Apple Watch detecting raised heart rate whilst sleeping

[Craikeybaby]

About 6 weeks ago I woke up to some notifications on my Apple Watch that my heart rate had been above 150bpm for 50 minutes whilst I was asleep. For reference my resting heart rate is usually <70bpm. I wear my watch to bed maybe 3 or 4 times a week and this was the first instance where it had detected an abnormal heart rate.

I got it checked out at the GP and was referred for an ECG, which turned out fine. However I have since had an other episode, this time heart rate greater than 140bpm for 20 minutes. I'm not really sure what to do about it now, and I get the impression that my GP isn't either, as it is hard to diagnose something that only seems to happen once a month, whilst I am asleep.

A Google search show that I am not the only person to have experienced this with the Apple Watch, but response range from "Its a bug with the watch, nothing to worry about" to "You've probably got sleep apnoea".

[Craikeybaby]

meehaja said:

can you set it to alarm when it reaches say 120, and see if you feel palpitations?

I'm not sure if I can only set notifications from heart rate - I currently have notifications muted whilst I sleep because I don't want to be woken up for every email etc!

[Craikeybaby]

TwistingMyMelon said:

As above, rule out the watch first, its not a calibrated medical device for starters

I would see if I could hire/borrow something decent for a few nights , or at least another recorder

There was mention of a 24 hour holter test, but I’m a bit concerned that it doesn’t happen every night.

JPJPJP said:

MIght just be an exciting dream

Unfortunately not exciting enough to remember in the morning!

[Craikeybaby]

Getting a 48 hour Holt3er monitor thing fitted tomorrow. Have to shave my chest this evening.

I've just spent the last hour or so working in the garage and my heart rate hasn't dropped below 100. Yesterday morning I was out for a bike ride, albeit a gentle one, and my heart rate didn't get over 100. So I think there is something up.

[Craikeybaby]

Hoddo said:

Craikeybaby said:

Getting a 48 hour Holt3er monitor thing fitted tomorrow. Have to shave my chest this evening.

I've just spent the last hour or so working in the garage and my heart rate hasn't dropped below 100. Yesterday morning I was out for a bike ride, albeit a gentle one, and my heart rate didn't get over 100. So I think there is something up.

I would be curious to learn how accurate, or not, the Apple Watch is. If able, could you wear the Apple Watch while wearing the Holt3er and compare results - hourly comparison / daily comparison / experiment comparison, whatever data you're able to collect.

I was given an Apple Watch by work and find it an enjoyable gimmick. Can't say it will replace a mechanical watch in my private life but while in the office I find its subtile notifications (appointments, messages and calls - not email) rather pleasant. I also enjoying tracking fitness.

Apple clearly see a future in tracking heart rates as they have a project (Apple Heart Study) with Stanford Medical College.

I don't know what, if any, data I will be able to get from the holter. I am wearing my Apple Watch pretty much the whole time though, so if I do get anything I will share.

I initially held off getting an Apple Watch because I didn't think I'd wear it in preference to my mechanical watches. I haven't actually worn them since getting the Apple Watch!

[Craikeybaby]

The result of the holter test is that it found nothing. Which is good in some ways, but still doens't clear up what my Watch is recording.

I had another episode in the early hours of this morning, 30 minutes of heart rate above 130bpm.

All three instances have been at the end of the weekend, before going back to work.

[Craikeybaby]

Yes, I'm going to look at getting another HRM to rule out the watch.

All the checks that the doctor has done have come out fine which is the important thing.

[Craikeybaby]

The problem is that I didn't have the checks when it was happening, so it is hard to rule out.

I'm going to get another heart rate monitor, probably a Wahoo Tickr and see if I can get them to both detect a high heart rate whilst I'm sleeping.

[Craikeybaby]

I'm not sure if my Watch/heart have fixed themselves, but since getting a separate heart rate monitor I haven't woken up to a high heart rate alert .

[Craikeybaby]

I've currently got both.

[Craikeybaby]

Over a year later, this has not happened again.