How accurate are Apple Watches

I am wondering how much to trust the cardio readings on my new Apple Watch, but it does feel like it is right.

I am waiting to be scheduled in for a CRT-P sometime this summer.  My EP said I would not need the CRT-D because that was not my problem.  I have had palpitations for long before I got my Pacemaker 18 months ago, but never was caught in testing.  After Pacemaker I wasn’t aware of palpitations that much because of the much more aggressive thumps from PVC’s , diaphragm stimulation, or who knows what it is.  They have settled down a lot now with more medications but now I have started feeling the butterflies in my chest more. 

That is why on Tuesday, I ended up spending over $500 for an Apple Watch, to check out my heart ❤️.  First day I was having a rest period (going to Cher concert that night) just lying down messing with my new phone.  Phone said that my heart rate was just lazing around at 60 to 64, made sense. Then I felt butterflies and heart rate went to 107 and dropped back down again.  The next morning I looked to see how my night went and it was pretty consistent again in the low 60’s, but then around midnight it showed a spike up to 148 and then down again.  So have spent the last day watching for these episodes and happens quite often.

So is this acceptable, should I try get to talk to EP, Cardiologist or GP.  

Am I over reacting or does this sound like maybe I should get the CRT-D just in case I am heading in that direction- don’t want to do again in another year because we missed it this time.

Any words of wisdom appreciated, thanks

Chapter 🌹

2 Comments

How accurate are Apple Watches

by Sons de Coeur - 2019-05-30 15:06:28

Hello Chapter.  I have Afib and have a pacemaker for sick sinus syndrome.  However, I am not responding on my behalf, I am responding for what my husband is going through right now.  Your description of what is happening sounds very much what my husband is going through, where his heart rests at 65 then jumps up to around 195.  I bought a Kardia aliveCor monitor. ( you download an app on smartphone and place your fingers on flat monitor and it reads your heart and sends out a ekg report.  You can also get the watch kind.  We bought the flat table monitor because my husband did not want the watch. It diagnosed him with Afib and he now has an appointment tomorrow to see the cardiologist for a treatment plan.  The jumping up and down of heart rate is not normal if you are just resting.  I would definitely talk to your Cardiologist.  My husband has been miserable with them.  He has always been very active.  He is turning 70 in August.  I hope all works out for you and wish you health and peace.

Apple Watch ECG Readings for patients with Pacemaker

by anne1938 - 2020-08-21 11:06:07

Yesterday, I talked with Rep at Apple Watch regarding wrong readings for Afib, high/low rates, using the ECG app.  He pointed me to this:

https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/Instructions-for-Use-ECG-App.pdf

CAUTIONS:

The ECG app cannot check for signs of a heart attack. If you believe you’re having a medical emergency, call emergency services.

DO NOT take recordings when Apple Watch is in close vicinity to strong electromagnetic fields (e.g. electromagnetic anti-theft systems, metal detectors).

DO NOT take recordings during a medical procedure (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging, diathermy, lithotripsy, cautery and external defibrillation procedures).

DO NOT take recordings when Apple Watch is outside of the operational temperature range (0 o C - 35 o C) indicated in the Apple Watch user manual and humidity range of 20% to 95% relative humidity.

DO NOT use to diagnose heart-related conditions.

DO NOT use with a cardiac pacemaker, ICDs or other implanted electronic devices.

DO NOT take a recording during physical activity. DO NOT change your medication without talking to your doctor.

Not intended for use by individuals under age 22.

You should talk to your doctor if your heart rate is below 50 or above 120 at rest and this is an unexpected result.

Interpretations made by this app are potential findings, not a complete diagnosis of cardiac conditions. The user is not intended to interpret or take clinical action based on the app output without consultation of a qualified healthcare professional.

The waveform generated by the ECG app is meant to supplement rhythm classification for the purposes of discriminating AF from normal sinus rhythm and not intended to replace traditional methods of diagnosis or treatment.

CAUTION: Apple does not guarantee that you are not experiencing an arrhythmia or other health conditions when the ECG app labels an ECG as Sinus Rhythm. You should notify your physician if youdetect possible changes in your health.

SECURITY: Apple recommends that you add a passcode (personal identification number [PIN]), Face ID or Touch ID (fingerprint) to your iPhone and a passcode (personal identification number [PIN]) to your Apple Watch to add a layer of security. It is important to secure the iPhone since you will be storing personal health information.

AliveCor - KardiaMobile also has a page where it says do not use if you have a pacemaker.

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Member Quotes

As for my pacemaker (almost 7 years old) I like to think of it in the terms of the old Timex commercial - takes a licking and keeps on ticking.