Fitbit

Is it safe to use a Fitbit? It says it has a magnet in it. It has a warning to ask your Dr? But,  I was wondering because it's on your wrist, is it far  enough away from the pacemaker to use one safely? I'm not 100% dependent. 


3 Comments

Fitbits

by Theknotguy - 2021-07-02 18:55:58

You can use Fitbits.  Magnets aren't anywhere near big enough to bother the pacemaker.  

Just remember the pacemaker can interfere with the heartbeat report on the Fitbit and you can get some inaccurate results.  The heartbeat monitor section is good for a ballpark number but they aren't accurate for a beat-by-beat count.  

I used my Fitbit for three years.  It was good for reporting how many miles I walked per session and knowing that my heartbeat could get up to 100 BPM at times but that was all I needed.  

Hope your adjustment to your pacemaker goes well.
 

Fitbits

by AgentX86 - 2021-07-03 00:09:25

No, they're fine (magnets?).  Don't count on the heart rate from one though.  The pulse-ox style transducer is notiously inacccurate when it's used on the wrist.  The pulse-ox meters are pretty good (assuming no arrhythmia) on the index finger because the artery is in a known place and the device doesn't move around.  It's harder to find the pulse in the wrist, particularly on the top of the wrist, so Fitbits (and all other such devices) are suspect, to put it nicely.

I wore a Fitbit for years.  I started out with one of the pocket models but quicky graduated to the wrist, then more advanced ones as I started walking longer distances.  As Theknotguy says, they're great as pedometers and record exercise well.  They don't measure heart rate well.

Be careful falling into the (deep) well of counting every heartbeat.  Anxiety is a the bottom of that well.  Your heart and pacemaker will be just fine.  OTOH, counting steps and calories is a good way to challenge yourself and may be a benefit.  Constant monitoring of your heart rate isn't.

I wear Fitbit.

by PacedNRunning - 2021-07-05 04:12:02

They are safe with pacemakers.  Magnets are way to small for our device to even react too. :) 

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