Apple watch

[Amy2805]

Hi everyone,

So I have been AF free since my ablation in October 2018. I have SVT and still get palpitations a lot but I am on beta blockers which brings my heart rate down.

my apple watch is set to AF history and for the past month it’s showing 4% AF which I haven’t had any episodes since 2018.

I do have palpitations but when I do the ECG is shows sinus rhythm.

Do you think it’s worth mentioning to my heart nurse or should I just leave it with already being on some medication.

I am 34 years old.

Thanks

[BobD Volunteer]

Simple question. Without the watch, would you know or care? If no, then you know the answer.

[Amy2805 in reply to BobD]

Well I have palpitations a lot and just deal with them. I have dizzy spells but it’s complicated because I’m under investigation for something else so I’m not sure what’s what at the minute.

[Butterfly65 in reply to Amy2805]

Wouldn't hurt to mention it to your nurse to receive her opinion, I know I would.

I was half diagnosed with HF & AF four months ago via results of an echocardiogram but I'm still waiting for MRI results plus a plan of action.

Also was told I'm on a waiting list for a cardioversion but have also read that although they can be successful, the heart can easily revert back.

Because I also have other problems with HF I'm not sure If my symptoms are caused by Af or HF.

How did you feel after your ablation?

What difference did it make to your health physically?

Do you have more energy?

[Amy2805 in reply to Butterfly65]

I didn’t have a great experience during the actual ablation I had a bad reaction to one of the anti blood thinners.

A month or so after it I felt loads more energy and my heart rate lowered from 256bpm during episodes to 156bpm so it helped loads and I did have more energy.

I will email her thanks for your response I appreciate it

[Karendeena in reply to BobD]

👍

[Buzby62]

The AF History figure does not prove AF. It means your watch has detected some irregular beats that shows signs of possible AF. The AF History set up is meant for people that have been diagnosed with AF as their only arrhythmia and assumes all irregular beats are AF. It comes from monitoring HRV (Heart Rate Variablilty) which is excessively increased when in AF but can also be the case with other arrhythmias I guess. AF history does not capture an ECG which is the only way to determine what the irregularities are.

Apple support link support.apple.com/en-gb/108375

Best wishes

[Amy2805 in reply to Buzby62]

Yes I have got an AF diagnosis I’ll keep doing ECGs when I feel symptoms thanks

[Buzby62 in reply to Amy2805]

You may be able to see increases in HRV if you look back at the HRV history. As 4% is so low I think you would need to look at HRV by Day rather than Week or Month. Spikes in HRV are likely to be when the AF history has been increased slightly and may or may not coincide with your symptoms.

Best wishes

[JezzaJezza in reply to Amy2805]

Definitely keep capturing the ECGs because it will show whether it is (example) PAC, PVC, Bigeminy, Trigeminy etc. The watch reports all arrhythmia as ‘possible AF’. Also if due to beta blockers, your heart rate is below 50bpm the watch will just report the ECG as inconclusive. This is why I use an app called Qaly to analyse my ECGs because my resting heart rate is 40bpm. I have written a full reply to you further down your thread.

Best wishes

Jezza

[OzJames]

hi Amy as I understand it no one gets zero I think the minimum is 4% but please check with Apple. FYI I was first diagnosed when 35 and had no treatment but retained a healthy lifestyle with exercise. My AF returned on average 5 years apart over the next 30 years so very infrequent and returned to Sinus immediately after some HIT efforts. What I did experience was ectopics which nearly everyone gets.

[Model52 in reply to OzJames]

The minimum is 2% for the Apple Watch.

[TheBrit]

My nurse told me that although mine said 2% that it was not necessarily Afib but the watch cannot distinguish whether it’s PAC, PVC, ectopics etc and actually told me to turn off the Afib history as it was not accurate. I hope that

[Buzby62 in reply to TheBrit]

You will never get a zero. The lowest report will say 2%or less even with zero AF episodes.

Click on the image to expand

Best wishes

AF History with zero AF episodes

[TheBrit in reply to Buzby62]

Thanks that’s what the nurse said and told me to turn off that notification.

[Amy2805 in reply to Buzby62]

Yes I used to always get 2% or less I knew the watch wouldn't show nil. But 4% is low so I’m sure I’ve got nothing to worry about thanks

[Buzby62 in reply to Amy2805]

As it’s showing more than 2% then it’s obviously detecting some irregular beats, as others have said the figure can be pretty inaccurate but is a good indicator that some irregular beats have been present during checks. The only way to be sure what is happening is with a Holter monitor so maybe worth mentioning to answer your original question with my opinion. The watch is likely to miss some short episodes of irregular beats as it only checks occasionally not all the time but it’s unlikely to record something that isn’t happening at all, if that makes sense.

Best wishes

[Amy2805 in reply to Buzby62]

That makes perfect sense thankyou for all your advice.

[JezzaJezza]

Hi Amy - my Apple Watch reported possible AF but what it was detecting was SVT and associated palpitations (sometimes called ectopics). Both are now very well controlled with dronedarone Multaq and bisoprolol 2.5mg.

I sometimes still get palpitations due to various triggers and in order to put my mind at rest I have my ecg’s analysed by an app called Qaly. Excellent app and you can either subscribe to AI analysis (€4.99 pm)or human (I think €7.99pm). Absolutely brilliant app and the AI diagnoses 30 different arrhythmias.

Both my GP and Cardiologist are big supporters of the Apple Watch and wearable tech. My cardiologist saw something immediately I showed her one of my Apple ECGs.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes

Jezza

[Amy2805 in reply to JezzaJezza]

Thankyou so much I also have SVT so I will look into these apps thankyou so much

[Godsgirl777]

I don't think your should leave it alone. My Husband has had 3 ablation, over the course of 15 years, to many cardioversions to count. Afib can happen in different parts of the heart, hence needing ablation to those areas. And you may need a different beta blocker and possibly a mix of meds. Just to be safe, I would not leave it alone🙏🏼❤️

[Godsgirl777 in reply to Godsgirl777]

Also we have the Kardia app, it shows the ekg, and detects afib, it's right in the money every single time and it gets us to the hospital pretty quick... Kardia app is a very good tool, along with a pulseox, and a regular bp cuff.

[Amy2805 in reply to Godsgirl777]

Thankyou so much for your reply it really helps I appreciate it