Smartwatch - A Useful Tool or Not?

[Bcol]

Hi all. Smartwatches.

Can I make clear, at this point that I have no affiliation with any technology company that makes, sells or designs mobile phones or smartwatches.

With the latest and greatest fitness technology, users can be warned about early illnesses, symptoms of serious conditions such as heartbeat irregularity, and even stress signs that have a huge impact on our health and well-being.

Please Note Link to a report from the BHF (British Heart Foundation) regarding the use of smartwatches with Pacemakers etc.

Report from the BHF

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Atrial fibrillation is significantly more common amongst PMR patients, over and above the age-related incidence. If patients, ask their doctors they are usually told "it's the pred" and dismissed. The point is, it doesn't matter WHY someone has an arrythmia, it requires investigation and at least anticoagulant treatment to reduce the risk of stroke, but it is the getting past the GP or rheumy that poses a problem. A smart watch provides concrete evidence that can be presented to the GP and even cardiologists accept their tracings.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/340...

A modern, state of the art watch, will enable you to keep track, on an hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, your choice of time scale, basis a record of your Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, Blood Oxygen monitoring and the ability to provide an ecg on demand. They also include your GPS position as many also have a fall detector. If it detects you have fallen it will give you an opportunity to respond that you are Ok, if it receives no response from you, it will call for help either/both a 999 call and/or a call to a contact you have pre-programmed.

Most will pair to the mobile via Bluetooth, and depending on the watch and the mobile you are pairing it to you will probably need to download some software which will store and allow you to access the readings easily. Very useful for showing doctors/health professionals.

Depending on the watch, your provider and your contract, some will allow you to receive/make calls, receive/send emails/texts/play music etc, even if you do not have your phone with you.

I have a Samsung Galaxy watch with a Samsung mobile, which comes with all the relevant software, on a Vodafone contract, and it costs me a very small amount to give me all the above and peace of mind. My own GP is also very happy and supportive that I have this aid.

Which is the best to buy/rent? That is really a question that only you can decide, depending on what functions you wish it to perform, what make of smartphone you own (or are prepared to buy/get contract for) and the price you are able/willing to pay.

My advice is don’t rush into anything, look at all the options, search online for reviews, decide what you want/need it to do. Is it better to buy it outright or add it to your present mobile contract?

Please note. The results from your watch do not replace the diagnostic abilities/equipment of the health professionals. If your watch results show unusual or worrying trends, then you do need to get professional medical advice.

If anyone wants/needs any links or help finding out more please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Hope this helps.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Thankyou! I really do think comment like this from someone who has actually used it is helpful. I know it can be done - but wouldn't have a clue where to start looking though.

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

I'm away for a week from tomorrow with the GC's so may be a bit slower than usual in responding but let me know anything I can do to help.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bcol]

I take I that is grandchildren - not glucocorticoids Though the latter have their uses when dealing with the former ...

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

Indeed, four of them, 4 years, 5 years, 7 years and 11 years. Should be really restful!!!!!!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bcol]

Yeeeees - sounds like a large dose of pred may be required ...

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

Definitely going well prepared.

[Rose54]

Wouldn't be with out mine

Had HA 4 years go

Logs all my exercise

Counts all my calories. Carbs and nutrients

But most of all gives me peace of mind

Rose

[Miacaro45 in reply to Rose54]

I agree with Bcol with everything he mentioned. Why I love my smart watch is that Siri is a British male and my hearing aids also have a British male. These two plus my male Guinea Pig are the only males in my life as of now!

[Koalajane]

I think I have said before I have a Fitbit that I find very useful, but will stick to my Omron blood pressure monitor as I do find it accurate. I am not really into the extra that modern smartphones have or the cost of them

[piglette in reply to Koalajane]

I have an iPhone 6 with a broken screen a throw out from my nephew six years ago. I do wear an elderly Rolex watch though, which I think is beautiful.

[Bcol in reply to piglette]

Never had the pleasure of a Rolex, do see them at times on Antiques Road show and similar programmes and they always do look beautiful.

[diana1998 in reply to piglette]

I went to a ladies' supper and we were discussing Rolex as someone had just received one from her OH. That lady thought I had one but mine was £25 from M&S😂🤣

[piglette in reply to diana1998]

Rather like my ‘Gucci’ five pound handbag!

[diana1998 in reply to piglette]

Haha! Nice when it's mistaken for the real thing!!

[Bcol in reply to Koalajane]

Yey, I think we had the conversation earlier before the post "disappeared"

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Koalajane]

Fair enough - but they do different things. Horses for courses. Not even a top of the range BP device will record an ECG to prove to your GP you are having a proper arrythmia!

