Blood pressure

[Accipiter]

Sam, mine cost me just under £40 from Amazon - sale offer. The same Samsung Fit 3 from Argos, just ½ mile from me, was a tad under £60 - *exact same smart watch*.

Viewed the cost (or lack of) as a trial option as a starter...

 

[Sheffield Tony]

Yes, pulse and O2 saturation can be measured optically. Samsung phones up to the S7 had a sensor on the back, which got dropped presumably to sell more smart watches. Blood pressure, I struggle to believe can be done optically. The wristband BP monitors that work somewhat use a bellows, so the same basic principle as a cuff. I doubt any watches can do that ?

 

[AJB Temple]

Yes, pulse and O2 saturation can be measured optically. Samsung phones up to the S7 had a sensor on the back, which got dropped presumably to sell more smart watches. Blood pressure, I struggle to believe can be done optically. The wristband BP monitors that work somewhat use a bellows, so the same basic principle as a cuff. I doubt any watches can do that ?

HUAWEI WATCH D2 - HUAWEI UK

HUAWEI WATCH D2, featuring a 26mm ultra-narrow airbag and a 1.82-inch AMOLED display, is a stylish and accurate 24-hour dynamic blood pressure monitor that offers health glance for 10 key indicators.

consumer.huawei.com

These work and tests show results similar to a traditional cuff. A friend with a medical condition has one and has compared results with his Omron. Similar. Around £240.

 

[Woodbloke]

HUAWEI WATCH D2 - HUAWEI UK

HUAWEI WATCH D2, featuring a 26mm ultra-narrow airbag and a 1.82-inch AMOLED display, is a stylish and accurate 24-hour dynamic blood pressure monitor that offers health glance for 10 key indicators.

consumer.huawei.com

These work and tests show results similar to a traditional cuff. A friend with a medical condition has one and has compared results with his Omron. Similar. Around £240.

Now on my Black Friday wish list - Rob

Edit - now under review bearing in mind comments below

 

[John Brown]

HUAWEI WATCH D2 - HUAWEI UK

HUAWEI WATCH D2, featuring a 26mm ultra-narrow airbag and a 1.82-inch AMOLED display, is a stylish and accurate 24-hour dynamic blood pressure monitor that offers health glance for 10 key indicators.

consumer.huawei.com

These work and tests show results similar to a traditional cuff. A friend with a medical condition has one and has compared results with his Omron. Similar. Around £240.

I can see how that could be fairly accurate. Measuring is useful, but I'm holding out until they make a watch that lowers my blood pressure.

 

[RogerS]

Yes, pulse and O2 saturation can be measured optically. Samsung phones up to the S7 had a sensor on the back, which got dropped presumably to sell more smart watches. Blood pressure, I struggle to believe can be done optically. The wristband BP monitors that work somewhat use a bellows, so the same basic principle as a cuff. I doubt any watches can do that ?

They can only measure O2 saturation accurately under very very specific conditions. Such as low ambient light, wrist and watch in a specific position…..source. Apple Level 3 support

 

[RogerS]

HUAWEI WATCH D2 - HUAWEI UK

HUAWEI WATCH D2, featuring a 26mm ultra-narrow airbag and a 1.82-inch AMOLED display, is a stylish and accurate 24-hour dynamic blood pressure monitor that offers health glance for 10 key indicators.

consumer.huawei.com

These work and tests show results similar to a traditional cuff. A friend with a medical condition has one and has compared results with his Omron. Similar. Around £240.

And probably also feeding the results back to China along with your conversations

Seriously, I was initially sceptical but it has been validated and while not as accurate as the gold standard upper-arm devices is still pretty good.

 

[AndyP]

And you can get a text message when you heart stops.

 

[fuse]

Handy

 

[Lons]

And probably also feeding the results back to China along with your conversations

I doubt that's the case purely from my watch Roger though I stand to be corrected. My wife's Apple watch, connected to her Ipad and the cloud might be a different matter.

