Fitness Watch HR below lower Tracking Rate Setting

Lower HR

by Amyelynn - 2024-07-07 12:34:17

Hi

i have also noticed through my Apple Watch that my heart rate gets as low as 49-50 at least weekly however I have never been able to catch it while happening on my watch. I just see it in the HR logs.

when I mentioned to my EP she kindly shut it down saying they are not so accurate...

however they have never shown lower heart rates then what I am set at (60) before and I've had a watch like this for years. 
 

so not much help...

I wouldn't panic as 50 is not a bad HR I was actually set at 55 prior but asked it to be upped to 60.

however if you are catching the HR drop and actually able to take you pulse by yourself I'd start taking a log of dates times and what was happening at the time of the lower HR to share with the doctor. As I know a pacemaker should not be going lower than your lowest HR setting. 
 

il sure others will give more knowledgeable info. (Could it be related to a faulty or failing lead?) 🤔 

let us know and take care!

Wrist pulseox is often wrong

by crustyg - 2024-07-07 14:06:06

I have a smart watch (for swimming) and it often reads a *lot* lower than my HR by palpation.

I also have a finger-tip pulseox which is usually very accurate for HR, except when exercising (as the vendor warns).

So if the vendor who is selling a genuine health product (the finger tip pulseox) warns that the device isn't reliable during exertion, and the people trying to sell a 'fitness' tracking device don't, I think I can guess whose position is controlled by their desire to make money, rather than be honest about the limitations of the technology that they are using.

Relevant experience with Garmin watch

by Nor - 2024-07-07 17:58:53

My PM is set to minimum 60. I have a Garmin watch. It always shows within a couple of points of 60 and the graph will be a straight line at 60. Seven day and current day averages were very wrong until I had the PM for 4 weeks. Now I don't trust the averages at all.

My experience with wrist worn devices is that they're good at measuring when you are at rest and can be very wrong when active. I have read that thew Polar is a good device.

Oximeters etc.

by piglet22 - 2024-07-08 06:37:23

When I asked my GP about pulse monitoring during exercise (cycling), she said that the chest strap type was probably the best of these devices.

Having said that, all the GPs at the surgery go for a finger oximeter out of choice and that's what gets reported in your notes.

They are widely used by paramedics and in hospitals, so they must have something going for them.

It's the same with blood pressure. The electronic (oscillometric) is universally used.

I find that the BP monitor copes well with arrythmias, though not practical for in activity monitoring.

At best, the skin contact or optical devices in compact form are indicators. That's not to say they aren't useful or even accurate, and they definitely have a place if you have any sort of cardiac problem.

One place to see what what professional sports physiologists use, is to see what sort of equipment somewhere like Loughborough University uses. Well known as a centre of excellence for sports science. They must have a wealth of knowledge on fitness trackers etc.

Compare watch verses manual method

by Runsalot - 2024-07-08 08:59:34

Next time you are sitting and your watch says your heart rate is below 60 take a manual heart rate by holding your fingers on your neck or wrist for 15 to 20 seconds. Then compare the results to your watch for accuracy.

I also have the same pacemaker that you have. I am almost three months post op. My setting are 40 low at night, 50 during the day with a 170 high and response rate of 4 out of 5. I have a garmin Fenix 6 and compare very well to actual heart rate. Two days ago I ran my first race since getting the pacemaker, a 4 miler, and kept my heart rate in the mid 150s as I get back in shape and so that I didn't go to hard and have my pacemaker thinking I was in afib.

Thanks All!

by Andiek11 - 2024-07-08 10:36:58

As usual, responses are full of sage advice and excellent suggestions.  I think Anyelyn hit my "background worry" on the head; concern that one of the leads might be having a problem.  Odds are it is okay, and it is just matter of imperfect technology paired with an imperfect heart.  An idea match!  *haha* 

If I can catch my below tracking HR on my watch real time, I'll try the manual pulse method.  I've never been very good with finding my own pulse, (I'm alive so I'm sure it's there somewhere),  but with a nbit  more effort I'm sure I can improve this skill too.   

Again, thanks to all who've shared!

Is Rate Hysteresis turned ON?

by Gemita - 2024-07-10 01:58:38

AndieK, 

Apart from ectopic beats which are known to cause pacemaker timing issues, you could ask whether Rate Hysteresis is turned ON?  If it is, this could result in a drop in your Lower Rate Limit.  

Rate Hysteresis is the term for a pacemaker function that allows heart rates to go below the lower rate limit of the pacemaker.  If the pacemaker is set to a lower rate limit of 60 bpm, with a hysteresis of 50 bpm, then the pacemaker will allow the intrinsic heart rate to drop until it reaches 50. At this point, the pacemaker will begin pacing at the lower rate limit of 60. It will continue to pace at that rate until the patient’s intrinsic heart rate becomes faster than the pacemaker’s lower rate limit. Once the intrinsic heart rate takes over from the pacemaker, then the intrinsic heart rate may again drop from above 60 bpm down to 50 bpm before pacing again occurs. 

Rate Hysteresis is a programmable feature designed to promote longer periods of intrinsic rhythm which minimises the need for pacing by temporarily allowing both atrial and ventricular intrinsic and paced rates to fall below the programmed lower rate limit.  This will help preserve battery life and avoid unnecessary pacing.

Rate hysteresis in the VVI mode is termed ventricular rate hysteresis;  in the AAI mode, it is termed atrial rate hysteresis.  

If the low pacing rates are the result of Rate Hysteresis and these low rates are undesirable and ventricular pacing is again required, for example if AV block worsens, doctors may increase the Hysteresis rate or programme the Rate Hysteresis feature OFF.  

Worth asking about (1) Rate Hysteresis since this was the first setting that my EP checked when I reported my heart rate was often felt to be falling below my lower rate limit.  In my case, both atrial and ventricular ectopic beats were confirmed as the likely cause.  You say you are very aware of ectopic beats as your HR approaches 60 bpm.  This sounds all too familiar.  Another option would be to try to (2) increase the Lower Rate Limit by 5-10 bpm.  It might seem fast at first, but an increase in your lower limit can often help overdrive pace irregular, pausing, ineffective beats like ectopics or other rhythm disturbances and help to prevent/stop them.  It can be really effective although clearly doesn't work for everyone.  Another setting (3) "Rate Smoothing" if you have this function could help too, to smooth out your irregular beats but Rate Smoothing may need some fine adjustments to get it right for you.

Please keep asking questions like what more can they do to help smooth out those awful ectopic beats particularly if you are really symptomatic.  Good luck and please report back