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 🌹

6 Comments

Thump in the night

by AgentX86 - 2019-05-30 22:58:55

Certainly bring this up with your EP but he's probably going to tell you that the watch is crazy.  The technology isn't perfect.  It's not unusual to have the watch slip at night (I have a FitBit) and have it go crazy (often double counting my pulse).  Unless you can independently verify it (catch it in the act, and count your pulse manually), these things can't be trusted.

He should be able to interrogate your PM to see if there were any tachycardia episodes when you think there were.

Apple Watch

by steppingstones - 2019-05-30 23:24:57

Several months ago I purchased an Apple Watch series 4 and I bought it for the heart monitoring/ECG capability.  I also have a fitbit charge 2 I have used for years for monitoring my heart rate.  I find the Fitbit seems to be more accurate/precise on heart rate and it seems simpler to be able to monitor at a glance.  I have PVC’s and PAC’s and when I would feel my heart start flip flopping, I would look at the rate shown.  I use to sometimes wear both around the house in comparison.  I find the Apple for some reason reads my heart rate quite a bit lower than it really is. Perhaps I need a different app or something.  I also use an oximeter like used in a doctor’s office (from Amazon and inexpensive).  It is very precise and because I have CHF it shows me if my oxygen is dropping also.

However, the ECG part of the Apple Watch I find useful and am in the process of printing out some of the recordings to send to my EP.  I was at the cardiologist the other day and showed him some of them and he said I needed to call my EP and it looked like it is with the pacing of my atrial lead.  I only know it is uncomfortable to painful when it happens and the ECG is really different looking than normal. 

I hope this helps.  You definitely need to let your doctor know of the heart rate changes and at those times, as you were at a resting state, however, most pacemakers have the capability of storing history.  But those changes are “not” extreme and may only show as being included in the average for the time frame.  Storing must be enabled and also set as to how long it will store information.  Mine is reset/cleared at each in office interrogation. 

A second opinion is not a bad thing to consider if you have any doubt. 

From another members posting

by steppingstones - 2019-05-31 00:13:02

by katie4593   (She is a cardiothoracic critical care nurse)

2019-02-18 10:32:04

General Posting

470 views

5 comments

I wanted to share some interesting news. A few months ago Apple released it's EKG feature on it's series 4 watch. This feature consists of single lead EKG capabilities. Both myself and my electrophysiologist have been amazed with how advanced this technology has been. Since recieveing my ppm I realized this watch can pick up on both atrial and ventricular pacing spikes. It's helped me correlate my symptoms to my new pacer. I was able to figure out I was feeling "deep palpitations" when I was in DDD. I will include the link to my website if you're interested in seeing the Apple EKG strips. Pretty cool!

https://nurse-katie.com/2019/apple-watch-4-ekg-technology/

***Her posting and viewing her blog gave me hope for being able to show my doctors what I needed them to see and I think it's going to come true!

 

EKG feature

by AgentX86 - 2019-05-31 09:38:25

If you want a portable EKG machine, the Kardia Mobile is a whle lot cheaper ($100 to $150) than the Apple watch ($500).  The new one does a six-lead EKG, rather than only the single lead that the Apple watch (and the original Kardia Mobile) shows.

Apple Watch test

by jeffreybiri - 2019-06-02 20:20:18

I have owned an apple watch for a few years now and mine has been pretty spot on. Of course nothing is perfect but from my tests when I'm at the doctor or when I am working out it seems pretty spot on. I have monitored my HR with a lionheart monitor at my current gym along with my apple watch and its been very accurate. My pacemaker is set to 70 at rest and my apple watch typically reads 69 or 70. Even while working hard at the gym its pretty accurate. Take this with a grain of salt but its just my 2 cents. Cheers!

Apple watch

by Shana - 2019-06-08 02:41:12

Hi,

I get occasional spikes on my series 4 watch too, but a quick manual check tells me my real heart rate. I have PACs and PVCs. Maybe they are what the watch is sensing.

When compared to telemetry readings (when my Apple watch is in too), it  sometimes aligns and other times is 10-20 beats off  or delayed. This is during rest and at  high exertion exercise.

it’s a great tool, but not absolutely perfect with my numbers.

shana

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