My Huawei watch connects to my Iphone via bluetooth and there are choices in the 'phone app. I have denied all feedback to Huawei so apart from initial name and email to set up the app there is little else they can access as far as I know. I also disabled the app from running in the background so only active when I sync to the watch . That does limit some of the fuctions but they are of little interest to me so no problem but I can see how people will just accept everything without question however IMO they are likely to be the type who do that with everything.
I could receive and make calls on the watch via the phone but choose not though it does ring so I can see who's calling then either answer my phone or reject. The notifications and especially messages relayed are useful functions and far easier than having to pull your 'phone out of your back pocket to read them.

TBH I'd be just as concerned about the data being collected by Apple, Microsoft, Facebook et al and probably far more being creamed off by AI software on forums such as this which are open the the general public.

 

[Robert]

My wife gets A-fib and is on medication. Got her a Huawei D2 watch last Christmas. She used the blood pressure testing a lot at first but found it to vary a lot more than the reading from the Omron - so she no longer uses it for BP. The ECG on the watch can detect A-fib but not if over 140 bpm (that number could be wrong). below the limit it does report A-fib and she can follow as it eventually eases.

There are adaptors to allow a normal strap to be fitted so you don't have the bulky strap and its built in airbag. What they don't tell you is the watch detects the airbag is missing and gives constant error messages.

There are other watches that detect A-fib so the D2 may be going on ebay sometime and something less bulky bought.

 

[Lons]

Hi Robert
Does your wife constantly check her pulse rate and is it a high or low rate A-fib condition?

The reason I ask is that mine is low, I don't constatly check is as I know while it regularly dips below 40 bpm my watch will alert me if that's sustained for 10 minutes so I'm not bothered too much. I was told by the medics that there's nothing they can do about the A-fib so have to live with it but which doesn't cause me any issues tbh. I now need to take blood thinners to reduce the risk of blood clots and the likely result of a stroke or death.

The only difference the watch has made to me is that I now wear it during sleep as well.

 

[Robert]

Not constantly checking pulse rate though she does check it. I'm no expert on A-fib but she is now. She gets ectopic beats - extra triggered beats within a normal rhythm. They vary from not happening to frequent for no apparent reason. Good days can be months long then she gets the ectopics and if they become too frequent A-fib is triggered for an hour or ten.

The bisoprolol helps and an extra one can reduce the A-fib but not quickly. Like you she takes blood thinners. I've come to realise A-fib is very common. Being told it is not life threatening is good to know but the symptoms don't seem pleasant.

 

[RogerS]

I doubt that's the case purely from my watch Roger though I stand to be corrected. My wife's Apple watch, connected to her Ipad and the cloud might be a different matter.

My Huawei watch connects to my Iphone via bluetooth and there are choices in the 'phone app. I have denied all feedback to Huawei so apart from initial name and email to set up the app there is little else they can access as far as I know. I also disabled the app from running in the background so only active when I sync to the watch . That does limit some of the fuctions but they are of little interest to me so no problem but I can see how people will just accept everything without question however IMO they are likely to be the type who do that with everything.
I could receive and make calls on the watch via the phone but choose not though it does ring so I can see who's calling then either answer my phone or reject. The notifications and especially messages relayed are useful functions and far easier than having to pull your 'phone out of your back pocket to read them.

TBH I'd be just as concerned about the data being collected by Apple, Microsoft, Facebook et al and probably far more being creamed off by AI software on forums such as this which are open the the general public.

I used the wrong emoticon Bob ....meant to post

 

[RogerS]

My wife gets A-fib and is on medication. Got her a Huawei D2 watch last Christmas. She used the blood pressure testing a lot at first but found it to vary a lot more than the reading from the Omron - so she no longer uses it for BP. The ECG on the watch can detect A-fib but not if over 140 bpm (that number could be wrong). below the limit it does report A-fib and she can follow as it eventually eases.

There are adaptors to allow a normal strap to be fitted so you don't have the bulky strap and its built in airbag. What they don't tell you is the watch detects the airbag is missing and gives constant error messages.

There are other watches that detect A-fib so the D2 may be going on ebay sometime and something less bulky bought.

I'm surprised at her results and wonder if either the watch is faulty or her technique isn't ideal because the Huawei has been clinically validated and scores very highly against other wrist BP testers but not quite as accurate as the gold-standard upper arm

 

[RogerS]

My wife gets A-fib and is on medication. Got her a Huawei D2 watch last Christmas. She used the blood pressure testing a lot at first but found it to vary a lot more than the reading from the Omron - so she no longer uses it for BP. The ECG on the watch can detect A-fib but not if over 140 bpm (that number could be wrong). below the limit it does report A-fib and she can follow as it eventually eases.

