Hi, I am considering getting a smart watch and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations ( any budget considered). I’ve had a Fitbit in the past for counting steps and monitoring heart beat , sleep. In fact the fit bit flagged up my a fib as it couldn’t get a consistent heart reading, which is why I stopped using it.
Currently I believe they do a lot more but are they accrate enough to be useful?
Lots of reviews on the web but who knows what vested interests the reviewers have.
if anyone has any thoughts I would be very interested.
cheers
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chdjazz
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thanks, I’ve seen a few of these which pretty much left my head spinning and all seem to have plenty of one star reviews on Amazon which are quite off putting lol.
The iwatch system is probably the current state of the art but comes with the highest cost, that raises the question do I really need one!
Fitbit sense owner, found it to do everything I need and more, without having to jump to the Samsung smart watch.
The other advantage is the range of apps that are compatible with Fitbit. Bought a new set of scales that tells me everything apart from my inside leg measurements, but the app for that syncs to fit bit.
Personally, I would recommend the Apple iWatch. I have used one for around 6 or 7 years. My current watch which is at least 3 years old is the iteration 4. It gives the ability to take an ECG which shows Sinus or AF rhythms. I sat in my GP’s surgery on Friday (total waste of time) due to continual low heart rate notifications in the evenings over the past two weeks. He tried to tell me that my watch would not be accurate, but then had to concede that it was extremely accurate when he compared my pulse against his more traditional method. So all in all, I definitely recommend the Apple Watch. Additional features in the health app are VO2 max measurements, steps, heart rates and now it even highlights trends such as an increase or decrease in activity, weight, heart rate etc.
Another useful feature is the fall detector and emergency services / next of kin’ alerts I have taken two heavy falls out walking in the Winter and each time it has started the 10 second countdown to get me help Fortunately, I have been ok and stopped it with a few seconds to go
I did a bit of research and settled on a Withings. I probably would have gone for an Apple watch but I'm a diehard Android/Google user. I also wanted more of a "watch" and less "smart," if that makes any sense. The Withings Steel looks like a watch but has a small screen and a separate step counter. The heart monitor is spot on with a bluetooth/ANT+ chest strap (I compared the two).
Regarding the ECG function: Withings products are certified for EU use (assume UK too), but like the Apple, a single-point ECG is not going to be as reliable as a hospital-grade ECG administered by a trained professional. But I have no reason to assume it's not useful (to the extent that any home ECG test is going to be useful...)
Anyway, the Withings pairs nicely with my Android phone; shows me message notification and the Withings app is easy to use, if a bit basic. If you are wanting a sophisticated training device and a big screen, go with the Apple (or maybe a Samsung, but not sure if they have ECG function). Otherwise, I've been very happy with the Withings. Oh, and the battery life is great; I charge it once every 3 weeks or so.
Had Garmin Instinct & Fitbit Versa 3 when had my 1st HA + stents. Garmin bad for accurate pulse + although Versa 3 better it wasn’t as accurate as my Polar watch with chest strap which I used for cycling etc.
Was an Android user but made the change to Apple and to cut a long story short - now have iPhone with an Apple Watch 7 and really happy. Readings are, in my opinion, more accurate than others above + often fully in line with Polar monitor when out exercising. Plus , the ECG & Blood Oxygen functions are quite handy.
Maybe the newer Fitbits are better/more accurate now + obviously a cheaper and less fussy option for you but glad I swapped - even though for a while, I used both the Fitbit & Apple Watch together until convinced Apple was the way to go!
I have a google E3 (Mobvoi) which gives a good general readout of HR and a quite reliable trace when exercising which is close in terms of HR zones, peak rates and recovery to a formal NHS treadmill etc monitoring. BUT the cardiologist still said "throw it away", doesn't matter how much you have spent on it including Apple etc . My watch shows occasional high HR during resting, I had an unexplained severe MCA ischemic stroke, but arrhythmia hasn't been found on ECG. My GP recommended purchasing a Kardia personal ECG monitor (much less than an Apple watch) to take my HR especially if I had a suspicion of something not right. I have a 6 lead type (there aren't actually any leads) . My GP looked at my first trace that was unusual and as an aside said the quality of the trace was better than most produced in the surgery. He reassured me that it was showing a pattern of ectopic beats. 6 months on I am more resigned to my out if the blue stroke although I await the results of a recent 7day Holter which interestingly only had one lead, and very compact. So if you do want a grade of ECG monitoring to satisfy a medical practitioner and provide some insight I recommend Kardia alongside whatever watch you want. BTW my google E3 gives great and pretty accurate map, time pace, stride and HR for my runs and walks.
