Apple Watch ‘prolonged my life’ by spotting deadly heart illness just days after new ECG feature launched, gadget owner reports
A MAN'S life may have been saved by taking an Apple Watch ECG just days after the feature launched in Europe.
An Apple Watch owner was reportedly able to detect signs of Atrial Fibrillation – a heart illness that can cause deadly strokes – using the gadget.
Apple added the new ECG feature to detect AFib on the Apple Watch Series 4 late last year.
And just last week, Apple finally launched the feature in the UK and Europe, after getting approval from the EU.
Now one customer has seemingly used his Apple Watch to detect the condition, which may otherwise have been missed.
Dr Michael Spehr, of Germany's FAZ newspaper, received an email from a reader explaining that the Apple Watch correctly alerted him to his previously undiscovered condition.
In screenshots of the email, the customer explains that he initially thought the feature was "for hypochondriacs" but decided to "try it out, just for fun".
But the Apple Watch was "constantly" reporting Atrial Fibrillation.
"Never noticed anything before," the customer wrote.
"Also a doctor friend said: do not worry, probably just a measurement error!
"But nevertheless I visited my physician, a 12-channel ECG was taken, the physician weighed his head deliberately and said: 'The watch is right'."
This allowed the doctor to prescribe beta blockers to the customer as a method of treating his AFib.
"It's true, the Watch contributed to prolonging my life," he wrote.
"Now I see the whole discussion with different eyes."
What is AFib? A quick guide
Here's what you need to know...
- Atrial fibrillation (AFib) happens when chaotic electrical activity develops in the heart
- As a result, the atria no longer beat in an organised way, and pump less efficiently
- Associated rapid heartbeat allows blood to pool in the heart, which can cause clots to form and travel to the brain
- This can cause stroke, which means AFib sufferers are at increased risk of stroke
- According to the AFA, AFib is the most common heart rhythm disorder in the UK
- It's estimated that 1.5million people are diagnosed with the condition, while 500,000 people remain undiagnosed
- Every 15 seconds, someone suffers an AFib-related stroke, with the illness accounting for nearly 6million days in hospital beds
- And AFib-related strokes cost the UK £2.2billion every single year
Apple's ECG feature had been extensively tested in clinical trials prior to launch.
In one study that involved 600 test subjects, the ECG app was able to classify AFib accurately 98.3% of the time, and 99.6% for sinus rhythm – a normal heart rate rhythm.
Apple seems keen to avoid misleading anyone, and makes clear in the app that the Apple Watch can't detect heart attacks, blood clots, stroke or any other heart-related conditions.
But it can accurately detect AFib with a 30-second ECG that can be performed simply by touching a sensor built into the Digital Crown on the side of the Apple Watch Series 4 (which went on sale last September, from £399).
The ECG app will even automatically generate a PDF file that you can share with a doctor for a proper diagnosis.
"It wasn’t long ago that wearable technology was a thing of science-fiction," June Davison, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, speaking to The Sun.
"But, for some of us, devices that measure our heart rate or exercise levels are now a part of our everyday lives, along with apps that monitor our alcohol intake or diet.
"This advancement in technology is a step in the right direction towards finding new ways to diagnose and prevent some heart and circulatory conditions."
How to take an ECG with your Apple Watch
Here's what you need to know...
How to take an ECG with your Apple Watch
First, make sure you're using an Apple Watch Series 4 – older models don't have this feature.
Next, ensure you've updated to the latest watchOS software on your Apple Watch, and the latest iOS software on your iPhone.
Then follow these steps:
- Make sure your Apple Watch is snug on the wrist
- Open the ECG app on your Apple Watch
- Rest your arms on a table or in your lap
- Using the hand opposite your watch, hold your finger on the Digital Crown – but don't press it
- Wait 30 seconds for the recording to complete
At the end of the recording, you'll receive a classification, at which point you'll be able to add any other symptoms you've been experiencing lately.
Of course, you shouldn't use the ECG to replace an actual visit to your doctor.
"We need to be cautious about self-diagnosis," said June, from the BHF.
"This tech isn’t able to replace the role of a full physical review by a healthcare professional. If you experience heart palpitations, dizziness or chest pain, seek medical help."
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