which smart watch is best?

[Green_pink]

I have a Fitbit but I’ve heard that an Apple Watch is better for detecting Afib - wondered if anyone had an advice? Is any Apple Watch best or is there a specific one? Thank you

[mjames1]

Don't know the Fitbit that well, but I'm happy with the Apple Watch. Just so you know, none of the current watches will "detect" afib in the sense that you will get a real time alarm when you go into afib. What they do is check periodically and then later on give you a report. If you have a short episode when the watch isn't checking, you will not be notified. Of course, you can always take an ekg with the watch anytime and find out which will tell you whether or not you're in afib. If you just want the ekg function, then the Kardia 6L is another way to go.

Jim

[Al6215 in reply to mjames1]

I have an Apple Watch Series 6 and it works well to detect my Afib episodes. Never had a Fitbit watch so I can't compare it to the Apple watch.

[mjames1 in reply to Al6215]

When you say "detect" do you mean when you take an ekg by pushing down the crown of the Watch? Because, if so, yes, the Apple Watch, like Kardia, is a great afib detection device.

But if you mean "detect", as some people use it, to mean will the Apple Watch alert you to afib episodes while you're going about normal activity or when your sleeping -- then the answer is a bit more complicated.

Apple Watch only periodically checks for afib, or irregular heart beats (not both) -- depending on how you set it up. So, if you have an episode when it's not looking, then you won't know. Also, even if the Watch finds afib, it will not alert you in real time.

Jim

[Al6215 in reply to mjames1]

Hi, well of course I am saying that the Apple watch will only give you a reading if you take an ekg by touching the crown at the same time as you are wearing it, that is the way it works. I have noticed this though. If I an in afib and I try to sleep with the watch on I will sometimes get a notification that I am in afib even if I do not touch the crown. So I am unsure how the watch does that, unless once you activate the ekg app it continues to monitor the heart rate. In any case it may be unique to which Apple Watch you own and what version of the Watch's operating system you are running. Not sure.

[mjames1 in reply to Al6215]

Yes, I was talking about the notification function. Not real time and limited. It will not catch all episodes. Also note that you cannot have both "afib history" and "irregular heart beat notifications" at the same time. You have to choose one or the other based on whether you're an afib patient. At least in the U.S.

[Cholla3 in reply to mjames1]

Go to Apple Watch on iPhone, select Notifications, select Heart. See "Irregular Rhythm". This supports your statement" "Irregular rhythm notifications are not available when afib history is enabled."

[Omniscient1]

I have a fitbit HR, which is great, but I know to treat the heart rate data with a pinch of salt. I don't use it for that anyway. This page gives details fitbit.com/global/uk/techno... but it seems in later versions you can check for AF in the app, in the same way you'd track your sleep etc.

[Foxglo]

I have had a Fitbit which was great. After my ablation I bought an Apple Watch so I could take an ECG to send to my Cardiologist. It links to my phone successfully. This function has benn invaluable in the early recovery period when I had a few episodes of AF I could send ECG. Being able to record snnECG took the stress out of going to GO to get ECG done immediately or calling an ambulance. Now if I get a fast heart rate over 100 which has occasionally happened always at night I have a record to send to Cardiologist. Not only has it helped physically I think knowing I can if needed record the heart rate is hugely beneficial mentally.

The watch has a feature telling you if you are in AF I don't need this because I hear my heart rate so know if the bests change

I recently bought a BP monitor to try if it did a better ECG reading, it may do but I had problems with the Wi-Fi link and a replacement. The apple watch with the phone link has never been a problem. When taking an ECG in a hurry one dirsn'tveant the added worry I of trying to fix the Wi-Fi connection.

[Green_pink in reply to Foxglo]

Thank you. What Apple Watch do you have?

[Foxglo in reply to Green_pink]

series 6 the latest model when I bought it just over 2 years ago

[jwsonoma]

I had an Apple Watch series 3 and just got the seres 8 wifi only. It does a lot of stuff.

Daily afib report, high and low HRs, blood oxygen, it samples HR throughout the day, emergency fall notification, sleep monitoring, exercise tracker with map, noise exposure, and it even has an automatic hand washing timer. You can use it to make and answer calls via your iPhone. It also interacts with your iPhone's music or Spotify apps. The EKG seems to be about the same quality of the 2 finger Kardia.