There are adaptors to allow a normal strap to be fitted so you don't have the bulky strap and its built in airbag. What they don't tell you is the watch detects the airbag is missing and gives constant error messages.

There are other watches that detect A-fib so the D2 may be going on ebay sometime and something less bulky bought.

I have one of these

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/31833836...id=10001&customid=eb:g:vms:eb:p:318338369141;{GCLID}&adtype=pla&loc_interest_ms=&loc_physical_ms=1006898

and my cardiologist was impressed.

 

[Lons]

Not constantly checking pulse rate though she does check it. I'm no expert on A-fib but she is now. She gets ectopic beats - extra triggered beats within a normal rhythm. They vary from not happening to frequent for no apparent reason. Good days can be months long then she gets the ectopics and if they become too frequent A-fib is triggered for an hour or ten.

The bisoprolol helps and an extra one can reduce the A-fib but not quickly. Like you she takes blood thinners. I've come to realise A-fib is very common. Being told it is not life threatening is good to know but the symptoms don't seem pleasant.

Mine is constant Robert and I know I've had a low pulse rate and irregular beat for years 'coz my wife says so, but it never bothered me , I only notice occasionally just before dropping off to sleep.
I've had 2 senior GPs, the cardiologist at the hospital and my daughter in law, a senior nurse practitioner all told me it can be a silent killer because of the higher risk of major stroke and heart attack as the latter is overworked hence their comments of increased early referrals because of smart watch detection.

Maybe one day everyone will be implanted with a chip at birth that sends info to the powers that be to detect and treat ailments, (or maybe euthanise if we're too sick or are undesireables. )

EDIT:
Had to google bisoprolol and it wouldn't work for me as my average pulse rate and usually well below 60 so would have an adverse affact.

 

[Robert]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/31833836...id=10001&customid=eb:g:vms:eb:318338369141;{GCLID}&adtype=pla&loc_interest_ms=&loc_physical_ms=1006898

She was shy of those as people on an A-fib facebook group say it has made them obsessive about monitoring. She has had NHS holter monitor during a time the A_fib was bad. Ablation was suggested but her group says it doesn't work a lot of times so still under consideration.

 

[RogerS]

Robert, you have a PM

 

[TrimTheKing]

I admit to being highly suspicious of smart watch BP readings, but who knows, I could be wrong. It happened one before in 1976.

That's when I was born...

Dad..?

 

[TrimTheKing]

Good friend of mine went to the doc with heart concerns. Told to lose weight etc (he was quite heavily overweight, has lost a lot but still working on getting the rest off), told them his Apple Watch was saying he was in A-Fib, they told him he wasn't and to lose weight.

Went to a different doc and gave them the same story, they checked, confirmed him to be in A-Fib, hospital did the same, readings almost spot on.

They can't do everything, but much of what they do MUST be working...

 

[John Brown]

Good friend of mine went to the doc with heart concerns. Told to lose weight etc (he was quite heavily overweight, has lost a lot but still working on getting the rest off), told them his Apple Watch was saying he was in A-Fib, they told him he wasn't and to lose weight.

Went to a different doc and gave them the same story, they checked, confirmed him to be in A-Fib, hospital did the same, readings almost spot on.

They can't do everything, but much of what they do MUST be working...

That's base on pulse, though, isn't it? It's the BP measurements that have been doubted, although AJB has shown us a watch with some sort of inflatable bladder that may well give accurate BP readings.

 

[RogerS]

That's base on pulse, though, isn't it? It's the BP measurements that have been doubted, although AJB has shown us a watch with some sort of inflatable bladder that may well give accurate BP readings.

It does. Clinically validated

 

[Woodbloke]

It does. Clinically validated

In the EU (Europe), not in the USA. Still quite an impressive bit of kit, reasonably accurate with the caveat on correct use - Rob

 

[RogerS]

In the EU (Europe), not in the USA. Still quite an impressive bit of kit, reasonably accurate with the caveat on correct use - Rob

So? Have they offered it for validation? Given the US stance re China, why are you not surprised?

