A Watch That Detects Heart Problems?
From analog watches to the Apple Watch, technology has advanced at lightning speed. The watches we wear on our wrists no longer just tell the time—they are mini phones. We can make calls, send messages, and set alarms with them. They have all the basic functions of a phone in a very convenient form. Apple claims that these modern watches can detect problems with heart function. More specifically, they can detect atrial fibrillation, which is the most common type of heart rhythm disorder. It mainly affects the elderly and manifests as shortness of breath and chest pain. It can lead to a stroke, which is one of the most common causes of death or disability for people over 40. Unfortunately, to detect atrial fibrillation today, you have to notice the symptoms and see a doctor for tests, which means that by the time it is diagnosed, it may already be too late. That is why it is so important to monitor your health regularly—but wouldn't the ideal solution be a device worn on your wrist all the time that sends a warning alert straight to your phone whenever anything is wrong? Of course it would!
Research Is Ongoing
Can Apple Watch Detect Arrhythmia?
A year ago, Apple conducted a study on 400,000 people wearing Apple Watches to see whether they could detect heart arrhythmia. The results were positive. In the first round of the study, Apple joined forces with researchers from Stanford University, testing the accuracy of arrhythmia detection compared with a professional examination—the agreement rate is already at 84%. The results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
After the experiment, Johnson & Johnson became interested in the situation and partnered to conduct this study on people over 40, since most of the participants were at low risk of developing atrial fibrillation. To expand the research in the United States, people over 65 who own iPhones can borrow a watch for free or buy one for $49.
How Does It Measure?
How Does Heart Rate Monitoring Work?
The Apple Watch (Series 5), paired with a special iPhone app called "Heart App," monitors pulse patterns, establishes a heart rhythm pattern, and reacts to any change by sending an alert to the smartphone.
Now every owner of these two devices will be more aware of how their heart is working. Although the study did not show 100% agreement, there is still a high probability of correctly identifying a problem.
Check out the Apple Watch ad.
Summary
Modern watches such as the Apple Watch can detect atrial fibrillation—the most common heart rhythm disorder, which can lead to a stroke. Apple studied 400,000 users, and in collaboration with Stanford University achieved an 84% agreement rate with professional examination. Johnson & Johnson also took part in the research, enabling people over 65 in the US to borrow a watch for free. This is the first step toward monitoring health in everyday conditions.