HI chdjazz. Like you had a fitbit which was useful, then changed to smart watch, as i wanted a 'proper' watch and the fitbit was hard to read in daylight. I went for samsung smart watch 4, main reason I have samsung phone so the set up is easy. As far as i can see its just as accurate as the fitbit and has a load more functionality much of which i dont really use. It does need charging more often. Now had it for about 6 months and so far so good.
Big fan of the Samsung Watch 5. Fairly accurate HR, surprisingly good blood pressure and ECG readings and obviously works really well with an Android phone.
Hi - I have a Fitbit sense after graduating from a charge 5. It showed straight away when I unexpectedly started with persistent AF for the first time. The hospital and cardiologists used the data and historic trends happily. Very accurate as it was measuring the same as the HR when I was hooked up. It does ECG’s and now has a facility to alert you if you go into AF. Completely back to normal and is a great comfort to know everything is as it should be almost a year later.
thanks for all the recommendations. I’m almost tempted to change to apple though the price Irks me a bit as my current Samsung smart phone only costs me £6.50 a month ( phone is paid for and is 3 years old).
on that basis the Samsung and Fitbit options look like a fit for me. Not decided yet though.
I too am an Android user, didn't like the presciptive nature of the Apple world, plus everything got very expensive. That said, I'm now a Samsung user, so it's almost as pricey as Apple, but using Android which gives more user flexibility.
After my Cardiac Arrest in 2020 I invested in a Samsung Watch, used it round the clock to monitor my heartrate and track my weight and exercise through rehab, transferring the data to Excel to plot the info and provide monthly updates to my doc and Cardiac nurse. They found the additional data very helpful and it gave us a focus for discussions and for me to gradually increase the intensity of exercise knowing that medical professionals also had the chance to review. This lasted for 18 months and now I just back thing off slightly.
Samsung do a trade-in offer so I upgraded to the latest Watch 4, which also does blood pressure, which you calibrate using a normal armband monitor, the watch will remind you to do another calibration when needed. It seems to update the firmware regularly and has added many features this year.
I had a chance to compare the readings to an overnight sleep study and although I wasn't able to wear the watch during the process, the outcome was similar to that of the watch.
In the end my skin doesn't like the constant wearing of any watch so now only use it when exercising, but I certainly found the information provided by the watch to be close to other instrument readings. I have a blood oxygen and pressure monitors.
I'd also say that using the same watch to measure infromation over time gives you the opportunity to see changes over time and this is the best information you and the doctor have to see when there's something new to consider.
Like you, I'm an android man. I have just checked which. Their top rated smart watch is the Garmin Forerunner 55 @ £172. There top rated fitness tracker is the Fitbit 4, £156 closely followed by the Xiomi Redmi Smart Band Pro @ £33.89.
Personally I have an Honor Smart Band Pro which wasn't expensive, and is very good for all I need, accurate heart rate, and Sp02 readings. GPS tracker etc.
I suggest you decide which features you ned/want and then look for a watch that fits the bill.
hi I have the Apple Watch series 5 and when I was at the hospital doing rehabilitation they took my heart rate an it was the same as my watch it all so has fall detection. I have pre ordered the new one series 8 which I should get mid October hope this helps
slip fall accident feeling unwell apple watch will call emergency services and give position , in addition will contact relatives or partner . also heart and oxy blood levels , its a magic device and I can recommend it .Sl
hi. Definitely an I watch if you have an iPhone. It was my watch that first notified me I was in AF and subsequent follow on ones and has an excellent fall capability. It knows when you’ve fallen and gives you opportunity to cancel and say you’re okay. If you don’t / can’t respond then it goes to the emergency services and gives them the information and where you are. Also you can take your pulse reading and do an ECG which again was very useful to the doctor. Hope this helps
I had a Fitbit a few years ago that alerted me to a fib as soon as it started so always grateful for that.
I have gone for the Samsung watch 4. I’ll report back when I’ve been using it for a while, although initial finding is the blood pressure doesn’t work ( apparently if you have a fib ! ). Even if it works it seems you have to recalibrate it every 4 weeks, also !!!
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