- New research confirms that Apple Watch’s heart health features can assist with clinical diagnoses
- The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, shows that using an Apple Watch could make it four times more likely to get diagnosed with atrial fibrillation
- Here’s how to set your Apple Watch up to make sure it flags up an irregular heartbeat
In recent years, smartwatches have evolved beyond simple timekeeping and fitness tracking; they’ve become crucial tools for monitoring heart health. Apple is at the forefront of this trend, allowing users to detect various cardiovascular conditions. Regular readers will be familiar with the ECG functionalities available on devices like the Apple Watch, which helps diagnose heart-related issues such as irregular rhythms and high blood pressure.
A recent study has further validated the effectiveness of Apple Watches in clinical settings. It revealed that these devices can assist in diagnosing atrial fibrillation (AFib), particularly in asymptomatic individuals. Researchers argue that such technology might quadruple the diagnoses typically overlooked by healthcare professionals, ultimately saving both time and resources for medical systems and potentially saving lives.
The Research
Researchers at Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC) conducted a study that included 437 patients over the age of 65, all of whom were at an elevated risk for strokes. The participants were divided into two groups: 219 patients utilized an Apple Watch, while 218 received standard care. Within the Apple Watch group, 21 patients were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, with 57% displaying no outward symptoms prior to their diagnosis, as identified by their watches.
In stark contrast, only five patients in the control group were diagnosed, and all were symptomatic. This means that the Apple Watch detected four times as many cases of AFib than standard practices, highlighting its potential as a vital diagnostic tool.
Michael Winter, a cardiologist at Amsterdam UMC, advocates for the integration of smartwatches in medical settings, emphasizing that the upfront costs of devices like the Apple Watch could be offset by the savings in healthcare expenditures. “Using smartwatches with PPG and ECG functions aids doctors in diagnosing individuals unaware of their arrhythmia, thereby expediting the diagnostic process,” Winter explained. He believes this integration could significantly reduce the risk of strokes, benefiting both patients and healthcare systems.
How to Turn on Irregular Heart Rate Rhythm Notifications
Apple provides easy-to-follow guidelines for enabling heart rate notifications. Here’s how to ensure your Apple Watch is set up to notify you of irregular heart rhythms:
- Open the Health app on your iPhone.
- Search for Heart, then tap Irregular Rhythm Notifications.
- Follow the on-screen setup instructions.
- To enable notifications, go to the Apple Watch app, then navigate to My Watch > Heart > Irregular Rhythm.
For those who are serious about heart health, keeping these notifications active can be a proactive approach to monitoring one’s cardiovascular status.
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