[Koalajane in reply to PMRpro]

My Fitbit can show AF

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Koalajane]

With a recording?

[Koalajane]

yes I noticed it had “gone”

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

TY 😊

[Bcol in reply to DorsetLady]

👍

[pink123floyd]

I have a withing watch that has been recording all the adfibs i had 1st doctor put me on a 24hr monitor didnt show adfibs but did show i have bracadia which is a very low heart beat after my medical check up my 2nd doctor asked how my adfibs were going as i dont have them all the time i showed him my recordings and i am now bk on heart monitor for 3 days my bet is it wont catch them again as they are irregular 17 adfibs last month 8 this month now i just go with the flow🙃

[Ozziedays]

I had no interest in a smartwatch until my other half bought me one as a birthday gift. Amazed at the health / fitness monitoring and tracking capabilities and I’ve not gone beyond the basics yet. We’re an Apple household so it’s an Apple Watch to pair with my iPhone 13. Your post has prompted me to investigate more of what it can do!

[GrandmaPirate]

Since I got cryo-ablation for Atrial fibrillation I have and use a smartwatch linked with my Android smartphone. The parameters re.heart, sleep, etcetera. are so useful and if there is sometimes that worries me, I make a screenpribt for my cardiologist. Moreover it stimulates me to move each day. First I had Fitbit, now already 3 years Garmin. It reassures me to monitor my heart.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GrandmaPirate]

How was your cryoablation? I'm waiting for an appointment to have one done.

[GrandmaPirate in reply to PMRpro]

My cryo-ablation was done in the university hospital of the Univ.of Brussels in the dept.that developed together with the company the instrument for cryo ablation already 5 years ago. I have no more AFib and every year the cardiologist, who performed it controls me (12 lead ECG and echo of the heart). Everything is ok and I cycling a lot walk a lot and monitor my HR with my watch. I am glad I got cryo instead of laser ablation. It seems to be more effective. Good luck with your ablation and keep moving!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GrandmaPirate]

I think here they choose the mode according to your history - but cryo definitely sounds preferable. Lucky you to have it done in the Brussels unit. I'm waiting for a call but they said August/early September originally. August will be fine but if it is delayed I may have to ask for a postponement as the second half of September and first week of October I have unchangeable plans that require me to be fit to drive on my own!

[GrandmaPirate in reply to PMRpro]

Hope they can do your cryo-ablation early.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GrandmaPirate]

It would - but I don't hold out too much hope!!!

[ian16527 in reply to PMRpro]

You only have to stop driving for 48 hrs, to let the wound heal in your groin or thigh

No lifting for a couple of weeks so you should be good to go

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ian16527]

Mmmm - but what does "no lifting" mean?

[ian16527 in reply to ian16527]

From the factsheet on the AF site

Rest

Although you may not have a great scar to show

it, your heart has suffered some trauma and will

take time to recover. The general

recommendation is to take things very easy

for the first week (short walks and only a single

flight of stairs, generally within the house, or not

very far outside), and a slow gentle progression

following that. Some very fit or younger patients

may find that they can return to work quite

quickly but many others take much longer. Above

all listen to your body and don’t push yourself too

hard. If you are still working then discuss your

condition with your employer and explain that the

situation may be fluid. Do not lift anything heavy

for at least a week. Above all, you are not a failure

and everyone’s recovery is very individual, so do

not be rushed.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ian16527]

On that basis, I wouldn't be able to manage the programme I have planned between 17th September and 6th October! I'm on my own so no assistance!

[ian16527 in reply to PMRpro]

Its always the case that the appointment will be right slap bang in the middle of your holidays

Good Luck with the ablation

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ian16527]

Thanks ...

[Loopy65]

Apple watch here, wouldn’t be without it. My GP uses it to check how my heart rate’s going to now!

I’d been fairly sceptical about it but interested. However, when I had severe palpitations I was very pleased to see that the heart rate on my watch was identical to the heart rate on the monitor I was rigged up to! Since then I’ve used it much more and paid more attention!

It’s an Apple Watch, it basically has everything bar the kitchen sink 😉

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Loopy65]

That's a bit disappointing - can't wash up with it!!!!!!!!

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

😂

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Loopy65]

Just as well -wouldn’t do PMR affected muscles much good!

