Smart watches

[Redkegs]

Hi, hope everyone is doing well. Ive been looking at buying a smart watch, probably a fitbit. They have all the heart monitoring set up along with sleep exercise etc My pulse is not always correct if you take it with fingers at wrist due to a weaker beat every so often. Usually get an ecg to get correct reading. Does anyone have any experience or advice on the smart watches accuracy and whether its actually worth getting?

I've started exercising again after a bad car crash and have lot of weight to lose. I walk, swim abit, light gym work and now play walking football which can break into a canter at times! Was hoping to keep track of steps, distance etc but also try and build up a heart picture too. As I do get bit of anxiety when I get a bit of a sweat on!

Thanks guys for any advice.

[pasigal]

I have a Withings and as far as accuracy, I've compared it to using my fingers and a chest band hooked up to my cycling computer. Seems to be quite close, plus or minus a few beats. I've used it for a few bike rides where the average heart rate was identical over an hour to the chest strap. One thing with wrist-based watches is that they tend to jump around a bit during exercise, whereas a chest band is more stable (and have more sensors). I tend to use the Withings more to monitor my steps and my resting pulse as well as during everyday activities like climbing stairs or walking up hills...probably shouldn't check it so much...but I've found it a useful and comforting tool.

[AS90]

I have used an Apple Watch since 2015. I’m on my fifth one now and they keep getting better and better. They have heart rate, ECG, blood oxygen and a million other things.

[Buddy00]

I have an Apple Watch. The heartbeat reading is spot on . My pacemaker is set to 60 bpm at night and 70 bpm during the day and it reads this exactly.

[Dave678]

Hi Redkegs - I’ve currently got 4 types of monitoring watches etc and my ranking of accuracy as follows:- Best = Polar HR monitor with chest strap; then Apple Watch 7 (nearly as good as Polar + has ECG & Blood Oxygen etc); next Fitbit Versa 3 (not as accurate as Apple - but not bad); last = Garmin Instinct (nice looking watch but not worth it for HR reading in my opinion). The one I use mostly is the Apple Watch + also attach Polar strap if going for bike ride or run etc. No knowledge of other monitors/watches etc like Samsung etc but hope above of help.

[Jacey15]

I found Fitbit heart rate record inaccurate and so did my sister. I got a free Samsung watch and its much better.

[doktordru]

Personally I bought an Apple Watch as I'm already and Apple user via phone and desktop. I agree with what others have said that the occasional reading can be misleading - but generally speaking I'm please with it -bought mainly for running/monitoring and it does that bit pretty well. It's complex - only just getting to grips with it! But if you are already in the Apple eco system go for it - you'll like it if not there are probably cheaper/simpler solutions out there.

[Zbignieva]

I love a Polar watch, they have a great reputation. I think they have some that read heart rate at the wrist now.

Some can be very expensive. I think they are still doing very basic models that basically track steps and HR.

I did have one issue with my Polar, there were a few places I ran that all of a sudden my HR would read at 180 bpm, and I know it wasn’t, it was like it picked up an odd signal, or it would lose it entirely in a few locations. This was at least 5 - 10 years ago, this may have been sorted.

Both of my Polar watches lasted 5-7 years and the only reason I switched to an Apple Watch is that I can now put my running playlist on the watch so I only run with the watch and blue tooth earbuds.

My other half has a Garmin which he loves. I think watches are quite personal, you have to like the look and the functions.

[Paperlover]

I have a Fitbit Sense, my third Fitbit in a row as the models have improved. A Fitbit, or any similar smartwatch is a great motivator and will no doubt encourage you to just do a little more on the days you don’t really feel like it. I’m a bit of a stats geek, so have downloaded a free watch face that shows all the basic stuff, and my current and resting heartbeat. The value for me is not in the absolute accuracy, but in looking at the trends of what is normal for me. For example, after my heart op, my resting heart rate was in the high 70s, which is not normal for me. Initially my surgeon dismissed my concerns, saying that it would take time for my rate to settle. But I didn’t feel right and kept pressing doctors etc to take me seriously. Turns out I had an infection and my heart rate would reduce whilst I was on antibiotics then increase again as soon as the course was finished. Eventually got on the right drug for the type of infection and then my heart rate returned to normal for me. Recently had the dreaded virus and again resting heart rate through the roof (for me!). I’m back to full health and go to the gym 4 times a week. I use my Fitbit to limit the amount of time I spend in peak and maximise the time in cardio. I think as long as you use the output sensibly, it will be valuable and it won’t take long to work out you normal.

[Redkegs]

Thanks for all the replies, definitely given me food for thought. I think I may have used the wrong word with anxiety. My cardiac nurse said exercise was good of course just not to end up in HIT classes as dont want to over stress the heart. For the sport I am doing I just want to make sure Im not going over my upper limits so to speak. Oeqce if mibd I guess

[Westie2012]

I have an Apple Watch , there’s been times I’ve used the heart rate check or ecg feature when my heart has been racing and I’ve felt it pounding very strongly , if I’ve felt unwell and been checked over in hospital a couple of the cardiologists I’ve seen have found the ecgs I did on the watch quite useful to look at . It is accurate as I’ve compared my heart rate on the watch to the hospital heart monitors so I find it useful to know if my heart is going fast , I only use the ecg and heart rate as a rough guide, some health professionals think they’re a good idea , others aren’t impressed by them . If you do get a watch try not to be overly obsessed with doing ecgs etc and always get medical advice if you feel unwell .

[56dick19 in reply to Westie2012]

hi my heart races all so the only thing that has got it under control in Amiiodarone I all have a CID fitted that seeds data back to the hospital so they can see what my heart is doing

[56dick19]

I’m now on my 3 Apple Watch I have just got the latest one that takes blood oxygen-heart rate- ECG and has a fall detection which calls the emergency services if I fall and don’t respond to it

[Lakky12]

Hi, I can understand your interest in smart watches but would suggest you bear two things in mind - 1) as my cardiologist told me, smart watches are not always accurate as they can’t always determine where electrical impulses are coming from and nothing is as good as medical grade equipment. 2) if you’re anything like me you will become a slave to your smart watch - I was checking pulse, and oxygen levels a stupid number of times a day and all it did was make me anxious. I don’t wear one any more - have kept it and vaguely thought I’ll wear it for a week once a month, but I haven’t even done that yet! So it really depends what you want one for, and if you can be more sensible than me with regard to how often you check things …