Benefits of ECG enabled wearables

[DutchInOrcades]

Hi there, I'm new to HealtUnlocked and new to DCM, brought on by the PLN mutation I carry.

I was diagnosed in September, with a tiny amount of fibrosis in my heart muscle. Thankfully, to date, I've not had any symptoms, and my pump function is well within normal range, according to the results letter I received.

I do experience (->notice) the odd ectopic heartbeat, especially when I'm stressed.

I want to try and stay ahead of this thing and keep a close eye on things and have been considering buying an ECG enabled smartwatch (Withings Scanwatch to be precise), but I was wondering if anyone here has any advice or thoughts about the benefits and possible risks, like becoming (even more) obsessed with monitoring what's going on in my chest.

I feel that having something that's helping me monitor what's going on in my chest could be reassuring, though I realise that the watch wouldn't be a substitute for a GP or cardiologist...

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or wise words!

[Jetcat]

hi Dutch, these devices have their benefits I suppose, Iv had mine three years now and I spent the first year constantly looking at it.!!!!!

it needs charging often now so I was going to stop wearing it it new year and was looking forward to seeing if I’d miss it.? But unknown to me my partner ordered me a new super dooper latest one from Santa Claus and this one is packed with gadgets on it to feed me even more fear and anxiety!! So next year I can also worry about my blood oxy levels and see if I need to start carrying a oxy tank around with me or whether I need walk under a cold shower because my body temp is too high.? I will have to see how I go with it.??? 😂

[Wanderinglady in reply to Jetcat]

Hi Dutch, I have a Fitbit which I believe has possibly saved my life! After years of telling GPs that my heart feels odd and being told I was imagining it, my new Fitbit with all the bells and whistles (bought not for those features but because my old basic one was failing) flagged up Afib constantly. I Printed off the trace and saw the surgery paramedic who fast tracked me to the Afib clinic at hospital where they confirmed not only Afib but also discovered MVD with a provocation angiogram. So for me, it has made a very positive contribution towards my diagnosis. Whatever you decide to do, I hope you find the way that is right for you.

[Eddybear in reply to Wanderinglady]

Hi I use the Kardia mobile Very easy to use and extremely accurate always take a reading and print out if I'm seeing my cardiologist, he said to me although not as accurate as a full ECG it is far more reliable than the wearable varieties.

[Linnaeus]

Hi

I've had a Withings Scanwatch, the smaller size, since November and am very pleased with it. Unlike some such devices it is quite discreet and looks like an ordinary watch ! Indeed I may owe my life to it, as I have had 3 trips to A&E following Afib episodes, and on each occasion their ECGs etc showed nothing because the episodes had passed, but on the 2nd occasion I was able to show the doctor my Scanwatch ECG "printout" from earlier in the day, and that convinced him to put me on Apixaban. In addition to ECG on demand, it also monitors one's BPM and will send a warning if Afib is detected. I've also got a blood pressure monitor, which would be useful if I have hypertension, but I haven't. Both of them talk to my Samsung mobile using the free Health Mate app, which is v useful as one can look back at one's past history.