I got it for the daily afib report and convenient EKG.

I haven't had any afib episodes since I got the watch so I can't comment on how accurate it is.

I love it. If you do a search for "refurbished" on the Apple Store it will show you refurbished watches. I bought mine from Apple's Amazon store which was $50 cheaper than the online Apple store directly for some reason.

[mav7 in reply to jwsonoma]

Good info, jw !

Did you purchase new or refurbished ? Any info on issues with refurbished ?

[jwsonoma in reply to mav7]

There were no iwatch series 8 so I bought it new. I have bought 3 apple lap tops and 2 iPads refurbed with no problems from Apple over the years. They seem to be like new.

[mav7 in reply to jwsonoma]

Thanks for the info !

[DevonHubby1]

I have just got a Fitbit Charge 5. As well as the background AF checking others have mentioned it also has a 30 second ECG. I tried it on me and it correctly recorded and diagnosed me being in normal rhythm. Then tried on wife and it correctly diagnosed her as being in AF.

[pottypete1]

Maybe I am unusual but I never needed any gadgets to establish if I was in AF.

I just know by the nature of my palpitations and then check by checking my pulse.

Pete

[Treschere]

Hi Green_-pink, I have neither watch, I used to have a fitbit but now I have a Withings, which looks and is a normal watch to look at on your wrist, however, it records my pulse, my oxygen sats, and my ECG as well as all the normal features of a fitness watch. More importantly it doesn't mean I have to have an apple phone and it costs half the price.

It does record everything to my android phone for me to be able to send or show to my doctor and takes readings throughout the day and night, which means I know my oxygen sats fall in the night, and I don't have sleep apnoea, but go into slower bradycardia.

i wouldn't be without it now, hope this helps.

[Buffafly in reply to Treschere]

Does it work with an Apple phone? Because I already have one

[Treschere in reply to Buffafly]

An Apple phone or a Withings?

[Treschere in reply to Buffafly]

Have a look on the Withings website Buffafly, as it should say there or you can ask the question. Sorry to be negative but usually Apple stop you from using anything that isn't theirs.

[Buffafly in reply to Treschere]

True 😉

[Lesleyray in reply to Treschere]

I also have a withings, mine has been brilliant and it’s on my wrist 24/7 I’ve had it for 3 years

[Treschere in reply to Lesleyray]

I forgot to mention the battery lasts for 30 days

[Vonnegut]

I don’t have an Apple Watch - but do find my Kardia is a great support and companion with tracking the very occasional episode of AF I experience now since taking Flecainide regularly which has mostly stopped. Of course, I have the paroxysmal and you may be further down the line!

[irene75359]

I have the Series 6 Apple watch and it has more or less rendered my Kardia redundant. I like to keep a check on how long my PiP takes to work as for a short time afterwards, my heart slows down and it is no longer obvious to me that if I am still in AF. But the Apple watch was primarily bought for the 'fall alert', which alerts emergency numbers and designated responders to the fact the wearer has had a fall. That is also really effective.

[2learn]

How do you feel when in Afib and would the watch make you feel any better or just cause more worry. If it gives you a worrying reading do you go straight to A&E?

[Banquo]

Another watch to consider is the Garmin Venu 2 Plus...for now it's their only certified ECG watch but plan for more once FDA approval comes here in the states. I just find the Garmins better overall sports watches, but then again I've never had an Apple. The battery life on the Apples is a nonstarter for me. BUT I'm one of those that knows pretty quickly when I'm in AFib.. the palpitations and irregular rhythm, and the normal HR sensor on my watch will show pretty high also. For sending info to the doc, I use a Kardia 6L .. or more recently I purchased a Wellue with the AI feature...I can wear it as a chest strap monitor and wear it all day and overnight and then log in and upload it's data to get 24hr readings, which has been handy to see what might be going on at brief times during the day previously undetected.. or maybe during exercise or sleep.. it's been nice to have when I'm feeling extra paranoid about the hearts goings-ons.

[needlestone]

I like my garmin. It notifies for any abnormal heart beat.

