little flashing lights against the skin will not work correctly for someone in AF. The Samsung watch uses similar technology to the Kardia to give you a ECG trace, but you have to instigate the process each time and keep the "off" hand on the watch on the other wrist to make the two connections. The continuous heart monitor function uses the same little flashing light system as other step counting and smart watches.
I believe the Apple watch is similar, but does at least detect AF and suggest you perform an ECG, although I have no experience with the Apple system.
I'm looking at a watch now called wetherings scanwatch which takes a reading by itself not just one you take yourself so that would be useful when asleep to know what's happening to the rate pity it's so expensive
I have a Withings ScanWatch which I'm very happy with. It monitors oxygen saturation when you are asleep. It tracks heart rate and detects AFib. Its rechargeable battery lasts well over a week - so you don't have to recharge it every day. Unlike @Momist's experience, the quality of the case, crystal, and strap are excellent. The only downside I've noted is that it doesn't track REM sleep, it only gives light and deep sleep.
I also like the fact it looks like a traditional quality watch. I was a Fitbit fan and it took a few weeks to convert me to the Withings watch but I prefer it now.
Sorry to rain on you fairgo45 . I had the Withings MoveECG watch two years ago. Sadly it did not live up to it's claimed battery life (12 months - actually barely 4 months) and the case it was built into was extremely poor quality so that repeatedly changing the battery eventually destroyed the case entirely. The crystal was soft and got so scratched in normal wear and tear that you could barely read the face. I guess that this was the reason they made their next model rechargeable, and started using a metal case, but the support from the French company (admittedly during the pandemic lockdown) was absolutely zero. I will never buy a Withings device again after that experience.
I have a Fitbit Versa 2 and it records my sleep patterns, oxygen fluctuations and health metrics. The only time it has missed data is if its loosened on my wrist during the night, so the sensor isnt in contact fully with the skin.As with all of these gizmos, I just use it as a guide rather than seeing them as some sort of medical device.😊.
I had no problems getting all the data you've mentioned until my afib progressed to persistent now I haven't had any readings since 2nd November and fitbit confirmed that I had to be in normal rhythm to get the data.My husband who doesn't have afib gets all the data every time he uses my watch it's so frustrating .
I'm going to try fitbit sense as fitbit has told me I can try it for 45 days and return it if it doesn't work seems like a good offer
That's strange as my AF has been persistent since I've had the watch (over 12 months ago) except for a few weeks post ablation in April and I have been getting the data. Good they are offering you a trial on the other one though. 😊.
Sorry to hear about your experience with Fitbit. I had one quite a few years ago and wasn’t impressed. Granted technology has made great strides since then but the hr monitor back then on the Fitbit , maybe 5 yrs ago now, was terrible so it went in the draw and hasn’t been seen since.
Can’t really comment too much on any other watch as I’ve not used them personally. A friend has a Samsung watch, not sure exactly which model but he’s very iffy about its capability’s, particularly the accuracy of the heart rate monitor. I don’t believe his one has capability to detect af either.
One watch I can talk about is the Apple Watch 6 as I’ve had one since February and quite Frankly it’s been superb, an absolute game changer for me and I will and do sing it’s praises to everyone and anyone that asks. Honestly I can’t praise it enough. Detects my af everytime, not that I need it too but it does, ecg is spot on and easily shared with docs also. Heart rate monitor is bang on virtually every single time and I check it at regular intervals over the week with a manual wrist hr check, just incase as I’m mega paranoid about accuracy 😂 and like I say it’s bang on every time. You just need to make sure it’s on tightly enough and your good to go.
Does absolutely everything I need it too do and more and NO I’m not an Apple salesman 🤣 though I probably sound like one the amount I praise them. But it’s true for me atleast that it’s been the best thing I’ve bought in a very long time.
Good luck finding a watch that suits your needs. All the best 👍
Well I've bitten the bullet and ordered the fitbit versa sense because having spoken to them they have said try it for 45 days if it doesn't work i can have a refund so heres hoping
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