Fitness Watches - A Personal Experience

Hi

I have referred to this previously but now have more definitive information on the accuracy of  a Garmin smart watch - at least in my instance.

Aged 73 I was found to have, without symptoms, extensive arterial plaque a couple of months back.  ECG showed 1st degree heart block; Echo and stress tests were fine. My statin med was doubled but no other action taken.

I've long been a walker but "stepped it up" and bought the watch as well.

A few weeks later I had a "dizzy spell" with low blood pressure and was hospitalised overseas for 2 nights, tested and monitored - no serious outcomes.  [Other than abandoning a holiday and now wrestling with a travel insurance claim].

On return home investigations continued and led to a stent insertion [Oct 11] and a PM [Oct 17] for a 2:1 heart block. 

So - the watch...... I have maintained my walking but was concerned the watch showed that my PR freqently decreased with exercise from the 100s alll the way to the 50s.

On October 31 I went for a 2 km walk, recording the start and finish times as well as my PR every 100m.

On Nov 1 I had my first PM review visit with the technican and the cardio.  The PM recordings for the exact period that I was walking showed my PR appropriately increased for the duration of the walk and that the watch recordings were wildly inaccurate.

This discrepency may be related to frequent PACs and PVCs but, whatever, the watch is wrong... I only bought the thing to measure walking distances but now I think I'll stick to my old pedometer.

Posting this in case anyone is interested.

Best wishes to all 

4 Comments

Apple Watch, 4th Gen

by gwk - 2018-11-03 14:09:06

My watch showed a dip down to 47 bpm although my PM is supossed to kick in at 60.  Should I be concerned?

Do a test

by Rick1945 - 2018-11-03 18:46:40

Hi gwk

Someone suggested doing a manual check of your pulse but I found this difficult.

The “comparison test” I did above, checking my recordings with the technician, showed that my real pulse was fine and that the PM had no need to kick in.

When I am at rest the watch readings are ok.

Perhaps you could also take some recordings and ask the technician to check their accuracy or otherwise?

 

 

 

4 days out

by Rick1945 - 2018-11-03 18:52:41

gwk I’ve just seen your post about being 4 days post PM.

Do you mean a one off dip to 47 bpm at rest? That wouldn’t be much data to go from.

I’d ask the Dr or technician when you have an opportunity.  I’d be surprised if it’s an issue but I’m no medico.

Rick1945

by gwk - 2018-11-04 08:33:14

Rick,

Yes, it was a one-off.  Agreed, not much data.  And who knows how reliable the watch is in measuring heart rate.  Seems to tell time ok.  And the little graphic displays are nifty.  SWMBO got it for me, so I's got to wear it.  I like your idea of having the tech check the watch's readings.  Thanks!

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