[Ducky2003]

I have a Fitbit which has AF notifications on it. With me, I don't need the watch to tell me if I'm in AF.......... I know straightaway.😊.

[marcyh]

For my paroxysmal AF my 6L Kardia is just fine. No fee, it's simple, and I can email PDFs to my cardiologists. I didn't want to pay the price of an Apple watch and I didn't think I needed something that elaborate.

[Peacefulneedshelp]

I have the Apple Watch I set it to irregular heart beat rather than Afib. I found that works better for me. If I get an irregular notice I will manually take a ECG reading and sure enough I am in AF. However, I can tell I am in AF before the watch alerts me except when I am sleeping. If the watch is in bedtime mode it will not wake you up to tell you but you get your report in the morning. A few times I went into AF during the middle of the night if it’s bad enough that in itself wakes me up. I am glad to report since I have been on Nebivolol I am not having episodes.

[OzRob]

I have the Wellue chest monitor, not a watch but picks up AF similar to the monitors used by the profession. My EP thinks it is great.

[KentAndrew]

hi,

I have an Apple Watch Series 6 and an iPhone. I understand that the Apple Watch SE series cannot perform ECGs.

I wear my watch about 23 hours a day even when sleeping, it’s on charge for the other hour.

I am asymptomatic and the watch alerts me if I am in AFib even when I am asleep, I then perform a manual ECG and store it on my iPhone and can forward them to my computer as a PDF.

My Consultant has asked to see my printouts (I noticed that he also has an Apple Watch).

[k9poppypoo]

Hi green-pink i found a company called WITHINS there watches do ECG ,SPO2,STEPS ,and all the stuff apple watches do at less than half price.

[JoniM]

I have found the apple iwatch very helpful for my afib. I have recently gained control of my afib but in the past when I was having frequent episodes I would check it regularly and get confirmation that I was in afib or sinus rhythm. It also gives a chart of average resting heart rate as well as current heart rate. I’ve found the historical info very useful even now. For example, I have normally low heart rate and the meds lowered it further into the mid to low 40s which corresponded to symptoms I was having (mostly fatigue). My meds have been tweaked and I have noticed slight increases in resting heart rate now closer to high 40s/ low 50s which corresponds to less fatigue. I still periodically check for afib manually if I get some high beats or feel a little off and it is comforting to get the confirmation of being in normal rhythm. It’s also useful info for the docs. Also, by the way, I have received real time notifications of afib in the past but not reliably and as some have noted only when historical data is disabled. Seems unfortunate but the manual ekg has been very reliable in the sense that when I feel the afib coming on, I do the 30 second manual check and it always confirms the afib and when the heart rate is switching from 60s-70s to 130 or more it’s pretty clear I am in afib.

[JK5AEO]

Is there an option for those of us who do not own a smartphone, or will natural selection take care of us?

[iris1205]

Hello, so appreciate your question and my answer might be different than others! Apologies I have not read down!

If I want accurate data, I use the Kardia hands down. If you are seeking an "indication" Apple Watch is fine, but if you are a rapid Afibber... it doesn't catch much over 140 bpm...

Enough to prove Afib to someone, but not accurate... and that means you have to wear bluetooth watch on your person all the time. I take mine off at night.

My Afib /Flutter is like an on off switch so I only record for the pleasure of my doctors... I know when I am in or out!

Which drives me nuts as I must implant a Loop monitor tomorrow in order to be part of a trial. Fingers crossed!👍

[mcgavigan]

I use a smartwatch. I'm now on my second. While they are interesting there best gift to the wearer is that it creates/enhances an awareness of ones responsibility to ones own health and what we can/must do to maintain it. As to the smartwatchs' accuracy those things that we can, on our own, measure ourselves physically [eg: Heart rate; steps/ sleep etc] the smartwatch is accurate. Blood Pressure, Blood-oxygen measurement may require a leap of faith. I can tell you that the smartwatch compares favourably with machines found in drug store etc.. And by the way you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars for one and you'll understand why if you ever open one up and see how simple the working part is. Try a $50 one, they look good and those items we can measure physically as noted they, the $50 smartwatch does the job. You should note the FDA has yet to approve them for accuracy