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Original poster

Apple Watch - Arterial Fibrillation

17 replies

downtonupton · 27/04/2023 09:40

I wear an apple watched and sometimes get notifications of Arterial Fibrillation - last night it went a bit mad!

Prior to that I would get a notification once a week or so. I went to the doctor and they checked my heart and all seemed OK - but I'm a bit worried about last night's activity.

I have attached a picture. There is a gap from December because I wasn't wearing my watch - so don't read anything into there being a 4 month time period without anything. I have attached older representation of the type of notifications I was getting.

I am not sure if I should go back to the doctor or if these watches are overly sensitive. I don't want to annoy the doctor by going back (assuming I can get an appointment) - I have never had a night like that before.

Last time a nurse at the surgery checked me and sent the results to the hospital and it all cam e back OK. I also had an echocardiogram in January for an unrelated reason and that was OK

I am overweight and working on losing some as have a big holiday planned in September and want to be fairly fit for that as it will involve;ve a lot of walking.

Should I hassle the Dr for further investigation?

OP posts:

DontGoBreakingMyHeart · 27/04/2023 10:05

I have several serious heart conditions and I am currently under the radar of the transplant team at Papworth because when my health deteriorates (and I have been told it will be when and not if) I will need a transplant.

The various cardiologists I have spoken to say that the Apple Watch is the bane of their lives, because they’re just not accurate, are prone to send people into a panic, and increase the numbers of unnecessary queries they receive tenfold.

I tested the ECG function on mine and it came back as “not at risk, not at risk, inconclusive, inconclusive, not at risk” and then “May show signs of atrial fibrillation.” And this at a time when my heart rate was up over 125BPM and in serious and noticeable AF.

If you’ve been seen under the cardiac team for other reasons the AF will have been detected on your ECG’s.

I genuinely would turn off the alert functionality on the watch.

Original poster

downtonupton · 27/04/2023 11:42

DontGoBreakingMyHeart · 27/04/2023 10:05

If you’ve been seen under the cardiac team for other reasons the AF will have been detected on your ECG’s.

I genuinely would turn off the alert functionality on the watch.

thank you - that is reassuring - I had. feeling that was the case... I was probably having wild dreams last night or something. I just had a bit if a panic when I woke up to all the alerts on my watch and phone,

OP posts:

Krawnprackers · 27/04/2023 11:46

Hmm my husband started being notified of high heart rate and AF by his Apple Watch. He didn’t think much of it but a short time later he actually went into heart failure caused by prolonged AF. He has now had a cardio version and an ablation. Still not fully sorted. So I would say better safe than sorry and see your GP.

JacobsCrackersCheeseFogg · 27/04/2023 11:51

I've had AF for 13 years, I take a beta blocker and now I'm older I'm also on a blood thinner.

You should get yourself checked out, especially if you are in a job that's safety critical. I had a 24 hour ECG and 24 hour BP check. If you are particularly dizzy or feel you are about to faint ring 999 straight away.

Original poster

downtonupton · 27/04/2023 11:53

see now I am scared again!

I did go to the doctor before and felt a little fobbed off

my son has also pointed out that I changed my watch strap yesterday for a metal magnetic one and maybe that affected last night's results.

OP posts:

Gymmum82 · 27/04/2023 11:56

The Apple Watch records your ECG show that to your doctor and they will be able to see exactly what your heart is doing at those times. I use mine to record my arrhythmias. It’s very useful

changedusername190 · 27/04/2023 12:03

Just checked mine and it's 153. My 6 day monitor came back at six month appointment only needed.

Greybeardy · 27/04/2023 13:49

the alert is fairly meaningless without actually being able to see the rhythm strip. Apple watches aren't terrible at recording what the heart's doing, but there are all sorts of things that can interfere and make it harder for the software to interpret (movement artefact being probably the commonest). Only way to find out if you're actually going into AF is to look at the ECG if you can/ discuss ambulatory ECG monitoring with your GP.

Original poster

downtonupton · 27/04/2023 14:32

thanks everyone - I have emailed the doctor surgery to see if they can see me about it.

OP posts:

ilovepixie · 27/04/2023 20:32

I had be getting palpations and a racing heart for years. My doctor said it was the menopause. I got an Apple Watch and it said I was in Atrial fibrillation so I went to the doctor again and was diagnosed with AF. I'm now on medication for it.

Original poster

downtonupton · 12/05/2023 00:22

just thought I would update

I did go to the doctor who referred me for an ECG which I had yesterday. The results are in and the doctor wants ti investigate this further with a 24 hour ECG Holter monitor.

They also want to listen for heart murmurs - may all be related to my thyroid issues...

So looks like I did the right thing going to the doctor.

OP posts:

clueless1974 · 30/05/2025 19:27

Hi, I know this is an old post but could anyone interpret this? I did have this before in 2023 and it panicked me and I went to the hospital (I had pneumonia at the time). They said it was due to having an infection and didn't show when they an ecg.

I don't have any infections now. When you have a normal brief ecg does it only work (the hospital one) if your in afib in that moment?

Thanks and I know it's an old thread. :)

Greybeardy · 30/05/2025 19:33

clueless1974 · 30/05/2025 19:27

I don't have any infections now. When you have a normal brief ecg does it only work (the hospital one) if your in afib in that moment?

Thanks and I know it's an old thread. :)

that is almost uninterpretable because of all the movement artefact. If you have symptoms you should speak to a real life HCP.

clueless1974 · 30/05/2025 19:34

I am next week. I don't know what you mean by movement? I was sat still when I did it. Thank you

Greybeardy · 30/05/2025 20:08

the spikes that happen every 4 big squares are qrs complexes. Regular complexes are usually reassuring but you still can't see what rhythm it is or if there are any other reassuring/worrying features as the rest of it is mainly just electrical interference and the most likely reason for that is muscle movement even if you're sitting still or sometimes interference from other electrical stuff. Even if it was a good quality trace it's only a rhythm strip so couldn't give you an overall impression of what your heart's up to.

clueless1974 · 30/05/2025 21:40

Thank you. I'll mention it next week and get a follow up.

clueless1974 · 04/06/2025 06:19

Got checked over and bloods which were ok. The first ecg's didn't look good but then were ok. They are going to do a holter monitor (not sure when). Apparently because I'm under 65 it's unusual for a fib/angina. Tbh I just want the chest pain/palpatations to stop as they are uncomfortable. Appreciate the reply you gave. They did say always get checked.

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