The EU validation works for me

And it’s a damn sight better than ‘reasonable’

 

[Woodbloke]

So? Have they offered it for validation? Given the US stance re China, why are you not surprised?

The EU validation works for me

And it’s a damn sight better than ‘reasonable’

Just mentioned in passing Rog; it's not validated in the USA, nowt more than that. Also the approx price quoted earlier of £240 is one that SWIMBO looked at in greater detail. It's a Chinese firm dealing out of Hong Kong with a delivery cost to the UK of approx £40. Were I to purchase one, which may well happen, I definitely won't be dealing with the Hong Kong outfit - Rob

 

[Phil]

Gave my wife some money for her birthday to buy a watch. ZAR1,000 cant remember the make, she seems happy.
Measures BP, Sleep, Saturation, and whatever. I keep my opinion to myself.
The real reason was to track how far she walks and time taken which uploads to her phone and also Discovery MedAid, part of their lifestyle monitoring.
For my walking I do the same route, know the distance, and use the garage wall clock for timing. Call me cheapskate

 

[Woodbloke]

Gave my wife some money for her birthday to buy a watch. ZAR1,000 cant remember the make, she seems happy.
Measures BP, Sleep, Saturation, and whatever. I keep my opinion to myself.
The real reason was to track how far she walks and time taken which uploads to her phone and also Discovery MedAid, part of their lifestyle monitoring.
For my walking I do the same route, know the distance, and use the garage wall clock for timing. Call me cheapskate

The Health app thingie on my iPhone does that when I can be ar$ed to check it - Rob

 

[Phil]

The Health app thingie on my iPhone does that when I can be ar$ed to check it - Rob

Her phone also does that, but who wants to carry a brick for 45 minutes fast walk!
I don't walk with her at all, she is fast and leaves me behind. Recently at the coast we walked twice a day and I just see her disappearing in the distance. Then she sits and waits for me (I have the gate remote and apartment key )

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

Ablation was suggested but her group says it doesn't work a lot of times so still under consideration.

Coming late to this, I ask two questions: a)How many of their group have actually had it done out of the entire group? b) What are the clinical (N.H.S.) statistics for this procedure?

I have a hidden motive; my daughter went through ablation for C.V.T.; successfully, over a decade ago, aged about 25.

 

[CHJ]

AS an A-fib sufferer, which in hindsight must have been progressively getting worse for several years before a definitive full bells and whistles diagnosis was triggered.

Only medical concession to the problem so far is to take blood thinner to reduce stroke risk from cavitation clots.

Main management is down to a substantial reduction of any strenuous activity, I.E slow down and even stop as soon as the body tells you.

For the past 8 years I have carried out once a month blood pressure checks (avg, of 3) and pressure has remained consistent in the115-129 over 65/75 envelope. And pulse records 65-79 over the same time period.

Blood Oxygen (finger monitor) in rest state is usually in 96-99 %.
Pulse waveform display is however often erratic enough to put the frighteners on.

Anno Domini and other parallel significant life defining factors have fortunately left me in a quiescent state of learning to live with it.


Family gave me a Wrist Watch monitor a couple of years ago and after setting it up and noting the hundred and one different functions and the graphical interface I could look at in real time it has quietly run its battery down on the shelf and stayed out of my life.

 

[Robert]

Coming late to this, I ask two questions: a)How many of their group have actually had it done out of the entire group? b) What are the clinical (N.H.S.) statistics for this procedure?

It's a Facebook group and i don't do facebook. Mrs says some on the group have been through it 3 times and without success. guess the ones 'cured' don't need to be in the group and provide balance. An upcoming appointment may get the official view as it is something she is considering.

 

[RogerS]

All this prompted me to read the recent letters from my cardiologist. I saw him for paroxysmal A Fib and had a whole battery of tests. I've got a bit of mitral regurgitation - mild at echo. A CTPA scan revealed no pulmonary embolisms, a moderate coronary atheroma (I'll come back to this in a minute) and normal lungs. 24hr ECG showed nothing special. My CHADSVASC score is down at 3...hence also on blood thinners as a precaution.

Exercise treadmill test....to quote his report

...'he did an impressive 9 minutes 13 second of the full Buce protocol'...no ischaemia therefore the atheroma is non-flow-limiting.

He discharged me.