[Mota1]

Hi Bicol

I totally agree with your comments about smartwatches. I would go as far as to say that my Samsung Galaxy could well have saved my life. About six months ago I purchased the smartwatch. It frequently told me that I had atrial fibrillation (the watch seems to label all arrhythmias as such). I forwarded a copy to my GP who considered it to be an ectopic heartbeat but suggested a 72 hour monitor to make certain. It took five months to get it! The result indicated a complete heart block and I was sent to hospital as an emergency. Two days later I had a pacemaker fitted which seems to be working well. I had previously had no symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pains etc. only the arrhythmia detected by the watch. I was running, circuit training and lifting weights. It makes me shiver to think about it.

Only problem is, on phoning Samsung to register my thanks, I was told not to wear the watch again as it could interfere with the working of the pacemaker. You can’t win them all!

[Bcol in reply to Mota1]

At least it won the important bit and you are still with us.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mota1]

Oh - now THAT is interesting. I have a pacemaker and was actually considering a smartwatch!! Never thought about that aspect - TENS is also a no-no.

Also shows how expert the average GP is at reading ECGs!!

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

Report from the BHF which agrees with Samsung

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bcol]

Ta - very good. Naughtly Sky News!!! I'd have been shouting at the TV again!

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

The time to worry is when the TV starts replying!!

[Shiv14 in reply to Bcol]

That reminds me of a story my mother used to tell about when she was a child and they got their first radio. A neighbour came in and said how come there’s a woman in yours and a man in mine🤣

[Broseley]

I use mine, a basic fitbit mainly to monitor my sleep. I am reassured that I sleep better than I thought. It takes the stress away. I also have a diagnosis of AF so I set it up to alert me if I have any AF detected. In the 10 months I have had the watch, it has never detected anything.

[Sophiestree]

Thank for this. Can I ask, do you pay monthly for the additional monitoring?

[Bcol in reply to Sophiestree]

Hi, no there is no charge for anything that the watch does. Everything is recorded on the software, also free, on the phone. The only extra fee I pay is for the ability to use the watch as a mobile phone even if my phone is not with me. Even that only costs me £3.00/month.

[Sophiestree in reply to Bcol]

Ah that's interesting. So you had a LTE one with Bluetooth.

[Bcol in reply to Sophiestree]

Yup.

[Purple-Owl]

I have had an Apple watch, a Samsung Galaxy watch and now a Google Pixel watch. All good. Have to say I'm an electonic gadget junkie, a digital artist on my phones and tablets, but I wouldn't be without my smartwatch. It not only monitors my heart rate and blood oxygen, but counts my steps, which is vital to keep me moving, as I shall be 90 in 12 days and now do most of my walking on the spot indoors.

[kp60]

I have a Circul ring to track O2, BPM, and Sleep stages at night, and a KardiaMobile6L to track Heart Rhythm. The Circul does a continuous track, and the Kardia is activated by me. I would love to find one device that does all of that real-time!

[Bcol in reply to kp60]

I think most the of the top brand smartwatches will do all of those things plus more.

[kp60]

Unfortunately I haven't found one that does it all. If anyone knows of one that realtime that tracks O2, heart rythym, bpm, and sleep stages (i.e. REM, deep, light, etc) I'd love to know

[Bcol in reply to kp60]

I don't usually wear mine in bed, but on the occasions I have, I'm sure it gives me that sort of sleep breakdown as well the other things.

[pink123floyd in reply to kp60]

Look up withings its a french make does all the things you stated and more even told me i had a high breathing disturbance on 30 july now going for a sleep apnea test

[kp60 in reply to pink123floyd]

Thank you! I will check it out

[PMR_sufferer1]

So i have a fitbit versa 3. Its almost part of my life now. It means I can monitor my resting heart rate ' and sleep patterns ( yes if you wake up ir knows ) and shows my cardio vascular score which for my age is excellent even with PMR.Also nothing to do with smart phones and smart watches i was.contacted by my doctor to ask if I would agree to be put on a trial by Cambridge University who are researching AF within the UK. I said yes as its good to help understand better these risks with AF to everyone . I have PMR and take pred ( now tapering) with some weight gain so I am an ideal candidate I guess.

[kp60]

Thank you! I will check it out

[yogabonnie]

I have an Apple Smart watch.. which I love. I especially love it when it says have you fallen .. and will call emergency if I dont answer and have indeed fallen. I have not had to use that yet. but I did have a friend who had a terrible episode of breathlessness and panic and I put my Apple Watch on him and took the EEG and he was in a big episode of Atrial Fib. when he recovered and was at the doctor I sent the record to him and his doctor who could see his whole EEG printed out on the message. these watches are AMAZING. And I was able to delete it so it did not appear as MY information. GET one!